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Today's Nuze

"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others."

Ayn Rand

Nobody's listening.

JUST WHAT WE NEED. MORE GOVERNMENT

By
Neal Boortz
@ April 10, 2009 9:06 AM Permalink | Comments (43) | TrackBacks (0)

Our education secretary Arne Duncan had a message for your government educated children out there: Americans need to be in class more. Yep. He wants a six day school week and wants classes to run at least 11 months a year.

Hey, Arne. Here's an idea. Maybe the solution isn't more government indoctrination. Maybe the solution would be to take our children out of the hands of government and let them be educated in schools their parents choose. You might also give some thought to getting rid of the politically correct aspects of our education system and actually try to get back to teaching the basics. You may find this hard to believe, Secretary Duncan, but John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington are actually more important figures in our history than Harriet Tubman. If you really want to compete with schools in India and China, our government education system isn't the way to do it. You could board the children and make them sing "God Bless America" in their sleep ... but they are still coming out with a government education.

And perhaps my favorite part of the whole story is this .... Arne was giving this speech to 400 middle and high school students at a government school in northeast Denver. And when he made the suggestion of adding more class time, he told the children that they could boo him all they want. But instead, Arne was met with nothing more than bored stares.

Yep, that sounds about right. Half of the students were probably text messaging on their cell phones. The other half were probably concerned about who was getting kicked off American Idol that night. The fact is, none of them even cared.

How sad. Almost sad as the thought that this clown actually believes that we'll ever send our children to school six days a week 11 months a year. Ain't going to happen.

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What others are saying

  • I knew it !
    Screw the medical people first. I knew the teachers were going to be next. Forget the idea is Obama a US citizen? Did he fall down from Mars!
    By jan @ 09/29/09 07:13:11 PMreport abuse
  • Arne Duncan
    You need to also consider that Duncan came from the chicago board of ed, one of the WORST School districts in the nation. One would be well advised to do the opposite of whatever he suggests!
    By JWS @ 04/12/09 01:48:39 PMreport abuse
  • Bored Stares
    I think you might be incorrect on why exactly they were bored. I believe that the Education system has robbed them of a lot of independence and freedom.

    Look, for example, at the No Touching Policy you mentioned coming to one school. At my brother's school they aren't allowed to sit where they want at lunch, or they can get in serious trouble. Expulsion goes to those who dare protest with a petition of any kind.

    So, with these thoughts in order, what really happened I am guessing is any kids who was paying attention were far too scared and cowardly to disagree.

    Plus, he was a President Obama staffer. No one argues with someone from the President Obama generation in our age group these days.
    By Troy @ 04/11/09 10:29:48 PMreport abuse
  • original news story says:
    Secretary Duncan says some other things that Neal and the rest of us should agree on, like fighting the teachers unions, having merit and performance pay for teachers, and supporting the DC voucher system.
    The odd thing is, that just a few months ago, schools were considering having school 4 days a week to save on transportation costs (including fuel) and other expenses. Other than helping parents who sometimes work on weekends, I dont agree with the extended hours.
    By R. L. Evans @ 04/11/09 02:23:41 PMreport abuse
  • 6 days of school
    Wow...my 7 year old was saying (before the election) that Obama wanted kids to go to school on Saturdays.
    By Jonathan @ 04/10/09 09:53:50 PMreport abuse
  • shorter school day, replace the teachers
    i'm a foreigner, went to school in europe, came to US for a few months of my senior year in high school. The difference was traumatizing, the students in my american school in 12th grade were doing math that i had in 7th grade.

    Our school days in my country went from 8am to around 1pm, classes lasted 45 minutes - because on average a human brain can focus non-stop for about 30 minutes, we had 15 and 20 minute breaks between classes. It's not about increasing the time that American students spend in school, it's about what they're learning while they're there. American educators are not teaching anything. There has to be a way to increase a teachers pay - privatization seems to be the only way - so that education becomes a competitive filed like law or medicine, and we have our brightest minds going into it, instead of the biggest dumb ##$%^ s, who are teachers because they didn't know what they wanted to do with their lives, and they like the summers off.
    By eve @ 04/10/09 08:48:41 PMreport abuse
  • copyleft
    You have no clue about home schooling. My kids spend 3-5 hours a day and are 2 years ahead of public school.As for the extra time they have, they spend it with the other 1000 plus home schoolers in my county of 80,000. These other home educated student learn the values of thier parents no the drug pushers with their pants down to their knees. By the way I teach both sides so that my kids can defend their beliefs.
    By jimpick @ 04/10/09 07:59:38 PMreport abuse
  • It is not going to happen
    It won't happen because teachers will have to work more hours.
    By Mark.V. @ 04/10/09 04:23:36 PMreport abuse
  • Addendum to the Lipstick
    Outside the racial demographics, you are correct in that it is both the uneducated and the uber educated that form the primary consitutuency of the DP. Your mid degrees are somewhat split as you have the core engineering and sciences to counter balance the liberal arts, education, and lets not forget the psych department. But in the end, it is our uber degreed professors who have the time to theorize and postulate utopian social orders.

    Socialism is awesome until you interject people into it. It is natural for people to strive. Take that away and you take away our humanity. Someone please pass the soma.
    By wxw101 (the Burque) @ 04/10/09 03:17:36 PMreport abuse
  • government schools
    The whole problem with homeschooling is that a LOT of parents don't actually do it or are have strange outlooks on what should be taught. The whole problem with private schools is that you have to have an large bit of extra money to pay for them to get something that is free to everyone already.

    The whole problem with getting rid of government schools is that there will be less kids getting into college because they were not taught anything or taught what they needed to be taught.

    Also, all state colleges are government schools, so the whole government school argument is ridiculous.

    Would we rather have most of the population grow up with no education or government education?

    The biggest point about what is a government school and a private school is the voucher system. If we go to a voucher system, wouldn't ALL SCHOOLS then be government schools, since they would be funded by the government vouchers?
    By Lynne @ 04/10/09 02:42:18 PMreport abuse
  • School year
    He's right. All the countries that kick our butts academically have longer school years by a few weeks. However, they also have shorter school days for students (teachers still work 8 hrs a day).
    By perdidochas @ 04/10/09 02:06:59 PMreport abuse
  • When the government indoctrination centers have kids 24-7...
    ...they still won't be able to make change or tell you the difference between a right and a privilege.

    If you want your children to be responsible, self sufficient, educated adults capable of thinking for themselves(rather than stampeding with any herd), you'd better do it in the home. That's always been so, it just couldn't be much more obvious than it is today.

    The idea that schools teach 'social skills' better than parents homeschooling is a joke. Most of what are called 'social skills' are simply good manners. Being capable of thinking and acting on their own is more valuable to productive social interaction (and developing leadership potential) than lots of practice mooing with the herd.
    By CowboyUp @ 04/10/09 02:02:20 PMreport abuse
  • Lipstick on a Pig
    I read somewhere that most democrats are high school dropouts or have a college education. Since democrats are still stupid after receiving an education, would this condition be kind of like a pig wearing lipstick?
    I would be interesting to see the majors of these democrats.
    By Carlos @ 04/10/09 01:22:42 PMreport abuse
  • Bravo
    "But as for the students' apathy and ignorance--gee, could that be because their PARENTS are useless morons? Why yes, I think it could."

    Bravo to copyleft for recognizing that one of the greatest hinderances to these kids are their parents. Not sure your politically correct brethren would agree though.
    By Matt @ 04/10/09 12:19:32 PMreport abuse
  • I say skip the middleman
    and just park em in front of CNN or Oprah a few hours a day, and you too can have a little Lenin running around the house.

    They are so cute until they grow up.
    By wxw101 (the Burque) @ 04/10/09 12:05:22 PMreport abuse
  • @Red Leader
    What are you talking about? What is ironic? What does this conversation have to do with John McCain?
    By Andre Bradshaw @ 04/10/09 12:04:38 PMreport abuse
  • Schools
    maybe, just maybe it is time for the US to get out of that mentality that the government is responsible for their education, promote the creation of more Private Schools and allow us parents to chose AND pay where our kids get their education.

    Copyleft, once again, you are so stupid you are not worth it.... do some research about Homeschooling and how there are groups for social activities... NEWS FOR YOU, there is a LIFE outside your mom's basement!!
    By Claudia @ 04/10/09 11:53:39 AMreport abuse
  • @copy
    Home schooling is not about isolation. It is about taking an interest in what your child is learning. A responsible parent teaches a child objectively, that is more than we can say for the majority of publicly funded educational facilities.
    This IS the reason it is "not just for scary religious people any more." Americans are waking up to the fact that our children are being taught buy scum.
    By Andre Bradshaw @ 04/10/09 11:46:55 AMreport abuse
  • huh?
    If you were a Komrad Mccain supporter....why would you be complaning about big government? Kind of ironic no?
    By Red Leader @ 04/10/09 11:45:58 AMreport abuse
  • Less can be more
    I'm reminded of my early education at an elementary school (private) that ran 9am to 3pm. We had breaks in there too, and were easily a4 year ahead of the government run dungeon where I next landed - that didn't last long BTW. It was terrible in comparison; longer days, poor lighting, and no time to ourselves. In fairness, the teacher I had at that place was pretty good under the gruff exterior. I think he was quite happy (for me) to see me escape to a private school almost across the street.

    For the government school crowd, I have to admit I later went to a damn good one. Long story, but it seemed a good move; excellent classes, and the larger size was good preparation for college.

    Back to the point: locking kids up for 6/7 days 11/12 months would be just plain stupid.
    By Bill @ 04/10/09 11:37:12 AMreport abuse
  • For-Profit Schools
    I agree with Ross. Schools today are performing exactly what they were intended to. We just don't like what their true goals are!

    I think the old doctrine of go to school, get good grades, get a good job is antiquated. (yes I read Rich Dad Poor Dad) Children should be taught what money is, and how it works, and what breeds success.

    So lets try something new. FOR-PROFIT schools. We believe in capitalism, so put it to work in the schools. The schools would seek funding from corporations, advertisers, small businesses, endowments, ect. Teachers would be paid for performance, but more importantly, so would childern. Good grades = more money. That money could be put in an investment acount where children would be taught the time value of money. When they graduate, the money would be theirs to do as they wish.

    I know this is over simplistic, but most decisions are driven by incentative. For most, a letter grade is no incentive at all. What better way to motivate than money?
    By Shawn @ 04/10/09 11:34:04 AMreport abuse
  • absurd administration
    this administration has more absurd ideas than a man trying to assemble a car in his living room.

    what the heck is wrong wth these people? Are they taking crazy pills?

    we dont need MROE TIME in school.. we need BETTER time in school.. and no.. sorry libs.. that doesn't maen "science and math" we need to teach them ECONOMICS AND HISTORY folks!

    ask a highschool kid what ammendment 10 is and they probably cant tell you.. these kids are being inundated with ignorance and indoctrinated as a result of their ignorance.
    By ATLlistener @ 04/10/09 11:18:38 AMreport abuse
  • I'm OK with longer school year
    I have no problem with an 11 month school year. I've said for years that our school year is too short. I don't see any value in 6 day weeks, and if all they are going to get is the pablum they're getting now the school year is too long.
    By Thomas Mobley @ 04/10/09 11:14:08 AMreport abuse
  • Home schooling...
    "It's not just for scary religious people any more."

    Yeah, great idea: keep the kid even further isolated from society, and the broad range of ideas and knowledge his parents don't have (or aren't capable of).

    Millions of control freaks, trying to ensure that their child is never exposed to a single thought or opinion that they personally don't agree with--that's Education, all right!

    Tell me: If you and your spouse were leaders of the Klan, exactly what would your homeschooled child be learning about the Civil War? Martin Luther King? Brown v. Board of Education?

    THAT'S why isolationist schooling in a hermetic bubble is a bad idea--because once again, you wind up with a kid as ignorant as his parents.
    By Copyleft @ 04/10/09 10:59:56 AMreport abuse
  • I am all for this idea (6 days/11 months) within the following context:

    True school choice where the money really follows the child (think of federal aid for college students). Let each school be set up as an independent entity and come up with its own mission statement and offerings. I can accept some basic overarching requirements set by the state (not the feds).

    So there is a school that offers 6d/11 month. The parents who want their kids in such a school can select that school.

    Maybe another school goes 4d/week, but goes 8am to 5pm.

    Another school focuses on math/science or art/drama.

    I do not think we are ever going to get away from government funding (and I am not sure we should). To me it is less the source of funding than the mandates and other government interventions. At one point in the US our public school systems produced great minds (and they still do). It was not the source of funding that was the problem; it was the restrictions that was the problem.
    By Sam @ 04/10/09 10:55:28 AMreport abuse
  • Copy
    "children deserve a chance to be smarter (and better) than their parents." by our resident idiot Copy

    Too bad they aren't getting the better education. As evidenced by oh let's say.... YOU.

    What do lefties have against home schooling anyway? What does it matter to them? Explain that one CL.
    By Joyce M/Blythe @ 04/10/09 10:42:30 AMreport abuse
  • More skool time
    Maybe Arne just recognizes that kids coming out of government schools are getting more and more stupid.

    His solution to the increase in stupidity is to add more schooling.

    He recognizes the problem, but is offering up the wrong solution (which is very common).

    There is an obscene word in my security code verification box for comment posting. Love it!
    By For Arne @ 04/10/09 10:30:53 AMreport abuse
  • 6 day school week?
    This would never work in Atlanta if they decide to cut back public transportation (MARTA) on Fridays.

    Let's do it! (cut back MARTA that is)
    By SMARTA @ 04/10/09 10:27:01 AMreport abuse
  • No Child Left Behind (or educated)
    My Mother teaches 3rd grade in one of the better Government School Districts. She is giving up this year even though she cannot afford it. The reason is that of the 10000 books she purchased with her own money. It has been 4 years now and she no longer can take time to teach, for the entire day is spent pushing Junior and Jose forward so they can "Achieve" on tests. Instead they can put a robot in the class room that then announces what subject is expected every 25 minutes.
    By Another Listener @ 04/10/09 10:26:09 AMreport abuse
  • Sacrifice
    We really need to get away from sending our children off to be educated by others. Even private schools can fall short. My kid sister is 8. She has been in private school for the past three years. Recently, my parents decided to pull her and start home schooling. She is now learning more in 2 hours than she learned all day at school.
    Class rooms, even small ones, bring all of the children in them down to the dumbest child in the room. We as parents need to step up and make sacrifices for our children. Kudos to booger there and his wife.
    My wife and I have made a similar commitment.

    I would also like to add… a six day school week would not go over well with the Jewish community, assuming that this would be a Monday-Saturday deal.
    By Andre Bradshaw @ 04/10/09 10:16:04 AMreport abuse
  • Quality not quantity
    It shouldn't take at least 11 months a year and 6 days a week to "educate" kids. Hell, there are only 12 months in a year and 7 days a week- when are the parents supposed to step up and do their jobs? Elementary and Secondary School should be tougher and more challenging for the students with the 180 days a year they already have.
    By Chris @ 04/10/09 10:14:25 AMreport abuse
  • the vacant stares...
    Neal, at least, should be used to them. He probably sees them at every rally he attends.

    But as for the students' apathy and ignorance--gee, could that be because their PARENTS are useless morons? Why yes, I think it could.

    And that's exactly why public education is needed--because way too many parents are ignorant, slack-jawed drones, and children deserve a chance to be smarter (and better) than their parents.
    By Copyleft @ 04/10/09 10:12:13 AMreport abuse
  • Private Schools
    Hey. I'm all for private school vouchers. But the private schools have to play by the same rules as the public schools:
    1. The voucher has to be accepted as meeting all tuition costs.
    2. Schools have to accept all applicants, first come, first served.
    3. Teachers have to be paid the same as in public school.
    I just read recently of a place with voucher systems (in Canada, I think) where schools are giving grades with few or no classes, and more or less guaranteeing students whatever grade they want once they write the check. If you think public schools are bad, just wait until we have private schools taking vouchers. And the number one reason for mediocre public education is that sacred cow of conservatism, local control. Local control is how you get idiot school boards that undermine teacher authority, keep anything interesting or provocative out of the classroom, and water down standards.
    By Steve D @ 04/10/09 10:05:09 AMreport abuse
  • Drive-by READING?
    What's going on with the Nuze? This is the second story this week that the comments on the NUZE don't match the story.

    The current Secretary of Education is at odds with the current administration's voucher policy for families in Washington, D.C.

    Earlier this week, the comment about SecDef Gates "cutting" the defense budget. NOT TRUE. He is proposing changes on WHERE the money is spent rather than proposing the total expenditures by DoD be cut.

    If your trailer is falling apart, but you have a state-of-the-art entertainment center with satellite HD TV, DVR, 50" flat-screen wouldn't your money be better spent on building new digs rather than buying the 65" flat-screen that is advertised at $5 Billion but is only a 60", doesn't have stereo sound, & costs $11 Billion?
    By AAnderson @ 04/10/09 09:57:38 AMreport abuse
  • School is working
    So far, the system of public school has been one of, if not THE most successful govt program ever put into action. If you read on the history of public education you'll see that it was originally concieved to turn our society into a massified, standardized, and yes, dumbed down society. It was made to dumb us down because, especially after the War for Southern Independence, it was thought that a society that has an average intelligence that is too high will have more civil strife because they will fight to retain thier rights. Another reason was because at the time, society was transitioning to an industrial, mass production model and having too many independent minds would mean big corporations would be harder to maintain since people would open thier own small businesses to sustain themselves. If you haven't researched the history of public education, I really think you should.
    By Ross Walline @ 04/10/09 09:55:16 AMreport abuse
  • Government Schools
    22 years ago, my wife and I made the commitment to home school our children. My wife quit her job, ( I worked a minimum of 20 hours overtime a week so she could quit), and with only a high school education, she accomplished this goal of giving our kids a quality education without all the crap that "government schools" feed the kid's minds. To make a long story short, all 3 of our children are now well adjusted, hard working adults contributing to society. Class time was 4-5 hours per day, 5 days per week, and 8 months per year. It doesn't take 11 months a year to educate a child. It takes the right curriculum, discipline, structured physical activity (we enrolled our kids in Martial Arts classes), and some fun thrown in for good measure.
    By booger @ 04/10/09 09:51:48 AMreport abuse
  • The NEA
    I don't think we have to worry about Arne's proposition... The NEA isn't going have their extended vacations from the classroom dispruted. Unless... they use this to call for even more teachers to bolster their ranks. Gad, the thought turns my stomach, I'm gonna go work on getting the chicken strips off the new tires...
    By Papa Gino @ 04/10/09 09:43:23 AMreport abuse
  • 6 day schooling
    If more time would help, I'd be all for it! (It won't, and I really wouldn't be all for it even if it would!) Unfortunately, Neal, there are parents out there that would love 6 day a week, 11 months a year of free childcare - since that is what we provide more than an education for some children. (I am a teacher who is working my buns off to teach what children need to know. I am not a government indoctinator!)
    By Ellen @ 04/10/09 09:34:31 AMreport abuse
  • While many of the students were likely bored, asleep or texting, I think there is one other reason there wasn't much reaction. If they had booed (or even clapped this day in age) they'd have been suspended or placed in detention. I wouldn't be surprised if this is a school that wouldn't give out a diploma if a student (or their parents) clapped at graduation. Mix apathy with punishment for those that do care and you get nice little placid subjects. Ridiculous.
    By MeisterVT @ 04/10/09 09:33:29 AMreport abuse
  • 6 day school weeks
    In Japan, students go to school 5 days a week, with a half day on Saturdays. There's a 1 month break in summer, along with short breaks in spring & winter. You don't go to high school by virtue of where you live, you apply to high school. You then apply to college. It's not unusual to not get into college for over a year after you graduate.

    I'm just saying places already have such systems. The problem is that our system doesn't work, so why add more?
    By Concerned American @ 04/10/09 09:29:03 AMreport abuse
  • watching paint dry
    Don't blame the kids for not reacting. I wouldn't be listening to that dipsh*t either.
    By stepcousin @ 04/10/09 09:28:09 AMreport abuse
  • More School Days
    I am 100% convinced that some people are not as smart as others and all the days, hours, minutes, teachers, money are not going to make these kids smart. It's all about the brain cells and that is set at birth. Never going to happen for some students. It's called life and yes it is unfair.

    BTW - don't socialist countries test kids and send them down one of two paths - university or trade? Not everyone is picked for college. Has to be "fair" across the student population and as a socialist the student does not get a "choice" in the matter.
    By Girl Friday @ 04/10/09 09:18:32 AMreport abuse
  • Parents
    I imagine the parents love the idea, less child care costs to them, put it off on the taxpayers instead.
    By Joyce M/Blythe @ 04/10/09 09:08:57 AMreport abuse
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