Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Raj Manhas’s Final Recommendation on School Consolidation and Closure has been released, and amongst other changes, my daughter’s school, Graham Hill Elementary, has been removed from the list.
Graham Hill was removed from the preliminary recommendation due to the dispersal of students violating the School Board’s principles of equity and minimizing disruption. While the Southeast quadrant does have enough excess capacity to close an additional school, the majority of that excess capacity is at African American Academy (an alternative school).
I am of course more than pleased that Graham Hill will not be closed, and that my daughter will be able to finish out her final two years. It is a fantastic school and an incredible community; properly funded it could be as good as any school in any of the best public school districts.
But while I thank both the Superintendent and the School Board for listening to our arguments and carefully reexamining both the data and the circumstances, I still come away from this process somewhat disappointed and disillusioned. I cannot help but believe that politics is what got Graham Hill onto the list in the first place, and to some extent it was politics that got our school off the list. We were very fortunate, not only to have the facts on our side, but to have a community of parents and teachers with the time, energy and ability to effectively present them.
There may be other schools still on this list just as worthy of being saved, but without such a loud and convincing voice.
I also believe that the imperative to close a large number of schools now, and all at once, was overstated from the start. In fact, there will be very few if any cost savings from these closings, while many children will have their education disrupted. I still believe that the driving force behind this round of school closures was a demand for political cover from legislators who otherwise lack the balls to fight for the kind of funding increases all our state’s schools desperately need.
And that’s where the fight goes next: to the Legislature.
I come away from this battle with an even greater respect for my daughter’s school, but with a profound sense of cynicism as to the district administration’s ability to effectively serve all our children. Gross inequities between North End and South End schools that I previously had only intuited, have now been laid out before me in neat, irrefutable spreadsheets, and I am immensely disappointed at the lack of creativity and forthrightness with which the district is addressing this problem. I’m not sure what the solution is, but I intend to exert time and energy exploring possible structural reforms.
But… the immediate fight is with the Legislature. No doubt there are inefficiencies in the Seattle Public Schools as there are in all bureaucracies (both public and private sector) but the real crisis facing K-12 education in this state is not inefficient spending, but inadequate funding. One of the major differences between a top-notch public school like the Bellevue district’s Medina Elementary, and my daughter’s Graham Hill, is the $500,000 a year the families of the Medina PTSA put into their school versus the $30,000 our largely low- and middle-income families struggle to raise.
This is money that not only buys books and computers and basic supplies, but which is used to buy down class size and give their children music, art, phys-ed and all the other elements of a well-rounded curriculum our state used to give all its children. Washington state has by law one of the most equitable school financing systems in the country, but by dramatically underfunding it and leaving it to families to make up the difference, we are gradually creating the type gross disparity — both within and between districts — that has become commonplace throughout much of the rest of the nation.
Children don’t choose to live in poverty, so why should we base the quality of their education on their parent’s income?
Whether that means raising revenues or shifting spending or some combination of the two, we need to spend more money on our schools. It is time once again to remind the Legislature and the Governor that public education is the state’s primary obligation… an obligation they are failing to meet.
It is time once again to remind the Legislature and the Governor that public education is the state’s primary obligation… an obligation they are failing to meet.
Definitely. It has been difficult to watch the state’s ranking on measure after measure of educational investment and attainment fall for the last several years. It’s time to recommit to investing in our state’s future.
And congratulations on your daughter’s school.
Congrats, Goldy. I’m convinced that your public campaign saved your children’s school. Others may not be able to benefit from your bully pulpit, but then when it comes to your children, you have to fight for them first, and then for the others.
Because the school closures would save so little money for the district, could it be that the school administrators were using a time-tested technique to raise more funds? The tactic is simply to figure out which of the alternative courses of action would most likely provoke outrage in the community, and gamble that the citizens would agree to tax increases rather than see that course of action adopted? If so, they missed the boat by hitting south-end schools and not hitting more of the north-end schools. The parent’s in the north end are more inclined to exert political pressure, and they tend not to care much about what happens to the schools in the South End.
I saw an example of the disparate funding you mentioned when news reports indicated that a Bellevue High School auction to raise money for the school had parents bidding several thousand dollars for a preferred parking spot for their student to use. I mean, that is just so offensive, in so many ways!!!!!
It made me wonder if we shouldn’t reconsider whether or not we really have a segregated public school system, with this duel system of funding. It’s one thing for parents to raise a little extra money for new playground equipment. But when schools are forced to rely upon that money for basic education, then it begins to look like the segregated school systems of the 1950’s. But in this case it is “not segregated, but not equal, either”.
RHP… the problem with your theory is that Seattle voters really can’t raise more money for our schools — all districts are capped at a fixed percent of total state and federal funding. (Seattle is grandfathered in at a slightly higher rate, but we’re already at it.)
The only way to get more money is to get it from the state (which also increases the amount one can raise locally). Unfortunately, the rest of the state really couldn’t give shit about Seattle’s children, so closing schools here is not going to provoke folks elsewhere to raise their own taxes.
It is, likely many issues, complicated.
Regarding the Medina/Bellevue schools which benefit from the PTSA’s fundraising which is out of proportion to the fundraising potential of other areas:
I wonder how many of these parents are willing to make donations to their own kid’s schools, and yet bitterly oppose any tax increase which would benefit the schools generally? Would they be more inclined to approve general tax increases if it had more of an effect on their own children’s education? Also, with such a dual system of funding, are we really reaching a system where we essentially have some private schools which receive public funding? If there enrollment is capped due to “popularity” so other students cannot transfer into the school, then is enrollment essentially “private”, with the determining characteristic of membership being financial ability to purchase a house within that school’s area?
4, Goldy, Perhaps you need you pay more taxes?? hehe, JCH Kennedy
Wow Goldy,
It looks like your hatchet job debt on Davids Irons was finally paid up.
Make sure to send Ron a note of thanks for putting pressure on the school board so someone elses kids school can be closed.
If so, they missed the boat by hitting south-end schools and not hitting more of the north-end schools.
I read somewhere that around 20 schools have been closed in the north end of Seattle since 1971 and now in 2006 and beyond enrollment is expected to grow in the north end.
Yes, it is complicated.
NIMBY-ism at its finest, indeed.
You can’t spend more money on schools without raising taxes, and you can’t raise taxes without reforming the state’s regressive tax system, and you can’t reform the state tax system without a state income tax.
Thank goodness, Goldy.
Let’s bust some chops in Oly.
Mixed feelings . . . duly elected representatives and community members made a plan. But, when it ventured too close to home, “not in my backyard.” So much for integrity. I expect better from liberals. But, I guess nobody’s perfect.
I mean, okay, I should be glad for you . . . but something larger was corrupted.
Goldy, when you fight for your children, you learn intimately what it means to “fight like an ole’ momma bear”. It is anything but intellectual. Congratulations. Lick your wounds. Move on.
Roger,
Didn’t they just raise a bucketload of “new” taxes and claim it was for education?
New Preamble to the Constitution
“We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional, and other liberal bed-wetters. We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights.”
ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.
ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone – not just you!
You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.
ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful, do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.
ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes.! (This one is my pet peeve…get an education and go to work….don’t expect everyone else to take care of you!)
ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we’re just not interested in public health care.
ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don’t be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.
ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. [Sorry Roger Rabbit] If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don’t be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won’t have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.
ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful. (AMEN!)
ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.
ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country. We don’t care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came from!
And ..lastly:
ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our country’s history or heritage. This country was s founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!
Goldy, that’s great! I hope your school will move closer together after everything that’s happened. If there were any divisions, assumed or otherwise, put them to rest *now* and emerge from this a stronger school.
In terms of alterna programs, I find it interesting that two of of the oldest, Summit and African-American Academy, are suffering from low numbers while other alternas are thriving.
There was an article in the paper – I think it was over the weekend – about how difficult it is to predict whether Washington will have a large budget surplus or a budget deficit. It’s pretty much a crap shoot, to guess more than a month or two in advance.
Also, a while back there was an article about Oregon’s tax structure, whereby one expert pointed out that there are three “legs” to a stable tax system: income, property, and consumption (sales tax). The idea is that by using three different systems, you even out the highs and lows of any particular economic cycle and create a more reliable – and predictable – income flow.
It is interesting that despite the large numbers of rather wealthy people residing in Western Washington, we do not have an income tax. Those of us working in the Bellevue/Redmond area probably see the relative wealth disparity more than others. There is quite a bit of difference between Bellevue, where I work, and Everett, where I live. Presumably they (the wealthy) have nicer houses and cars, and eat out more often, so they contribute a bit more in property and sales tax, but other than that it is probably not that much different than my family. Of course, if we had an income tax, we could deduct sales tax payments from our federal income taxes, but according to the most recent tax bill sent through Congress, that deduction has expired.
Of course, there are the knee-jerk reactionaries like Tim Eyman that never saw a tax to which he would consent, and would prefer that there were no government expenditures other than for the military. I guess he feels if he gets rich enough on the inititive process, he can afford to send his kids to private school, hire private security guards to keep safe, and pay for toll roads constructed only for the rich.
Regarding your last sentence, I think another shake out of our district is long past due. I can’t think of anyone in our district who has the will to push this legislature for more money. And really, if I were on the receiving end, I’d be laughing at the people who were approaching me. Other districts are winning more money or litigating in order to get it. Ours dithers around, rehashing 20-year-old studies.
RPKKK, you would have been a monarchist in 1776. So much for your constitution.
the “Gross inequities between North End and South End schools that I previously had only intuited ” are historic and very real
As President and CEO of Bad Joke Heaven, I must demand that JCH )7/5/06 @ 3:35 pm) cease and desist posting the oldest and baddest of the wingnut jokery.
Although wingnuts are constantly trying to change the constitution of the USA, changing the preamble is not an option. No matter how old or bad or wingnutish the joke may be.
Please resume your posting of wingnut talking points and leave the bad jokes to rest in peace.
Nice work!
“…I seem to remember that Bill CLinton, Jimmy Cahhrrrter, and Madeline Halfbright said the North Koreans were not a nuclear threat. What happened? They developed this technology under their watch and now we have to clean it up…”
As far as I can tell, the Seattle Schools are overfunded and underincentivized.
Proponents of increased school funding like to point out that Washington state ranks thirty-something in per pupil funding. The fact that their prefered metric is how much we spend speaks volumes. My prefered metric is outcomes. My dream scenario would be to have our state rank first in outcomes and dead last in spending.
But, argue the propoents of increased funding, of course better outomes is what we care about, too. (Really, why didn’t you quote WA’s outcome ranking then?) We plan to use that extra funding to buy better outcomes, they say. The trouble with this argument is that there is precious little evidence that more funding is buying better outcomes. Since the 1950s inflation-adjusted per-pupil spending on public schools has increased by a factor of five; where is the evidence of better academic performance? This table of per-pupil spending in Western Washington school districts shows that Seattle spends far more on each student than any other district, yet its outcomes are among the worst.
But, argue the spenders, that’s not a fair comparison because Seattle has to education more difficult students. That is a fair point, but I have yet to see any objective, quantitative evidence that that effect is as large as the actual spending difference. Seattle spends $2200 more on each pupil each year than Mercer Island — enough to send each student to DC or Europe each summer for civics and history lessons. My child attends a public elementary school in one of Seattle’s wealthiest neighborhoods; in addition to all that district money, the school is swimming in PTA funding. The school is fine, good even, but certainly not great. It’s about as good as a typical east-side school, but costs 50% more money.
Spending advocates could win me over. But they need to show me that they really want to spend that money on better outcomes as efficiently as possible. That means rewarding the top 25% of teachers, but also culling the bottom 10%. That means increasing enrollment at schools that have improved their WASL scores, and shutting down schools that haven’t. I have money to spend, but not money I’m willing to throw away.
JCH’s comments are invisible to me. He can post 50 comments in a row and it’s like I don’t even see them.
Commentby For the Clueless— [……………………………………………..Er, Then why your post? hehe, JCH Kennedy]
Goldy,
I am happy for you that Graham Hill will remain open. I would just like to address the North End/South End school discussion. Guess what, my kid attends Viewlands in the North End. Take a look at our demographics. We are not much different from you. We are the most racially diverse school North of the Ship Canal, we have 60% low income families, we have the very first Aspergers/Autism inclusion program introduced in the district, we have the second highest test scores in our area, we have been recognized at State level for the quality of our school, yet we are being closed. And out of all of the schools who kicked up a real fuss, we are the only one who will be closed.
This doesn’t come down to what’s best for the children – it’s just the school district’s way of getting more money from the State. We are just supposed to forget the fact that the reason we got here in the first place is bad money management 4 years ago. Our kids are paying for that. Viewlands is the sacrificial lamb in the ‘north end’. There’s plenty more schools up here that should be closed ahead of us, but guess what, they’re the wealthier schools. Why wasn’t Viewlands on the list last year? Why was it North Beach and Bagley? Why are they suddenly off the chopping lblock? Money talks…
Kathryn Wenke
Thanks for your story, Kathryn. It is politics and Goldy has to think twice before impugning the motivation of others when he doesn’t agree with their politics – be they liberal or conservative. I, too, am a teacher in a very stable north end school. This process is shameful.
David Wright: you said even in your high-end neighborhood school, the teaching is half as good as an eastside school. I wish you’d be more specific. What is different? How do you know? What is the eastside doing that your school isn’t? That’s a very damning statement and I’d like you to back it up a bit.
TMZ has learned that Candy Spelling, Aaron’s widow, has quietly put the Spellings’ legendary mansion on the market for $150 million. Sources in the real estate industry say Westside Estate Agency (WEA) has a pocket listing on the 56,000 square foot estate, meaning it is is quietly being shopped among realtors and select buyers.
Secretly on the market? Like there’s any secrets in Los Angeles. This house is supposedly the single largest privately held house in California. San Simeon, the former estate of William Randolph Hearst, holds the record but it is now a museum.
The Spelling house was built on the site of Bing Crosby’s former house which was torn down for the location. It is enormous even by the standards of the most wealthy out here. A 10-15,000 sq ft house is about as big as any really get. Even the Governator’s house is only about that size. It is in a great location.
Who would want to blow that much money for a house in “Baja Norte”, Mexico?
But they are all Democrat “progressive” leftists and for the little people. Right, Carl Grossman??
Goldy, good topic for your show on Sunday. Sounds like people have a lot of opinions about education and even their neighborhood schools.
“I, too, am a teacher…”
Commentby skagit [You, a “guvment” union hack? Gee, Am I surprised!! I would have never guessed!! hehe, JCH Kennedy
Holy Shit ! ! ! This was a big day for you guys. Another environmental “crisis” that threatens the survival of humanity has been discovered ! ! !
http://seattletimes.nwsource.c.....ans05.html
The fucking oceans are turning into seething acid pits that will swallow us up ! ! !
It’s time for all you “progressives” to stop talking the talk and start walking the walk. Effective IMMEDATELY, I think all you moonbats should unhook 100% from the grid. No cars, no buses, no computers, no electricity, no heat, no air, no food that you didn’t grow or shoot. None of it. None. At all. Zip Zero Nada.
C’mon… the very SURVIVAL OF HUMANITY DEPENDS ON YOU. Who knows, once the movement starts who knows what could happen.
And can you imagine fifty people a day? I said FIFTY people a day . . . walkin’ in, singin’ a bar of “Alice’s Restaurant” and walkin’ out? Friends, they may think it’s a MOVEMENT, and that’s what it is: THE ALICE’S RESTAURANT ANTI-MASSACREE MOVEMENT! . . . and all you gotta do to join is to
sing it the next time it comes around on the guitar.
With feelin’.
ROGER RABBIT’S FLAT TAX PLAN
For years, Republicans have been touting a federal flat-rate income tax. Okay righties — by popular demand — here is Roger Rabbit’s flat tax proposal:
1. Every household will receive an income exemption equal to 125% of the federal poverty level for its household size. “Household” would defined as the taxpayer, taxpayer’s spouse, dependent children under age 18, and parents if dependent and living in the household.
2. There will be no other exemptions, deductions, credits, or allowances, except for tax-sheltered retirement accounts. Mortgage interest and investment losses will not be deductible.
3. Estates will not be taxed, but inheritances will be treated as household income.
4. A single, uniform tax rate will apply to all taxable income. The tax rate will be redetermined for each fiscal year, and set automatically by adding up all nonexempt personal income — called “net national income” (NNI) — and dividing by total government expenditures after subtracting revenue from all other sources. The tax rate will raise the exact amount of revenue needed, when combined with other government revenue, to balance the budget.
To illustrate how this works, let’s say total personal income is $10.5 trillion, and $1.5 trillion is exempt, leaving NNI of $9 trillion. Let’s say total government expenditures are $2.3 trillion, and other revenue amounts to $400 billion = $1.9 trillion “net revenue requirement” (NRR). This amount divided by NNI yields a flat tax rate of 21.1%.
5. Social Security and Medicare will be a separate budget funded by FICA taxes, and will not be counted as part of NRR nor funded from general revenues. Existing FICA taxes would remain in effect, and any anticipated future shortfalls would be paid for by raising the ceiling on taxable income.
6. The alternative minimum tax (AMT) would be abolished.
The principal advantage of this system is that the size of each year’s tax bill will be directly related to how much spending Congress authorizes. Every time a congressman votes for a spending bill, he will be raising his constituents’ taxes. Congress will be unable to “sell” increased spending to voters by deferring revenue (i.e., by borrowing). Congressmen will be under constant pressure to justify every expenditure to taxpayers in their district.
Wow. I just heard on Fox News that the UN is finally getting serious about North Korea. Dig this… they are almost unanimous that the time is almost here to send a very strongly worded letter to Hoo Flung Dung over there and tell him to knock it off.
He gonna rue the day he caused a letter to be written addressed to him. Nuthin like strong words to get a dictator to straighten up. ‘Bout fucking time if ya aks me.
Problem solved…
Rabbit – I agree with a lot of what you say, but you’re missing one important aspect of tax policy that most flat taxers don’t get…
Taxes serve two purposes:
1) To finance gummint operations
2) To act as a tool of policy deployment
Purpose #2 is the thing that makes a flat tax impossible unless gummint gets out of the social engineering business. The reason the tax code is so complex is that taxes are used to influence the economic behavior of individuals and corporations in an attempt to gain sought after social outcomes.
So until gummint quits doing about 80% of what it’s currently doing, there will not be a flat tax.
Private Steven Green, who has recently been accused by the U.S. Amry of raping an Iraqi girl and killing her family, has yet to face trial, and I will reserve any judgment about his guilt or innocence until after that trial takes place.
But I have a related question. What in the world was the U.S. Army doing, enlisting a 10th grade dropout who had just been arrested on an alchohol charge? My understanding is that the minimum qualifications for enlistment require a high-school diploma or its equivilent, and no enlistment would be accepted while any criminal charges were pending?
Ex-GI accused in Iraq rape had rocky past Courtesy of King5News.com
RPKKK: yeah, an honest day’s work for an honest dollar.
“faux redneck” – is there some measure of your stupidity that you would be willing to share. It is beyond any that I know of currently.
15
Your work is incomplete and will not be graded until the assignment is finished. You forgot these:
XII: You do not have the right to make a profit on your investments.
XIII: You do not have the right to a government bailout if your business fails in the competitive marketplace.
XIV: You do not have the right to government subsidies, tax credits, or tax incentives. If your business or investment can’t make a profit on its own merits in the competitive marketplace, see Articles XII and XIII.
XV: You do not have the right to expect government services for free. If the government protects your property, you should expect to pay for police services. If the government defends you against foreign threats, you should expect to pay for defense. If the government educates your workforce, you should expect to pay for public education. If the government builds roads to get workers and customers to your place of business, and get your goods to markets, you should expect to pay for public infrastructure.
XVI: Everyone has a right to honest, open, free, and fair elections. This automatically means that all voting machines manufactured by ES & S, Sequoia, and Diebold will be scrapped immediately. Only paper ballots and hand counts will be used.
XVII: Procedure for challenging voters: Any registered voter may file a challenge to any other registered voter within his legislative district up to 30 days before an election. No other challenges will be allowed. Each properly filed challenge will be investigated by the proper authorities. Upon a finding that any challenge is invalid, if the challenge prevented the voter’s vote from being counted, the person who filed the challenge will be shot immediately, without further trial or proceedings.
Skagit: I didn’t say my school was half as good as a typical east side school. I said it was about as good, but spent significantly more to achieve that. Here is some data to back that up:
Rabbit – Other than the Mariners and Seahawks, name ONE FUCKING BUSINESS that has EVER been bailed out by the taxpayers.
Before you answer, remember who yer talkin’ to and be very watchful of rakes on the ground…
34
“Hoo Flung Dung”
Geez, Redneck, you actually said something funny! I assume you plagiarized it, because you’re not smart enough to think of this yourself. So — where did you get it from?
Never mind, I found it. http://www.aikensairplanes.com.....2004-7.htm
(Actually, if you do a keyword search for “Hoo Flung Dung” (or the variant, “Hu Flung Dung”) you will get thousands of hits, but this one is as good as any.
The point is, this one’s been around longer than Redneck has been alive. So … Redneck … I repeat, where did you steal the only funny thing you’ve ever posted on HA from?
Re: David Wright at # 24:
Actually, I agree with most of your comments. Funding is important, but its not the end-all. Some third-country schools do pretty well with virtually empty classrooms, shared textbooks, and no computers, yet sometimes their students can out-perform U.S. students in math, basic science, and geography.
It seems to me the biggest impact funding can make is in lowering the student/teacher ratio, and decreasing the size of some schools. Aside from that, most of the extra funding gets used in high schools for chemistry labs, internet/computer access and equipment, music and sports programs, field trips, etc.
I don’t know how the Seattle School district handles capital funding, but I think seperate budgets/funds is the appropriate way to handle that. Otherwise there is too much of a temptation to use current revenues to fund current demands, which in the long run result in under-maintained facilities (costing a lot more in the long run).
My mother was a teacher, and I respect the profession generally, but sometimes I want to have a long talk with the current teachers about a number of things. Among them: that being a “professional” means that you are required to put in work after-hours for which you have already been compensated by your salary. That we need to accept and embrace some form of standardized testing as a tool for improvement, rather than fighting it indefinately. That memorization is a valuable tool and a skill, not a curse. That learning some accepted “facts”, and deference to earned authority, is not mutually exclusive with creative expression. That students in Asia (Japan, S.Korea, India, etc.) are routinely kicking our buts in math and science education, but we hear far to many denials/excuses from too many in the education profession.
As far as the parents/students are concerned, they need to appreciate that the kids need to exercise far more discipline in the classroom so that subjects can be taught efficiently. They need to develop good work and study habits early on. As important as student/teacher ratios are, they need to understand that Japanese and S. Korean students are learning much more that we are, with an average of 45 to 50 students in each classroom.
As for the state: to some extent, you get what you pay for. If you offer below-average salaries and working conditions, you will get below-average teachers, except for a few who would do it for free if they had to. If you under-fund schools and rely upon the PTSA to make up the difference, you will eventually have a two-tiered education system, based upon the wealth of the parents.
Hey Mark the Redneck, I fuck your sister last night, and then pee on her! What you gonna do you fucking coward?
It is people like you and Bushie that North Korea will rule the world! You just chickenhawk redneck dipshit, small brains and even smaller balls!
Maybe I fuck your sister in ass tonight! You can watch, redneck coward!
35
“Purpose #2 is the thing that makes a flat tax impossible unless gummint gets out of the social engineering business. The reason the tax code is so complex is that taxes are used to influence the economic behavior of individuals and corporations in an attempt to gain sought after social outcomes. So until gummint quits doing about 80% of what it’s currently doing, there will not be a flat tax.” Commentby Mark The Redneck Kennedy— 7/5/06@ 6:42 pm
To quote Bill Gates: Tell me something I don’t know.
“C’mon… the very SURVIVAL OF HUMANITY DEPENDS ON YOU. Who knows, once the movement starts who knows what could happen.”
Comment by Mark The Redneck Kennedy — 7/5/06 @ 6:24 pm
The survival of us depends on people like you choking on your own bile and using your wretched bloated overstuffed carcasses as fertilizer.
39
Of course, you’re assuming that WASL is a valid measure of varying test-taking abilities among studnets (unrelated to what they learned) and/or the amount of test coaching their parents were willing and able to pay for.
44
As a general rule, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, but there are exceptions. God gave us reason so we could deal with situations like this. The thing to do is let Hu Flung Dung fuck Retard’s sister in the ass and pee on her, then hang him for the crime. That’ll make everybody happy, except Mark’s sister and hung Dung.
29
“Candy Spelling, Aaron’s widow, has quietly put the Spellings’ legendary mansion on the market for $150 million.”
Only $150 million? With Bush handing out tax cuts like candy to billionaires, there’s lot of people who can afford that. Hell, there’s a bunch of “private security contractors” in Iraq doing business with the government on our taxpayer dime who can afford that. That’s only 1.66% of the $9 billion of Iraqi government cash that simply vanished into thin air — whoever got that money could buy 60 of these houses with it.
I note that the Superintendent’s final recs do express deep concern over Graham Hill and the disparities within the programs (Goldy glosses over this, hoping no one will notice). You won because the excess capacity is at AAA but there was capacity for Graham Hill students at several surrounding schools. The Superintendent just didn’t want to disperse to that many schools. It had nothing to do with loud voices and that perception is going to do in some schools on down the line. (Montlake for example.)
One of the reasons this process had to happen is because we need to take one more reason away from the Legislature as to why they don’t want to fully fund education. Our Seattle legislators are consistently told that Seattle needs to get its financial house in order. So yes, we do need to go to the Legislature and embarass them. And, to point out that mounds of money are marching off to testing companies because the WASL (at between $42-72 per student depending on grade level) is one of the most expensive tests in the country.
I would predict that the Super will be true to his final recs and revisit this issue in the fall. There is no other school building for Pathfinder to take so it will probably mean Cooper will close. Additionally, I believe him when he says another Central area school will close as well as one in the NE/North/NW.
Bagley and North Beach got spared because of their strong academics which is precisely what people said they wanted considered this time. Graham Hill dodged a bullet.
Where’s the mom in all this?
32
You didn’t read the article, did you Retardo? While it’s tempting to make you stand on the beach wired to electrodes dipped into the ocean, what ocean acidification implies is the eventual destruction of the human food supply that comes from the seas.
You might as well have said: “Holy shit! The soil doesn’t grow wheat or corn anymore! Taht means we’re all gonna drown in quicksand!”
But not to worry, Redneck. After the seas are barren and the soil doesn’t grow anything anymore, you’ll just hop in your SUV and drive on down to ALICE’S RESTAURANT — figuring you can always get a square meal there.
“Environmental wacko Roger Rabbit”, Save us!! Save the oceans!! Save the land!! [total Democrat bull shit!] hehe, JCH Kennedy
Roger Rabbit, Save the Pacific!! Save the gay homo Democrat NEA union illegal whales!! hehe
40
“Rabbit – Other than the Mariners and Seahawks, name ONE FUCKING BUSINESS that has EVER been bailed out by the taxpayers. Before you answer, remember who yer talkin’ to and be very watchful of rakes on the ground…” Commentby Mark The Redneck Kennedy— 7/5/06@ 6:46 pm
Chrysler
(There are lots of others, but you asked for one.)
TMZ has learned that Candy Spelling, Aaron’s widow, has quietly put the Spellings’ legendary mansion on the market for $150 million. Sources in the real estate industry say Westside Estate Agency (WEA) has a pocket listing on the 56,000 square foot estate, meaning it is is quietly being shopped among realtors and select buyers.
Secretly on the market? Like there’s any secrets in Los Angeles. This house is supposedly the single largest privately held house in California. San Simeon, the former estate of William Randolph Hearst, holds the record but it is now a museum.
The Spelling house was built on the site of Bing Crosby’s former house which was torn down for the location. It is enormous even by the standards of the most wealthy out here. A 10-15,000 sq ft house is about as big as any really get. Even the Governator’s house is only about that size. It is in a great location.
Who would want to blow that much money for a house in “Baja Norte”, Mexico?
But they are all Democrat “progressive” leftists and for the little people. Right, Carl Grossman??
ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. [Sorry Roger Rabbit] If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don’t be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won’t have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.
40
If all the Republican CEOs who mouth the words “free market” meant what they said, here’s what would happen when they go to bankruptcy court to dump their pension obligations on taxpayers and break their union contracts: The company would go BANKRUPT. That means no more company. That means production would stop, the plants would be shuttered and the equipment sold off, and if there wasn’t enough money to pay the pensioners, the execs would get a check for their vacation pay instead of severance packages, and the shareholders and bondholders would get NOTHING.
Here’s what really happens under the American system of corporate socialism: The taxpayers get the bill for the company’s pensions, the union contract is abrogated and the workers take a pay cut and buy their own health insurance, the company stays in business, and the CEO gets a big raise.
57 – Really? How many taxpayer dollars ended up on Chrysler’s balance sheet?
Answer: Zero.
Since you are obviously ignorant of what happened, let MTR educate you.
Gummint guaranteed loans to Chrysler. The actual dollars came from commercial banks. But the banks didn’t trust Chrysler, so gummint agree to guarantee the loans of Chrysler defaulted. Iacocca came in and turned the place around. The loans were repaid early with interest and NOT ONE FUCKING PENNY of taxpayer money ever went to them.
Roger Rabbit’s Grade: F
Try again dumass…
Rabbit, I know what’s next, so be VERY careful…
Roger,
You don’t say what the poverty levels are, so how can we tell if we like your plan?
I think I like my mortgage interest deduction. It lets me keep my house.
I don’t recall what started the bailout mania, but I remember Continental Illinois Bank was an early big one. A lot of people opposed the government bailout of CIB, arguing that if Congress took this step there would be no end to big companies coming to the taxpayers with outstretched tin cup. Turns out they were right. The demand for free money is infinite.
the government didn’t pay any money when all of the savings and loans collapsed?
the government didn’t pay any money when the airlines were distressed after 9/11?
the government didn’t pay for security in airports by establishing TSA?
61
Redneck, I have some loans I’d like you to co-sign. Since I fully intend to repay all of them, there will be no cost to you, except in the extremely unlikely event that I default these loans. When can we meet?
ROGER RABBIT POLL
How many of you think the government’s co-signing of $1 billion of loans to Chrysler that banks wouldn’t have made without the government’s guarantee of repayment was a “bailout?”
[ ] 1. Yes
[ ] 2. No
63
Okay, tell you what, since you don’t like my plan let’s keep the mortgage deduction AND progressive-rate tax.
63
Mac, why do I have to be your fucking research assistant? Click here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P.....ted_States and scroll 1/3 of the way down the page.
I have a 8% loan so my interest is very high……….
Redneck – I picked Chrysler because it set a precedent. If you’re going to define “bailout” as an actual expenditure or loss of public dollars, then Continental Illinois Bank would serve as your example because the federal government owned and operated it for 10 years due to the fact no private banking organization had the resources to assumes CIB’s liabilities.
70
Why haven’t you refinanced? Usually, you get the best re-fi deal from your existing lender. Virtually all mortgage lenders will let you buy a lower rate. Although rates have risen, it’s not too late for you, because 8% is still well above the market rate for a 30-year-fixed, which are around 6.5%. If you can handle the payments on a 15-year loan, you can do even better.
I think I like my mortgage interest deduction. It lets me keep my house.
Commentby sgmmac [I bet you also like your union parasite “guvment” job.]
Here’s an example of a real corporate bailout:
One of the wealthiest men in the fucking world wants to build a new building to conduct operations. He could easily pay for the building out of his pocket, but because he is a self centered greedy jerk, and because the voters in the city where he does business are gullible, stoopid, and lack character, they agree to create a special tax to give to him so he can build his building. Without this money, he said he would have to close up shop and maybe move operations to another city. By doing this, he has so far has an unrealized holding gain in his company of approximately $600M.
Moonbat quiz:
Whos is this man and what is his business? Answer later…
Roger,
I know that can not be right……..
the poverty level for one person is 9,800?
A family of 5 is 23,400?
Must be that minimum wage thing…………..
David: do you think that the reason it costs more to educate Seattle’s children might have to do with the fact it is probably the most diverse population with the most needs? I am one of a few teachers who believes in vouchers. I think all kids should have choice and be able to get the best education wherever they can. There is no doubt in my mind, however, that public schools will be left with those children with the most needs. How can we remedy that? I teach at a high-end school. We have not problem getting money. There is a lot of waste in the District – my opinion. Mercer Island is one of the top performing districts on the WASL. Can you think of any other reason for that than just better schools for less money?
RHP6033 – I agree with most of what you say. However, in my school, most teachers are there early and home late. Some very late but most leave around 5 or 5:30. We do recess and get a 30 minute lunch – one break a day. I, too, have some angst about teachers who come in at 8:30 (or whatever start time it is) and leave at 3:40 (or whatever). They are not teaching well. Also, the best and the brightest used to teach because there were not a lot of options for very smart women. Now there are. Education is attracting lesser qualified people I hate having substitutes because they can’t manage, follow directions, spell, or get anything done with competence. That sounds harsh . . . but I’m feeling harsh towards substitutes – many are beginning teachers – these days.
My one quibble with you is your point about discipline. Kunstler told an anecdotal story about speaking in front of a high school group that was so rude he finally threw a few of them out. Later, when he asked the teachers why they hadn’t done that, they responded that they would have to file paperwork. (LOL)
Starting at kindergarten, parents have little respect and great demands for their children. Yes, they should be vigilant and demand the best. But it goes much farther than that. They are often undisciplined and frequently defend the poor behavior of their children over the teacher’s attempts at discipline. This whole scenario maxes out at high school where rudeness maxes out. It is easy to talk a good game but you might actually take a year off and try it out one of these days.
It is not as easy as it looks – as your mother well knows.
As for Asian schools, they have a lot higher expectations for their kids both in respect and effort. It is a different ethic over there. When you train the parents to train the kids, we’ll be more successful at teaching them.
@74
Paul Allen
@73
I’ve never been in a union…….. I did have a government job for 30 years…….. a federal government job where I worked for a living!
Okay librul moonbats how much money is not enough? David Wright levels a great charge at your moonbat teachers. Look at how many didn’t pass the WASL. BTW, my kids scored in the >90%ile, while many moonbats have to send their kids to remedial learning classes. Why? They don’t care what they do at home. Look at moonbat Seattle: 66% pass the WASL? Yip yip yippee!
The 80,985 K-12 private school students in Washington made up seven percent of the total K-12 students in Washington in 2003. In the Seattle school district, the largest in the state, the proportion of private school students was significantly higher – 15,190 out of 47,853 (32%).
While the administration of private schools is different from public schools, their costs per student can be one indicator to judge public education expenditures. About 36% of overall private school students in Washington attend Catholic schools (aprox. 29,000 Catholic school students in 2002-03). The average actual cost for educating a child at a Catholic elementary or high school in Western Washington is $7,696, about $2,000 less than the $9,454 spent per K-12 public school student in Washington. The average actual cost for educating a child at a Catholic school in Eastern Washington is $4,128 and in Central Washington it is $4,170, both about $5,000 less than is spent for public school students.
The Washington Federation of Independent Schools surveyed 122 private and religious schools in Washington about the 2003-04 school year. The Federation found that the average private school tuition in Washington for grades 1-4 was $5,095, the average tuition for grades 5-8 was $6,109 and the average tuition for high school was $8,249. The survey also asked whether the tuition covered the school’s actual costs per student. Twenty-six percent of schools reported that their actual cost was at or below their tuition, 53% reported that their actual cost was between $1 and $1,500 more than their tuition, and 21% reported that their actual cost was more than
$1,500 higher than their tuition.
A more long-term view of how Washington education spending compares to other states can also be useful. Washington state and local K-12 expenditures per capita have been above the 50-state average every year between 1980 and 2000 (the last year for which the comparison is available). While the figure has gone up and down over the years, it has not dropped below the national average for two decades.
http://www.washingtonpolicy.or.....2004-6.htm
Commentby Kim Jong-il— 7/5/06@ 7:13 pm – In reality it was Left Turd! He claimed to do my “daughter”. Keep up the “good” work leftturdy!
65
“the government didn’t pay any money when all of the savings and loans collapsed?”
Mark will tell you the government didn’t “bail out” the S & L’s because all of that money ($500 billion) was paid to depositors.
The “bailout” terminology comes into play in the S & L case because the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) did not
have enough assets to make whole all the insured depositors, so Congress spent about $500 billion of taxpayer funds to augment FDIC’s proprietary funds.
In other words, the government bailed out the FDIC, a government-owned entity, not the privately owned S & Ls, which did not receive government money and weren’t saved — they went out of business.
The situation with publicly-financed pension bailouts is a bit different. Here, the companies are using bankruptcy rules written for their benefit by a Republican Congress to repudiate the pensions they promised their workers, and the government is picking up the tab — while the companies stay in business, pay large salaries to executives, and conceivably could make profits for shareholders. This is a “bailout” in the purest sense of the term, because it amounts to a direct government subsidy to the companies at taxpayer expense, and insulates the companies from being sued by the workers for their pensions. (This is straightforward; the pensions are owed by contract, and can be enforced by obtaining a judgment and then seizing the company’s assets.)
The GOP has given the term “bankruptcy” a whole new meaning. It used to mean you were broke and went out of business. Now it means you stay in business and the taxpayers help pay for your labor costs and contract obligations.
Roger,
Long story as to why, suffice it to say that I accomplished pretty much the same thing. A refinance would lower my monthly payments and give me more money every month, but it wouldn’t necessarily pay off my loan any faster. Because I was getting so much back from the IRS, I raised my exemptions to S5 and I get more money every month.
MTR: I guess Howard Schultz, the Stupidvomits and Starbuck Arena!
Puddy
Roger right on. These repubs have no dignity. They should at least try the boys club before they come running with their hands out. Courage rabbit, courage.
Skagit: I almost railed on you for an earlier comment but then you surprised me with the support for school vouchers. You are right about the best women leaving for newer pastures. We have east coast relatives in school system. It’s just as bad there. The libruls have made school a political correctness factiry whereas you can’t do anything without filling out paperwork. Discipline? Went out the window when the NEA went to full moonbat mode past the left field fowl (spelled correctly here) pole!
Skagit you are living the result of moonbat schooling policies over the last 40 years. Let moonbats rule the roost and what do they say? “We need more money” not “We need to be accountable”.
I raised my exemptions to S5 and I get more money every month.
Commentby sgmmac— 7/5/06@ 8:37 pm
I agree. Never give the guvmint more money up front than you need to! It’s your money. But beware of moonbats wanting to be in charge in 2008!
79
I don’t claim to be an expert on school finance, but it does occur to me that public schools have to take all students, including those that are harder and more expensive to educate (e.g., students with learning and/or physical disabilities), whereas private schools can (and do) cherry-pick students.
I would also expect a public school to have higher administrative costs because, as a public institution, it has to do things a private school doesn’t have to do. It has to comply with public records laws — and needs to employ staff for that function. It has an elected school board that holds public hearings to make policy. Gathering public input and accomodating a wide array of demands from the public it serves is always a large budget item for any governmental or quasi-governmental organization. You need more administrators because there’s more things a public school has to comply with, such as state-mandated budget accounting and controls, and complying with state curriculum requirements, which differ significantly from what private schools are allowed to do.
Nowadays, we hear about public schools employing security personnel. Private schools don’t have that need; they can simply kick out problem students. Public schools aren’t allowed to do that; they’re required by law to accomodate students who need extra supervision or special programs.
As a general rule, the most expensive way to do anything is to hire government to do it, and I’m sure that’s as true of education as it is of building bridges or cleaning up toxic waste.
When you hire government to do something, you are paying for all the say the public gets in what the government does and how it goes about it.
The librul run schools kind of reminds you of that old Will Rogers line, it takes a lot of money just to get beaten.
Rabbit Pellet: Did you agree witht the Cato Institute thinking on the Chrysler Bailout in 1980
http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/PA00Aes.html
Now moonbats before you start screeching about the libertarian Cato Institute, wikipedia gives a good description of their policies. But for the record, for the cluesless will skip over wikipedia’s definition and enter the moonbat twilight zone!
BTW FTC, you haven’t called for my banning lately. I guess that truth serum lately being served on the silver teaspoon is working? YEah, I left myself open for the potshot. I want to see how clever FTC is these days. Lately his commentary is rubbish!
When you hire government to do something, you are paying for all the say the public gets in what the government does and how it goes about it.
Commentby Roger Rabbit— 7/5/06@ 8:51 pm
Maybe, just maybe it might not be the best thing for govmint to run schools if thats the case. Right?
Pellet maker sez:”Nowadays, we hear about public schools employing security personnel. Private schools don’t have that need; they can simply kick out problem students. Public schools aren’t allowed to do that; they’re required by law to accomodate students who need extra supervision or special programs.”
Why is that Pellet maker? Maybe there is same code of student ethics still at private schools that has been removed from public schools by moonbat policies over the years?
I did have a government job for 30 years…….. a federal government job where I worked for a living!
Commentby sgmmac [Oxymoron: Hard working Federal employee!! “Gotta gets dat guvment check!!”
When you hire government to do something, you are paying for all the say the public gets in what the government does and how it goes about it.
Commentby Roger Rabbit— 7/5/06@ 8:51 pm
Bro Dan Rather Kennedy, you stole my line dammit! Let me add this:
Pellet maker: The issue with guvmint run anything are inefficiencies on a high magnitude! Also the original reason the guvmint was asked to perform the task is lost on those put in charge. They run off and do their own thing and never are accountable to the original people who put them in there ever again.
Bro Pat Kennedy: Lay off of sgmmac! She is one of the good guys! She did 30 in the military when you did 20.
STATELINE, Nev.-A bear cub drew a crowd of spectators at a Lake Tahoe neighborhood as it munched on stolen barbecue-chicken-and-jalapeno pizza in the back seat of a vintage red Buick convertible.It also apparently washed it down with a swig of a Jack Daniel’s mixer, an Absolut vodka and tonic, and a beer taken from a cooler, the vehicle’s owner said.
Bears emulating looting New Orleans Democrat Liberals…I love it!
Skagit @76: In my first post, I admitted that Seattle having a more difficult population was a resonable excuse for some spending disparity. The problem is that is has become an all-purpose excuse for any level of disparity. As you yourself point out, there are other factors like inefficiencies in the system. As you have also realized, the pressures of a competitive marketplace would be an effective way to squeeze out those inefficiencies. Vouchers would do this, but they are so far from politically possible in this district that they are not even worth arguing about. But even without vouchers we could improve things dramatically if we used money to incentivize staff and administrators.
@79: 66% pass the 4th grade WASL at my child’s wealthy neighborhood elementary school. District-wide, the fraction is just 36%.
95
Sorry Bro Puddy. It’s painfully obvious though. People should view funding for education K-12 the same way they view social security.
David Wright: My point exactly. If you don’t get them early how are they going to improve when they have no clue how to do ‘rithmetic?
The average actual cost for educating a child at a Catholic elementary or high school in Western Washington is $7,696, about $2,000 less than the $9,454 spent per K-12 public school student in Washington.
That’s not right. That would have to be the average for elementary AND high school not OR.
There is NO WAY the average Catholic elementary is over $3500. It’s been about 3 years now since I’ve had a kid in Catholic elementary but then it was just about $2500/year. As far as the Catholic High schools go, Seattle Prep and Holy Names skew the averages. My Catholic High School tuition bill was $6820 last year. Another thing to remember is that there is no one set tuition for any school: in elementary, Catholics who are parishioners pay a different tuition than Catholics who are non parishioners and NON-Catholics pay yet a 3rd rate. It’s the same in the high schools. Those variables also skew the averages.
Puddin’head Kennedy:
“The libruls have made school a political correctness factiry whereas you can’t do anything without filling out paperwork. Discipline? Went out the window when the NEA went to full moonbat mode past the left field fowl (spelled correctly here) pole!
Skagit you are living the result of moonbat schooling policies over the last 40 years. Let moonbats rule the roost and what do they say? “We need more money” not “We need to be accountable”.
Please interpret. I thought litigation had something to do with it.
82
Be wary of the cash flow trap, Mac. You may be paying through the nose for more cash flow today. The idea is not to maximize current cash flow, but to maximize the percentage of your income being saved, i.e., being used to build net worth.
In some circumstances, paying interest is okay, for example if you borrow money at 6% to buy a house that’s appreciating more than 6% a year, you come out ahead by going into debt. But the general rule is, debt is the enemy of saving, because the money going to interest comes out of the money you can save.
For a person of modest means, getting rid of debt is essential to building net worth. Barring an inheritance or winning the lottery, the only place you can get starting capital is from the income left over after your expenses. You should, of course, keep discretionary spending under control but interest payments are the Giant Pac-Man that keeps ordinary people from investing to build net worth. Most people don’t have more than about 1/3 of their income left over after essential expenses, and if they’re paying 25% of their income to lenders, that doesn’t leave much to save, does it?
So, your financial strategy should focus on maximizing your savings rate, which in turn depends on getting rid of debt — not on your short-term cash flow. Never pay more interest to put more spending money in your pocket!
Here is a link to a free download of an interest rate calculator. http://www.hsh.com/hbcalc.html It’s actually 10 different calculators; you want the one that says “Amortization Schedule.” This calculator lets you plug in prepayments. Play with it a little bit, and pay attention to what a few relatively small prepayments (known in the banking trade as “payments of additional principal) early in the life of a mortgage do to the total interest you will pay over the life of the loan.
If you can free up a relatively modest amount of cash every month — say 25% of your mortgage payment — you can literally buy your house for a third off! Let’s take the following example to illustrate how this works:
In July 2006, you buy a $300,000 house for 20% down and take out a $240,000 30-year 8% fixed-rate mortgage. According to HSH’s amortization calculator, the monthly payment is $1,761.03, and if you make no prepayments, the house will cost you $693,978.46 ($300,000 + $393,978.46).
However, if you add 25% of $1,761.03 to your payment every month, i.e. make a prepayment of $440.25 for the life of the loan, you will pay only $189,929.55 in interest and the house will cost you $489,929.55, or 70.6% of what you would have paid for the house if you didn’t retire principal indebtedness early. In addition, you will get rid of your mortgage payment entirely in only 16 years and 4 months, barely more than half the 30 years you would be paying if you made no prepayments.
The average actual cost for educating a child at a Catholic elementary or high school in Western Washington is $7,696, about $2,000 less than the $9,454 spent per K-12 public school student in Washington.
The $9,454 is under stated. This per pupil cost does not include building maintenance and facility costs. The real number is a lot higher.
Ding ding ding ding ding…. Mac @77 is correct.
Paul Allen is the freeloading billionaire who sold the gullible fools in Seattle that they had to bail out the seahawks so the pathetic fucking losers in seattle could go worship their heros.
This was a REAL bailout. Tax dollars get transferred from MY wallet to his. The latest estimates are that the seahawks are now worth $600M more than he paid for the franchise.
Seems like the decent thing for him to do someday would be to repay that taxpayers who made it possible for him to make all that money? Anybody think he will?
If you were wise, and didn’t spend the money you saved, way down the road you’ll have $104,048.91 (plus compound interest) of savings you otherwise wouldn’t have had. Invested in 4.5% CDs, that’s $390.18 of additional monthly income for the rest of your life. You didn’t have to work for it; it all came from money you didn’t give to your lender.
Have I got your attention yet?
105
Gee Mark, you and I agree on something. Now Seattle has a chance to be stoopid again — Howard Schulz (also a billionaire) and his Sonics are asking for a $200 million bailout. What should we (ahem) say to him?
(Hint: F U C K Y O U)
Please interpret. I thought litigation had something to do with it. Commentby skagit— 7/5/06@ 9:32 pm
Litigation? Let’s see the ACLU. People for the American Way. What happened to Jaime Escalante and Joe Clark? What happened to Principal Mary in Chicago who separated the little black boys from the little black girls and the test scores escalated in inner city Chicago schools? LAWSUITS.
I hope that interpretation helped!
107 Pellet: Sorry you are a johnny cum lately. Howard Schulz and Starbuck Arena are my lines. Hint: You can keep the hint! If you are agreeing with Puddy well welcome to the right side!
David @ 98: You didn’t comment on why Mercer Island seems to score very, very high in the WASL and the SSD average is so much less. Can’t you think of one reason other than the teaching? I can. And I’m pretty hard on my colleagues and the District overall.
I’m late to the game, but here goes:
MTR doesn’t think the Chrysler loan guarantees were a cost to the government. But in fact what it did was allow for Chrysler to borrow funds at below-market rates (that is, below market rates for a bankrupt firm). If you don’t think this is a bailout, then take a look at Boeing’s charge in the WTO against Airbus – it is claiming that the French and German government’s guarantees to Airbus amount to an unlawful subsidy.
Who cares about education? The policies of the Bush regime have brought the whole world to the brink of a nuke war. Congratulations righties. You wanted this now you get it. That coward Bush is gonna cause you and your kids to be blown to bits and you know what, the world will end up being a better place without you. Maybe the remaining humans will write the history of Bush’s massive incompetence in stone so that future generations will know it was a draft-dodging puss bag that caused the end of the world!
112
Dont forget he was the first president since 1988 to be elected by a majority of voters. No small task given all the fraudulent votes for the democrats. Also the first president to ever receive over 60 million votes.
Skagit@110: Yes, I too can think of several reasons that Mercer Island and Seattle would have different output/input ratios, besides differences in the staff and administration. Obviously it’s not right to assume that all other factors are equal between them. Equally obviously, Seattle shouldn’t be able to use those other factors as a get-out-of-jail-free card that absolves it of responsibility for all its inefficiencies. To really do this right, you need to do a study that controls for those other factors.
My comparison of my child’s elementary school to east-side schools is a simplistic attempt at such a “study”. By and large, my neighborhood school does not have the problem children that the larger Seattle school district does, and has many of the same advantages of east-side schools. The fact it still has a worse output/input ratio than those east-side schools is a hint that something is wrong with the Seattle schools structurally.
On a larger stage, if you google a bit, you will come across scads of factor-controlling studies that have concluded that the relationship between education spending and outcomes, when other factors are controlled for, is weak. (Here’s one; here’s another.)
If you want structural change, you need to change the structures that people inhabit, i.e. their incentives.
Now they just need to work on DE-SEGREGATING Graham Hill.
It is outrageous that they have two grossly segregated programs there — a Montessori program that 85% or so of the white students attend, and a regular program that 85% or so of the minority students attend.
Evidently, the liberal Democrats that run the Seattle School District don’t see any problem with this sort of segregation.
This matter needs to be investigated by the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education. If they find that the Seattle School District is running a racially segregated program like this at Graham Hill, they can force the school to be integrated by threatening to cut off all federal funding to the entire district.
Maybe the remaining humans will write the history of Bush’s massive incompetence in stone so that future generations will know it was a draft-dodging puss bag that caused the end of the world!
Commentby LeftTurn— 7/5/06@ 10:12 pm
If lefties are all that is left we all know history will be rewritten. It can not be lefty history if it is factual.
Who cares about education? – Commentby LeftTurn
We on the right still do!
@94
I did more work in the Army before 9am than most people do all day and then we work until 5pm or lights out…….
Roger,
You definitely got my attention. I didn’t plan for the 8%. I bought in 2000 and that was the rate, a year or so later, it dropped. I will play with the calculator and see what I come up with.
Thanks for the link!
Being a parent from one of those inequitable “North End Schools” I agree with your assessment in regards to how families are being forced to fundraise to get what should be provided by the State in funding and thus you get a large different in success of schools based on demographics. I do feel a large part of this is volunteer hours as well though – the involvement of parents in their children’s education has a large influence on performance as well and some families have more time, money and more history of this involvement in their families growing up.
I was shocked touring the “North End” schools to see what the fundraising money (and a good deal of it) provides – things that were naturally part of my schooling growing up, and the conditions of the schools were hard for me to try to look past.
I am angered by the legislature that they are not making education spending more of a priority and that the city tries to block initiatives that parents and teachers are fighting for to get the money elsewhere (though I agree that the state should be providing that money).
Yes. Seattle Schools funding is cronically inadequate.
Yes. Seattle has had a messed up process for determining which schools to close.
But! Seattle’s demographics are constently shifting and the school district needs to be able to reallocate resources without everyone going apeshit. When I was going through school on Mercer Island, over the course of 5 years, the district closed 2 of its 5 elementary schools and one of it’s two junior highschools. The highschool is the only school on the Island that I went to that survives. Was it disturbing? A little, but shifting demographics made it clearly necessary.
I know that you are passionate about your school, and I’m relieved, on your behalf that it is off the list, but you must surely recognize that, in principle, shifting demographics require changes to the number of schools. Seattle needs an ongoing process of re-evaluating which schools should remain open, which schools should close, and perhaps, which schools should be reopenned. I, for one, think that the district should consider building schools to serve the Bell Town neighborhood. But right now, the district is so hamstrung by the advocates for this school or that school that it can’t step up to the plate and allocate resources creatively to improve education for the whole city, not just this school, or that school.
Dave, I fear that in your NIMBY-like advocacy for your school, as opposed to the whole district, you’ve put yourself on the wrong side of improving education in Seattle.
The ballots counted so far showed the conservative, Felipe Calderón, with the narrowest of leads, fewer than 400,000 votes, over his leftist opponent, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Mr. López Obrador’s challenge made it clear that this country was about to live through its own version of the drawn-out legal battle that Americans experienced in the 2000 presidential race. Mexico’s dispute, however, instead of being focused on one state, could be nationwide…. Foreign election observers said the election was transparent and largely free of problems, adding that the system could even be a model for many other countries.”
Well it not just the lefties in the states but all lefties are sore loooooosers.
108
Your grasp of the ACLU — what it is, what it defends, and why — is as superficial as your understanding of other public issues.
109
Puddy Tat — if you want to get into a hissing contest over who started flipping off greedy sports teams promoters first, I’m pretty sure I have you beat. I’ve been doing it for a looooong time.
121
I hope the state stays out of giving more money to the Seattle publics schools. If the citizens of Seattle want to sink more money in a hopelessly broken system thats one thing, but dont ask citizens outside Seattle to fund it.
111
Anytime you co-sign a loan for someone, you’re bailing them out. It may, or may not, end up costing you money out of pocket — buuut you took a risk.
Here’s where MTR’s “cost” argument bites him in the ass: Just ask him if he’s willing to assume a financial risk without being compensated. For example, ask him if he’s willing to put his money into a risky stock for the same return he would get from an insured bank account.
ROGER RABBIT POLL
In today’s problem, we’re going to test Mark the Redneck’s financial reflexes. Assume Mark is a laboratory rat (hehe). We’re going to test his reactions to two different kinds of cheese.
Cheese A is a yummy, delectable CD that’s guaranteed to taste good and make a warm glow in his tummy, and pays 4.25% interest.
Cheese B is rancid, smells bad, and there’s a 50% chance that eating it will make him vomit — it also pays 4.25% interest.
In our experiment, we’re going to put both plates of cheese in front of Mark the Rat. If he eats either one, a mechanical arm takes away the other one. In other words, he can have whichever cheese he wants, but only one.
Will Mark eat Cheese B?
[ ] 1. Yes
[ ] 2. No
The correct answer, of course is “no” because no rat with any of his senses or instincts intact will eat a rotten cheese that may make him sick when he can eat a tasty fresh cheese.
So who gets the rotten cheese? Why, the government, of course. To explain this metaphor further:
Government guarantees the loans that no for-profit lender will touch.
Government educates the students who are most difficult and expensive to teach (e.g., students with disabilities).
Government takes on the jobs no willing company or individual wants (e.g., fighting wars).
Getting the picture here? Government is the cheese-eater of last resort. Government is where you go when no one else will eat your cheese. Congress is where Chrysler went when no one else would back the loan they needed to stay afloat. This is called a “bailout.”
122
Obrador and his supporters justifiably want to know where 2.5 million “votes” that magically appeared out of nowhere came from.
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They are legal votes. Mexico requires a voter ID at the polls unlike here.
17
“It is interesting that despite the large numbers of rather wealthy people residing in Western Washington, we do not have an income tax.”
The Gates Commission recommended we replace the B & O tax and reduce the sales tax with a state income tax, and Ron Sims campaigned for governor on that platform. It would certainly be fairer than our current regressive tax system.
The opposition, of course, is coming from the pampered affluent classes who are grossly under-contributing to the state’s expenses under the current tax system.
The Gates commission found the bottom 20% of households pay over 4 times as much of their income in state and local taxes as the top 20% — 17% vs. 4%. That’s right, our state’s wealthiest residents pay only 4% of their income in state and local taxes.
Small business, by contrast, carries 41% of the state tax burden — compared to an average of 30% in other western states, according to the Gates Commission report. Big business (e.g., Boeing, Microsoft, Weyerhauser) isn’t concerned about the overtaxation of business, because they get special tax breaks that effectively put them in the under-taxed class.
So, it’s the working class households and modest-sized businesses that are carrying the freight while big business and households with the most money skate.
So, once again, who opposes a state income tax? The well-to-do F R E E L O A D E R class, that’s who.
Are you surprised? Nah, I didn’t think so.
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Dufus — do you have some facts to support your assertion, or are you just blowing smoke out of your ass? (pause) Yeah, I thought so.
Republicans like to talk about Washington’s “hostile business environment.” What they don’t tell you is that our regressive tax system — and specifically the B & O tax — discourages business formation and drives businesses away from our state.
They don’t tell you that, because they don’t like the solution — making THEM pay their fair share of state and local taxes.
Why should liberals care about small business owners? After all, probably the majority of them are rabid Republicans. Well, because of fairness, for one thing. But the overtaxation of small businesses also affects workers. Small business is the source of over 90% of new jobs. Our regressive tax system, by driving away small businesses, costs workers jobs.
So, the working class is paying twice — they’re paying more than their fair share of taxes, and they’re paying part of small businesses’ share too, in the form of lost employment opportunities and higher unemployment.
The next time you hear a Republican small business owner railing against the B & O tax, ask him if he supports revenue-neutral tax reform that includes replacing the B & O tax with a state income tax, accompanied by a sales tax reduction. If he says “no way, no how!,” turn your back on him, smile, and walk away. It’s a waste of time to talk with him — there’s nothing we need to discuss or negotiate with
F R E E L O A D E R S
Hey Goldy- If you’re SOOOOO interested in your daughter’s education, why don’t you just put her little ass on a bus and send her to Mercer Island? Or- think about school vouchers! I find it curious that super-liberal Seattle has a super-liberal School Board, Super-liberal WEA teacher control and li’l Johnny STILL can’t freaking read! Ever heard about cause and effect?
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Look it up fur ball. Mexico requires a voter ID at the polls to vote. Some of the same illegal voters who voted for Gore here had to show an ID down there before being permitted to vote.
re 50
concerned parent:
When CAC took TOPS off their list at the last minute, we all knew then it was ALL about the loud voices. Give me a break.
Given the slightly above average test scores for their area of the regular curriculum students at Graham, the superintendent had to mention the disparity within the school to give some cover to the poor reasoning that went into the initial CAC recomendation and the flawed nature of the CAC endeavor to begin with.
The Viewlands parent @ 26 above hit it right on the head with the question: What happened at Bagley and Viewlands between now and the last time a closure list was made? Not very much. It reaks of cover for some unspoken political or financial purpose, marginally connected to helping students now, if at all.
Whenever I see in school materials that “We do everything for the maximum benefit of each individual child” I know that’s bogus. Clearly, some individuals will suffer with any change. This is why school boards generally are often so bizarrely disfunctional (when not corrupt), because the social, political, economic pressures on them are so intense that they end up lying constantly and have to smile while doing it.
Believe what you want. Loud voices did not win the day. The CAC’s reasoning on TOPS wasn’t flawed; that particular recommendation stopped because Thurgood Marshall was taken off the list, not because TOPS couldn’t be moved.
Also, to Rod, good for your forward thinking. There should be a downtown school for the residents there and for people who work downtown who would love to be able to drop their child off at school and go to work and have their child nearby. It will be interesting to see if Seattle Center gets rebuilt; will Center School also be part of that plan?
Bagley really is doing better on most criteria and that was the difference between it and Viewlands (plus Viewlands is very underenrolled and Bagley isn’t).
There are no kids in downtown seattle.
Get off your high horses. Business is holding up this state with the B&O tax. Bigtime. Especially service businesses. The reason small business owners diss an income tax is because they are already paying one with B&O and know that legislators will simply add in income tax and KEEP B&O and we’ll all be paying TWO income taxes therefore (Us small business owning families, that is). They could keep the B&O if they’d just cut it down by 1/2 to 2/3 for service businesses. But you guys haven’t paid taxes til you’ve seen that service B&O tax bill come floating your way. Then you’ll know what I’m talking about.
@138 What are you smoking?.
Yes, there are children downtown.
Yes,you are a delusional wingnut.
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