Halloween Scare

'Twas the night of halloween when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even the cat, the turtle, the lizard, nor Mickey Mouse;

The campaign signs were staked in the lawn with care,

In hopes that the election soon would be here;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of educational choice danced in their heads;

And Sandy in her nightgown, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a fall evening nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I ran kinda fast,

Tore open the curtains and yanked up the blinds ('cause we don't have a sash).

The moon on the expanse of freshly cut grass

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects that'd make one gasp,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a hideous creature -- your absolute worst nightmare,

With a little old chairman, so lively and slick,

I knew in a moment I'd probably be sick

...And then the creature spoke:

Children of Utah, creatures of the state.  Do not trust your parents.  Choice, freedom, and agency are false human emotions.  We don't need no stinking choices!

Do not "Think Different."  Individuality is contrary to the collective.  It will be crushed.  Your education, or lack thereof, will be determined by  majority will.

Your future is controlled by the collective.  Resistance is futile.  You will be assimilated!

Then I heard him exclaim, ere he strode out of sight,

"All-hallows eve to all, and to all a good fright."

  -- Special thanks to Star Trek, Apple, Disney, Clement Clarke Moore for his classic poem "The Night Before Christmas and of course Chair Burningham.

Comments

[Jeremy]

Cute.

You voucher crusaders in the legislature pass an irresponsible piece of legislation then sink to name calling when the vast majority of Utah's voters call you out on it and send the law back to hell where it belongs.

Face it. In this case Burningham has done a lot better job representing Utahns than you jokers.

[John Dougall]

Jeremy: You still claim the law is flawed and irresponsible, yet you fail to back up your statements. Why do you avoid it? Previously I asked for your recommendations for improvementing. You have not been willing or able to make a single recommendation.

Perhaps your collectivist thinking doesn't allow you to recognize the damaging nature of Mr Burningham's agenda. He wants to control the system and dictate to students and parents. He knows best for students. I want to empower parents to find the education that best meets the needs of their students, wherever that might be. I figure that parents know best. When the choice is between backing parental choice or bureaucratic control I will back the parents time after time.

Education (both public and higher ed) needs deregulation, not continued, burdensome government regulation. It would reward excellent teachers and improve student learning. Vouchers help deregulate.

I am a free market advocate, without reservation. I also believe that we should actively help those in need, of our own free will and volition, giving of out time, talent, and earnings. I have little respect for the socialist agenda that is in vogue in society. Government-mandated socialism is just the pit stop on the way to communism. There is a popular notion that the majority should dictate all things. Nothing could more incorrect. Without the protections of minority rights there can be no majority rights, just tyranny.

[Sam]

The main problem that you could correct would be to offer a carrot with your stick (sorry, farmer talk coming through). If you really want to involve the private sector, do so WITHIN the UPASS accountability system. Put out an RFP for districts and charters to PARTNER with private education providers. Trust them to try new things and new partnerships instead of pounding them over the head with a stick until they give in.

[John Dougall]

Sam: You bring up valuable suggestions. I'd suggest dumping UPASS (which I view of little value and have had many teachers concur) for a nationally norm referenced test. This would place the same requirement on the public schools as the eligible private schools that would accept vouchers.

Regarding the RFP, please provide me with additional recommendations. Government is notorious for trying to do it all in house. Outsourcing has been a very valuable opportunity in many areas of business (not all), but governments often oppose outsourcing, except when required for an overwhelmingly compelling reason.

I also don't view vouchers as pounding over the head. I view it as restoring voluntary arrangements between parent and school/teacher. Without that, then you absolutely have pounding over the head on all fronts.

As I've mentioned previously, our valuable and dedicated teachers who are most effective are penalized as a result of those who are not. The increasing burden of regulation has done nothing to change the ineffective teachers, but has increased the workload, decreased the job satisfaction, and demoralized those who are most valuable in the classroom. We can't continue to penalize the good teachers and reward the bad teachers.