Laslo Weger - Education

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Parents do not have an obligation to pay for their children's college. That is something parents will do to ensure better future for their kids; but because they _want_ to, not because they _have_ to.

Teachers should not receive performance-based merit pay. Unfortunately, the word "performance" in this question refers to "performance" of the students (this is how this issue got framed in the media). And that would not be fair for the teachers: one can lead a horse to the water, but he cannot make it drink. Besides, teacher's "merit" is extremely subjective. Is it a better teacher that prevents one bad student from dropping out of the school, or a teacher who has three good students succeed in their colleges? I do not think it can be easily measured...

Meditation should not be incorporated into education. "The three R's" first. When the kids can find US on the world map, and count the change, and are still bored, why not, give them meditation...

Higher education is a right. I take this question literally, that is, I assume it means "Should the federal law prohibit any group of US citizens from obtaining higher education?" To which the answer is simple. However, I do not believe everyone should be guaranteed higher educatio

The government should not offer cash incentives for better student performance. My salary is THIS much bigger than theirs thanks to my better 'student performance'. That should be the only cash incentive. Government should stay out of this.

The federal government should not guarantee sufficient financial aid for every college student. I am sick and tired of being, seemingly, the only one who earns my own way through the world, paying for everybody else along the way.

All-day kindergarten should not be mandatory. There is no reason to force parents to give up their kids to the state.

The public school systems in America would not be improved if they were federalized. They would improve just like the baggage screeners improved after they got federalized... But seriously, education is a local/state issue, not federal.

Education should not have a higher priority in the federal budget than military spending. Federal government should not fund education; education is a state and local community issue.

Private schools should not receive public funding. Once private schools start receiving public funds, the government will want to extend control over them (if they pay for something they have all the rights to control that, right?). And then we will have public schools only...

States should not be forced to fund the federally mandated No Child Left Behind Act. Federales mandate, federales pay.

Schools should not punish students for not reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The last thing our "free" country needs is punishing kids who do not toe the (party) line. It is just like the old witticism: "Beating will continue until morale improves".

Abstinence-only sex education should not be taught in schools. As the evidence shows abstinence-only education is at best waste of time and money (that is, causes no change in behavior), and at worst causes raises in teen pregnancy ratio and teen STD ratio.

It is not acceptable for courses on the Bible to be taught in public schools. Beside the obvious church-state separation issue, there is another one. Over 50% of 18-year-old Americans cannot find New York State on the map of US. Not even half high school kids can calculate average age of five children. And some want to waste school

Schools should not practice social promotion. It is convenient to promote some individuals, so that the teacher doesn't have to deal with them yet another year. But it is (1) removing an incentive to learn anything, and (2) decreasing the value of diploma.

Prayer should not be permitted in public schools. Besides the obvious establishment clause problems, I have another issue. There is over 20 religions with 1 million or more adherents (and that considering Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox together). In US you have good chance to have representatives of

Universal preschool should not be free in America. Any "free" thing in America is paid for with my taxes. I do not see any reason for me paying preschool tuition of others' children.

Teachers should not receive performance-based merit pay. Unfortunately, the word "performance" in this question refers to "performance" of the students (this is how this issue got framed in the media). And that would not be fair for the teachers: one can lead a horse to the water, but he cannot make it drink. Besides, teacher's "merit" is extremely subjective. Is it a better teacher that prevents one bad student from dropping out of the school, or a teacher who has three good students succeed in their colleges? I do not think it can be easily measured...

Higher education is a right. I take this question literally, that is, I assume it means "Should the federal law prohibit any group of US citizens from obtaining higher education?" To which the answer is simple. However, I do not believe everyone should be guaranteed higher educatio

Parents do not have an obligation to pay for their children's college. That is something parents will do to ensure better future for their kids; but because they _want_ to, not because they _have_ to.

UNKNOWN: Should the government issue vouchers for private school tuition?

UNKNOWN: Has the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act been effective?

UNKNOWN: Should race be a factor in the university admission process?

UNKNOWN: Should the federal government increase higher education subsidies for low-income students?

UNKNOWN: Should school districts give parents a choice of schools?

UNKNOWN: Should American schools offer bilingual classes for native Spanish-speakers?

UNKNOWN: Should the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act be reauthorized?

UNKNOWN: Is there political bias in academia?

UNKNOWN: How do you rate America's education system?

UNKNOWN: Are standardized tests an effective tool for measuring student learning?

UNKNOWN: Should public schools require students to wear uniforms?

UNKNOWN: Are arts programs an essential part of education?

UNKNOWN: Should a school have the right to require that a student take Ritalin or similar drugs?

UNKNOWN: How should reading be taught?

UNKNOWN: Which is the most effective method of education?

UNKNOWN: When should schools begin teaching sex education?

UNKNOWN: Should there be a foreign language requirement in public schools?

UNKNOWN: Should public schools make contraceptives available to students?

UNKNOWN: Should high school students be required to pass an exit exam in order to earn a diploma?

UNKNOWN: Is the classroom an appropriate venue for teachers to express their political opinions?