Republicans Learn That Non-Christian Is Also A Religion

You know how all those Republicans are insisting that we should offer vouchers so people can choose private schools instead of going to those Godless public ones? In New Orleans, that philosophy is hitting a little snag.

Rep. Kenneth Havard, R-Jackson, objected to including the Islamic School of Greater New Orleans in a list of schools approved by the education department to accept as many as 38 voucher students. Havard said he wouldn't support any spending plan that "will fund Islamic teaching.""I won't go back home and explain to my people that I supported this," he said.
"It'll be the Church of Scientology next year," said Rep. Sam Jones, D-Franklin.
Carter, R-Baton Rouge, said the Islamic school withdrew its request to participate in the voucher program.
"They're not interested. The system works," he said.

So basically vouchers for all private schools as long as the government approves the curriculum? If only there was a system of schools that already had government approval, maybe a system that costs less than the private school system! 

White Kids Are Hurting Our Schools

I'm not sure what to make of this column by Pat Buchanan, but I think he's saying that if we kicked out all the students except Asians, our GED scores would skyrocket. Or is that the familiar quack quack?

America's Supply of Smart Thin People Dries Up

Add this to the list of problems that free-market solutions won't help with.

MIAMI (AP) — Nearly one-fourth of the students who try to join the U.S. Army fail its entrance exam, painting a grim picture of an education system that produces graduates who can't answer basic math, science and reading questions, according to a new study released Tuesday.

The report by The Education Trust bolsters a growing worry among military and education leaders that the pool of young people qualified for military service will grow too small.

"Too many of our high school students are not graduating ready to begin college or a career — and many are not eligible to serve in our armed forces," U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan told the AP. "I am deeply troubled by the national security burden created by America's underperforming education system."

The effect of the low eligibility rate might not be noticeable now — the Department of Defense says it is meeting its recruitment goals — but that could change as the economy improves, said retired Navy Rear Admiral Jamie Barnett.

"If you can't get the people that you need, there's a potential for a decline in your readiness," said Barnett, who is part of the group Mission: Readiness, a coalition of retired military leaders working to bring awareness to the high ineligibility rates.

Let's cut more school funding! That oughtta help. And kill school lunches in areas where there is a fast food place nearby!

A Department of Defense report notes the military must recruit about 15 percent of youth, but only one-third are eligible. More high school graduates are going to college than in earlier decades, and about one-fourth are obese, making them medically ineligible.

In 1980, by comparison, just 5 percent of youth were obese.

Hey, enough politics. Let's all go over to Aunt Sarah's place for s'mores!

Personally, I LIKE My Fellow Citizens To Be Able To Read

But apparently, that's just me.

The sudden buzz over the relative value of senior year stems from a recent proposal by state Sen. Chris Buttars that Utah make a dent in its budget gap by eliminating the 12th grade.

The notion quickly gained some traction among supporters who agreed with the Republican's assessment that many seniors frittered away their final year of high school, but faced vehement opposition from other quarters, including in his hometown of West Jordan.

"My parents are against it," Williams said. "All the teachers at the school are against it. I'm against it."

Buttars has since toned down the idea, suggesting instead that senior year become optional for students who complete their required credits early. He estimated the move could save up to $60 million, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

The proposal comes as the state faces a $700-million shortfall and reflects the creativity -- or desperation -- of lawmakers.

"You're looking at these budget gaps where lawmakers have to use everything and anything to try to resolve them," said Todd Haggerty, a policy associate with the National Conference of State Legislatures. "It's left lawmakers with very unpopular decisions."

Most conservatives don't like public schools, which they perceive as a breeding ground for liberals; the idea that younger people tend to be more liberal and have been since the beginning of time isn't the issue, as far as they're concerned. Anyway, the most important thing is to ensure that the rich hold on to their historic tax cuts. If it means whittling away at education until the typical Peruvian kid is more knowlegable than one of our'n, then so be it. The rich kids will still be able to afford school, right?