Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
The Nevada Constitution requires public support of institutions for the mentally and physically "challenged". These programs account for ~25% of the biennial budget.
If one of our residents gives birth to child with severe problems, I don't really object to trying to provide a minimum level of comfort. I *do* object to people who work for the system making huge salaries and outpatients who suffer from human conditions like "depression" (bad hair days) asking us to pay for their "meds" (drug addictions). Worst of all, these programs act like a sad sack magnet.
The state benevolent institutions budget is opaque, but experience tells me that it's a LOT bigger -- at least 10X -- than it needs to be. We could cover it with two or three days worth of August sales taxes.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Public Education Meant To Be A Safety Net
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Some people have trouble thinking outside the box. If we abolish, almost overnight any number of good quality *private* schools would open to satisfy the demand for education services. For all tastes and price points. The only "workable" education system is one that keeps the government OUT of it.
Our public education system was envisioned as a safety net, for poor kids who otherwise would have no chance. That is why the Constitution specifies "one school" and allowed optional attendance. It was never meant to be CCSD's "all (no) things to all people".
If we had small government in this state, then indeed, we really could get by on ~$50/head. I've already described how it could. Mining taxes might be insufficient (I don't memorize these numbers), but some other small revenue source would not. For instance, sales tax revenue from 10 days in August.
Whether small government could be had for $100M per year, $80M or $12.50 is debatable. The exact number is unimportant, so long as we recognize that government is WAY larger than it needs to be. I conservatively estimate 19X.
Some people have trouble thinking outside the box. If we abolish, almost overnight any number of good quality *private* schools would open to satisfy the demand for education services. For all tastes and price points. The only "workable" education system is one that keeps the government OUT of it.
Our public education system was envisioned as a safety net, for poor kids who otherwise would have no chance. That is why the Constitution specifies "one school" and allowed optional attendance. It was never meant to be CCSD's "all (no) things to all people".
If we had small government in this state, then indeed, we really could get by on ~$50/head. I've already described how it could. Mining taxes might be insufficient (I don't memorize these numbers), but some other small revenue source would not. For instance, sales tax revenue from 10 days in August.
Whether small government could be had for $100M per year, $80M or $12.50 is debatable. The exact number is unimportant, so long as we recognize that government is WAY larger than it needs to be. I conservatively estimate 19X.
I Oppose BIG Government and the High Taxes Necessary to Pay For It
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
The Nevada Constitution sets a minimum size for state government: the 3 branches, limited K-16, prisons, mental hospitals (safety net), a militia. That's about it. Though mining taxes alone could cover the minimum, the Constitution gives the government wide latitude about what to tax. You know, so that it will always be able to pay its bills.
In the past ~150 years the crooked politicians have given us bigger and BIGGER (maximum!) government, which naturally required more and MORE revenues -- including sales tax -- to fund it.
I oppose BIG government, and the high taxes necessary to pay for it.
The Nevada Constitution sets a minimum size for state government: the 3 branches, limited K-16, prisons, mental hospitals (safety net), a militia. That's about it. Though mining taxes alone could cover the minimum, the Constitution gives the government wide latitude about what to tax. You know, so that it will always be able to pay its bills.
In the past ~150 years the crooked politicians have given us bigger and BIGGER (maximum!) government, which naturally required more and MORE revenues -- including sales tax -- to fund it.
I oppose BIG government, and the high taxes necessary to pay for it.
K-16: All For Only ~$2M/yr
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
K-16 is a whopping ~50% of NV's biennial budget. If we had small government in this state, our annual financial obligation for public education would be less than $2M per year. Then we wouldn't need sales taxes and we could ABOLISH them.
You say "How can that be?" The Nevada Constitution specifies a minimum of one public school per district (18 statewide). We should return to the "little red schoolhouse" model -- @$100K/school.
The constitution also mandates a state university with no less than (minimum) 3 applied science departments (Ag, Mining, Eng). Eliminate *everthing* except those departments. The original endowment would pay for them. A small state university model reduces our financial obligation for higher ed to ZERO.
K-16 is a whopping ~50% of NV's biennial budget. If we had small government in this state, our annual financial obligation for public education would be less than $2M per year. Then we wouldn't need sales taxes and we could ABOLISH them.
You say "How can that be?" The Nevada Constitution specifies a minimum of one public school per district (18 statewide). We should return to the "little red schoolhouse" model -- @$100K/school.
The constitution also mandates a state university with no less than (minimum) 3 applied science departments (Ag, Mining, Eng). Eliminate *everthing* except those departments. The original endowment would pay for them. A small state university model reduces our financial obligation for higher ed to ZERO.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
If You Don't Like Our Musical Then Don't Go
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Easy for you to say. We've already paid for *your* ticket.
"Shut up and pay your taxes!" Typical CCSD arrogance. I've already paid quite a bit for your education. This is the thanks I get. Public education creates an entitlement mentality among its "beneficiaries".
Easy for you to say. We've already paid for *your* ticket.
"Shut up and pay your taxes!" Typical CCSD arrogance. I've already paid quite a bit for your education. This is the thanks I get. Public education creates an entitlement mentality among its "beneficiaries".
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
CCSD Lets Dunderhead Jock Teach Math
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Hale .. received a bachelor's degree in kinesiology
AKA "Jockology". As Al alluded to (0646), it's ridiculous to let a dunderhead jock teach math. Maybe he should be assigned to teach Latin also?
When will taxpayers finally demand that CCSD fulfill its primary mission to teach the 3R's? I, for one, am SICK of CCSD focusing on purely political goals like football, coed gym and left-wing musicals.
The only CCSD things taxpayers seem to get upset about are firewatchers, renaming a football stadium, and charging varsity athletes user fees.
What arrogance. Can you imagine McDonald's serving customers horse meat when they ran out of paddies? The reason that CCSD can get away with assigning non-mathematicians to teach math is because it is has a monopoly. Don't like your math teacher? Tough luck! Go to another CCSD school.
What I don't understand is how poor parents allow this sort of abuse to continue. Rich white kids are assigned the cream of the CCSD teaching crop. Poor minority kids get assigned teachers of the same race. I suppose to teach them self-esteem.
Hale .. received a bachelor's degree in kinesiology
AKA "Jockology". As Al alluded to (0646), it's ridiculous to let a dunderhead jock teach math. Maybe he should be assigned to teach Latin also?
When will taxpayers finally demand that CCSD fulfill its primary mission to teach the 3R's? I, for one, am SICK of CCSD focusing on purely political goals like football, coed gym and left-wing musicals.
The only CCSD things taxpayers seem to get upset about are firewatchers, renaming a football stadium, and charging varsity athletes user fees.
What arrogance. Can you imagine McDonald's serving customers horse meat when they ran out of paddies? The reason that CCSD can get away with assigning non-mathematicians to teach math is because it is has a monopoly. Don't like your math teacher? Tough luck! Go to another CCSD school.
What I don't understand is how poor parents allow this sort of abuse to continue. Rich white kids are assigned the cream of the CCSD teaching crop. Poor minority kids get assigned teachers of the same race. I suppose to teach them self-esteem.
Monday, October 26, 2009
HeadsThey Win ..
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Political consultants and close friends Billy Vassiliadis and Pete Ernaut .. Doesn't seem like they're on opposite teams
That's because they're NOT. They're both on the BIG GOVERNMENT team.
Political consultants and close friends Billy Vassiliadis and Pete Ernaut .. Doesn't seem like they're on opposite teams
That's because they're NOT. They're both on the BIG GOVERNMENT team.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Cancer Researchers For BIG Government
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Dr. John Ruckdeschel, the new director and CEO of the Nevada Cancer Institute
This article nearly caused me to spill my breakfast. As FACT! pointed out (0921) Ruckdeschel makes $1M per year. His friends also well paid. The NCI is a government bureaucracy. The public sector is not supposed to be a place to get rich. This is DISGUSTING.
And why did NCI have to spend $115K on federal lobbying in '08? This is one agency of the government hiring ex-government lawyer officials to get favors out of another agency of government. This is ridiculous.
We don't want Ruckedeschel using his political connections to mooch more money off the federal government -- primarily to feather his own nest. If Ruckdeschel and his gang are so good, they can enter private practice, completely divorced from publicly funded facilities.
None of these jokers wants to discover a cure for cancer. There's too much MONEY at stake.
Dr. John Ruckdeschel, the new director and CEO of the Nevada Cancer Institute
This article nearly caused me to spill my breakfast. As FACT! pointed out (0921) Ruckdeschel makes $1M per year. His friends also well paid. The NCI is a government bureaucracy. The public sector is not supposed to be a place to get rich. This is DISGUSTING.
And why did NCI have to spend $115K on federal lobbying in '08? This is one agency of the government hiring ex-government lawyer officials to get favors out of another agency of government. This is ridiculous.
We don't want Ruckedeschel using his political connections to mooch more money off the federal government -- primarily to feather his own nest. If Ruckdeschel and his gang are so good, they can enter private practice, completely divorced from publicly funded facilities.
None of these jokers wants to discover a cure for cancer. There's too much MONEY at stake.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Viva La Vi Boheme
Originally posted in a LVRJ forum
Had the play been Disney or religious, most opponents of the production would SUPPORT it. This is why big government supporters can never find the right words to oppose controversies like this. They argue legal minutiae like "process" when in fact, the problem is taxpayer funded (public) education itself. If this was a community theatre production, no one would care.
Public education is a *political* institution. When the kids post miserable scores on standardized tests, folks shrug their shoulders. But stage a left-wing musical, or drop Veterans from a school name, or threaten football players with user fees, and folks go BALLISTIC.
Had the play been Disney or religious, most opponents of the production would SUPPORT it. This is why big government supporters can never find the right words to oppose controversies like this. They argue legal minutiae like "process" when in fact, the problem is taxpayer funded (public) education itself. If this was a community theatre production, no one would care.
Public education is a *political* institution. When the kids post miserable scores on standardized tests, folks shrug their shoulders. But stage a left-wing musical, or drop Veterans from a school name, or threaten football players with user fees, and folks go BALLISTIC.
Socialist Indoctrination at Green Valley HS
Originally posted in a LVRJ forum
The theme of Rent is intolerance for capitalist landlords. Once you get the government (schools) involved in art, you politicize it. You drama buffs should get yourselves a private auditorium, pay for your own costumes and advisers, and sell your own tickets. The only people who are being narrow-minded here are the ones who expect OTHERS to pay higher taxes to support a political/social agenda they disagree with.
The theme of Rent is intolerance for capitalist landlords. Once you get the government (schools) involved in art, you politicize it. You drama buffs should get yourselves a private auditorium, pay for your own costumes and advisers, and sell your own tickets. The only people who are being narrow-minded here are the ones who expect OTHERS to pay higher taxes to support a political/social agenda they disagree with.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Tax Revenues Strong. Spending Even STRONGER
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
total tax revenues in Nevada will decline by 5 percent during the fiscal year ending June 30
Revenues are still strong by historical measure. Government spending is even STRONGER. If we had small government in this state, the biennial budget would only have to be ~$160M ($80M/yr), and probably LESS. That's right.
total tax revenues in Nevada will decline by 5 percent during the fiscal year ending June 30
Revenues are still strong by historical measure. Government spending is even STRONGER. If we had small government in this state, the biennial budget would only have to be ~$160M ($80M/yr), and probably LESS. That's right.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
CCSD Board Of Chimps
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
The CCSD Board is a bunch of clowns. They remind of that that chotzkee with the three chimpanzees "see no evil .." They're just a bunch of power mongers -- the sort of folks who used to sit on DRAFT boards. These politically correct imbeciles will only choose bureaucrats like Rulffes; never anyone who actually *knows* anything. Is it any surprise that CCSD graduates can't even read their own diplomas?
The CCSD Board is a bunch of clowns. They remind of that that chotzkee with the three chimpanzees "see no evil .." They're just a bunch of power mongers -- the sort of folks who used to sit on DRAFT boards. These politically correct imbeciles will only choose bureaucrats like Rulffes; never anyone who actually *knows* anything. Is it any surprise that CCSD graduates can't even read their own diplomas?
Public School Naming Committee
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
a school board appointed naming committee.
Things don't get much more bureaucratic than that!
A few days ago RJ ran a feature article about NV schoolkids scoring poorly on standardized math tests. Nobody cares. But, OMG! Threaten to rename a football stadium and folks go BALLISTIC.
a school board appointed naming committee.
Things don't get much more bureaucratic than that!
A few days ago RJ ran a feature article about NV schoolkids scoring poorly on standardized math tests. Nobody cares. But, OMG! Threaten to rename a football stadium and folks go BALLISTIC.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Socialist Educrat Business-Think
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Jan Biggerstaff, a member of the state Board of Ed, said: No one is going to want to a hire a 16-year-old full time
Mariani is a bright kid. A smart boss would offer him an apprenticeship in an instant. Biggerstaff is an *idiot*. No one in the private sector would every want to hire *her -- even part-time.
With bureaucrats like Biggerstaff on the Board, is it any wonder the school system stinks? In a previous life, this woman served on a DRAFT Board. The sooner kids escape from CCSD the better off they'll be. Best not to drag them into it in the first place.
Jan Biggerstaff, a member of the state Board of Ed, said: No one is going to want to a hire a 16-year-old full time
Mariani is a bright kid. A smart boss would offer him an apprenticeship in an instant. Biggerstaff is an *idiot*. No one in the private sector would every want to hire *her -- even part-time.
With bureaucrats like Biggerstaff on the Board, is it any wonder the school system stinks? In a previous life, this woman served on a DRAFT Board. The sooner kids escape from CCSD the better off they'll be. Best not to drag them into it in the first place.
Award Winning Student'sTeen's Proposal: School Is Not For Everyone!
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Dominic Mariani said: School is not for everyone. If they don't want to be in school, they're going to be a distraction.
Dominic for Governor!
Article 11 §2 of the Nevada Constitution established K-12. It further states the legislature may pass such laws as will tend to secure a general attendance .. [emphasis mine]. Dominic in on to something. The legislature should actually ABOLISH compulsory attendance (truancy) laws.
Why do we *draft* kids to attend school? Article 1 §17 prohibits "involuntary servitude". Forcing kids to attend school just creates jobs for CCEA members. If kids were allowed to make their own enrollment choices, I estimate that CCSD enrollment would drop to less than 50,000. That's right. On Oct 9 RJ had an article about CCSD offering free tutoring, but only 14% of eligible students signed up.
By the way. Mariani's bill does not propose to "legalize" dropping out. It attempts to narrow the injustice of forcing kids to go to school against their will -- 90% of the time to the incompetent public school (daycare) system.
Truancy laws not only institutionalize involuntary servitude, but they impose punishment on kids without trial. That's an unconstitutional attainder (Article 1 §15).
Dominic Mariani said: School is not for everyone. If they don't want to be in school, they're going to be a distraction.
Dominic for Governor!
Article 11 §2 of the Nevada Constitution established K-12. It further states the legislature may pass such laws as will tend to secure a general attendance .. [emphasis mine]. Dominic in on to something. The legislature should actually ABOLISH compulsory attendance (truancy) laws.
Why do we *draft* kids to attend school? Article 1 §17 prohibits "involuntary servitude". Forcing kids to attend school just creates jobs for CCEA members. If kids were allowed to make their own enrollment choices, I estimate that CCSD enrollment would drop to less than 50,000. That's right. On Oct 9 RJ had an article about CCSD offering free tutoring, but only 14% of eligible students signed up.
By the way. Mariani's bill does not propose to "legalize" dropping out. It attempts to narrow the injustice of forcing kids to go to school against their will -- 90% of the time to the incompetent public school (daycare) system.
Truancy laws not only institutionalize involuntary servitude, but they impose punishment on kids without trial. That's an unconstitutional attainder (Article 1 §15).
Hey Rogers: Buy Yourself a Team
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Rogers said .. university should offer a contract worth at least a $1 million a year... "This money doesn't come from coffers at the school. They can get the money from private donors."
Rogers has a few bucks. If he likes football so much, he can partner up with Limbaugh and bid for an NFL franchise. Leave the Nevada taxpayers out of it.
Of course UNLV football comes from school operating funds. Academics is just a pretext. UNLV exists to play football. Drop it and there'd be no reason for the school to exist.
Rogers said .. university should offer a contract worth at least a $1 million a year... "This money doesn't come from coffers at the school. They can get the money from private donors."
Rogers has a few bucks. If he likes football so much, he can partner up with Limbaugh and bid for an NFL franchise. Leave the Nevada taxpayers out of it.
Of course UNLV football comes from school operating funds. Academics is just a pretext. UNLV exists to play football. Drop it and there'd be no reason for the school to exist.
Regents Ensure Football Remains UNLV's Priority
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
When Steve Sisolak was a state regent, he observed that UNLV's $6 million football budget compared favorably to other MWC schools.
The Nevada government has NO constitutional authority to operate a semi-pro football team. What's next -- a hotel/casino? If these kids want to train for the NFL, they can tryout for USC.
When Steve Sisolak was a state regent, he observed that UNLV's $6 million football budget compared favorably to other MWC schools.
The Nevada government has NO constitutional authority to operate a semi-pro football team. What's next -- a hotel/casino? If these kids want to train for the NFL, they can tryout for USC.
You Wash My Back ...
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Here we have one bureaucracy (the Water Authority) contracting with another bureaucracy (DRI) to waste taxpayer money. You'd think SNWA could figure out a way to waste the money themselves.
Here we have one bureaucracy (the Water Authority) contracting with another bureaucracy (DRI) to waste taxpayer money. You'd think SNWA could figure out a way to waste the money themselves.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Math Scores Deceiving (and Flattering)
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Private-school students continue to outperform those in public schools, according to the scores.
"Math test". Intentionally vague. The material is so rudimentary that it's embarassing. For 4th graders, the degree of difficulty must have ranged from 1+1 to 325÷5; for 8th, 6+2 to 94.6÷13.5, with a few simple word problems thrown in. Still, the average NV kid only scored 47%/55% (235/274).
Pathetic.
On a 500-point scale ..
Intentionally vague.
Does that mean you get 100 points for just showing up? Does a 500 score indicate > 3 Sigma's above the mean?
The test results can't be a simple X out Y == X/Y. You don't need an army of bureaucrat statisticians to do that. Chances are the scores were all "normalized" by race, family income, geography, etc. In other words, the bureaucrats applied any number of subjective filters to make the results come out the way they wanted.
Abolish the unconstitutional US Department of Education.
How many more generations of Nevada kids are we prepared to ruin, and BILLIONS of dollars wasted, in the name of social engineering? All you people who advocate more/less testing/Ritilin/special-ed/sugar/TV/etc, just don't get it.
Public schools are a catastrophe and cannot be reformed.
Private-school students continue to outperform those in public schools, according to the scores.
"Math test". Intentionally vague. The material is so rudimentary that it's embarassing. For 4th graders, the degree of difficulty must have ranged from 1+1 to 325÷5; for 8th, 6+2 to 94.6÷13.5, with a few simple word problems thrown in. Still, the average NV kid only scored 47%/55% (235/274).
Pathetic.
On a 500-point scale ..
Intentionally vague.
Does that mean you get 100 points for just showing up? Does a 500 score indicate > 3 Sigma's above the mean?
The test results can't be a simple X out Y == X/Y. You don't need an army of bureaucrat statisticians to do that. Chances are the scores were all "normalized" by race, family income, geography, etc. In other words, the bureaucrats applied any number of subjective filters to make the results come out the way they wanted.
Abolish the unconstitutional US Department of Education.
How many more generations of Nevada kids are we prepared to ruin, and BILLIONS of dollars wasted, in the name of social engineering? All you people who advocate more/less testing/Ritilin/special-ed/sugar/TV/etc, just don't get it.
Public schools are a catastrophe and cannot be reformed.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
CCSD Provides Large Subsidy to Stage Musicals
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
That "small" $2K contribution (whatever the actual number is) is tip-of-the-iceberg. Nevada taxpayers pay >$10,000 per year PER STUDENT for you kids to text message about this activity all day. We amortize the bonds used to pay for the theatre. We pay Ms. Hemme's (indeed, her entire DEPARTMENT's) salary, benefits, etc. We pay for all the CCSD bureaucrats who have to be engaged to deal with the fallout from this production -- lawyers, administrators, custodians, etc. Gosh, we even have to pay CCSD's CPA to cook the books. So don't feed me that line that this process is "self-sufficient". Like Cirque.
This is all one big game of bait-&-switch, as CCSD was sold to us to teach the 3R's, a mission they definitely do *not* accomplish.
That "small" $2K contribution (whatever the actual number is) is tip-of-the-iceberg. Nevada taxpayers pay >$10,000 per year PER STUDENT for you kids to text message about this activity all day. We amortize the bonds used to pay for the theatre. We pay Ms. Hemme's (indeed, her entire DEPARTMENT's) salary, benefits, etc. We pay for all the CCSD bureaucrats who have to be engaged to deal with the fallout from this production -- lawyers, administrators, custodians, etc. Gosh, we even have to pay CCSD's CPA to cook the books. So don't feed me that line that this process is "self-sufficient". Like Cirque.
This is all one big game of bait-&-switch, as CCSD was sold to us to teach the 3R's, a mission they definitely do *not* accomplish.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Free Speech For CCSD Parents, Courtesy of YOU
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
When a government school stages a play -- be it left-wing trash like Rent or classics like Lear -- it is not *breaking* injustice put PERPETUATING it. Citizens should not be forced to support (via taxation) the political/artistic speech/taste of others, especially agenda which they completely oppose. What's worse, some of this money is going towards royalties for Rent's degenerate copyright owners. This is all patently offensive.
All you whining defenders of this "production" can purchase/alter your own costumes/sets, rent a private auditorium, sell tickets in front of Safeway, and sing til your hearts are content. Leave the rest of us alone.
When a government school stages a play -- be it left-wing trash like Rent or classics like Lear -- it is not *breaking* injustice put PERPETUATING it. Citizens should not be forced to support (via taxation) the political/artistic speech/taste of others, especially agenda which they completely oppose. What's worse, some of this money is going towards royalties for Rent's degenerate copyright owners. This is all patently offensive.
All you whining defenders of this "production" can purchase/alter your own costumes/sets, rent a private auditorium, sell tickets in front of Safeway, and sing til your hearts are content. Leave the rest of us alone.
College of Southern NV is Useless
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
CSN is a total waste of taxpayer dollars. It provided *remedial* education. How many times must Nevada taxpayers pay to teach kids the 3 R's? In many ways, NSHE is *worse* that CCSD.
CSN is a completely *political* institution. Legislators from Clark County were envious of all that money being pumped into (what is now) Raggio's district (UNR), so they politic'd to ensure that some of the booty gets spent in *their* districts. That is why we have the repetitive CSN, the redundant UNLV, and so forth.
Public education (K-16) accounts for ~50% of the ~$6.7B biannual state budget. If we restricted public education to its constitutional minimum -- public school per district (county) and three University applied science departments -- we could reduce our financial commitment to public education down to ~$2M per year. That's right.
But then, how would all those ridiculous school arts teachers earn a living? Good heavens. Kids interested in the performing arts might have to join a community theater group or something. OMG. The sky is falling.
CSN is a total waste of taxpayer dollars. It provided *remedial* education. How many times must Nevada taxpayers pay to teach kids the 3 R's? In many ways, NSHE is *worse* that CCSD.
CSN is a completely *political* institution. Legislators from Clark County were envious of all that money being pumped into (what is now) Raggio's district (UNR), so they politic'd to ensure that some of the booty gets spent in *their* districts. That is why we have the repetitive CSN, the redundant UNLV, and so forth.
Public education (K-16) accounts for ~50% of the ~$6.7B biannual state budget. If we restricted public education to its constitutional minimum -- public school per district (county) and three University applied science departments -- we could reduce our financial commitment to public education down to ~$2M per year. That's right.
But then, how would all those ridiculous school arts teachers earn a living? Good heavens. Kids interested in the performing arts might have to join a community theater group or something. OMG. The sky is falling.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Mental Health Abuse
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
The Nevada Constitution requires that taxpayers fund mental hospitals. Those facilities should only provide very basic in-patient services at minimal cost. The system was *never* meant to expand into a public mental health system that treats benign human conditions like "bipolar disorder" (mood swings) and "depression" (bad hair days).
The Nevada Constitution requires that taxpayers fund mental hospitals. Those facilities should only provide very basic in-patient services at minimal cost. The system was *never* meant to expand into a public mental health system that treats benign human conditions like "bipolar disorder" (mood swings) and "depression" (bad hair days).
Public Schools Are Just Another Failed Government Program
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Public education is no different than any other government program. High costs, poor quality, low transparency, bureaucracy, demands for *more* government control. The list goes on and on. Why do voters think that a new bureaucrat, pedagogy, fad, appropriation, etc will change anything.
Twenty years from now LRVJ will not exist, but you people will *still* be submitting comments somewhere about how to fix CCSD. It's ridiculous. Incredible! How many more generations of Nevada school kids are you willing to ruin in the name of social engineering? Will another $50B wasted change your minds?
Public education is no different than any other government program. High costs, poor quality, low transparency, bureaucracy, demands for *more* government control. The list goes on and on. Why do voters think that a new bureaucrat, pedagogy, fad, appropriation, etc will change anything.
Twenty years from now LRVJ will not exist, but you people will *still* be submitting comments somewhere about how to fix CCSD. It's ridiculous. Incredible! How many more generations of Nevada school kids are you willing to ruin in the name of social engineering? Will another $50B wasted change your minds?
CCSD Left Wing, Musical Fluff
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Though Rent is billed as an "after-school" program, this sort of activity -- especially its controversial nature -- is a HUGE distraction. The players dream (and text) about it all day. The Administration has to deal with parental fallout from both sides. CCSD has to vector its phalynx of lawyers and circle the wagons.
Right-wingers go ballistic when some kids get exposed to complex social issues. Some complain that the kids don't learn about money & finance. But nobody cares that CCSD math and reading scores stink.
By the way, Rent is a Marxist passion play. It bashes landlords and glorifies bohemian slackers.
CCSD is one big after-school activity. All fluff, no substance. Public daycare. This is *all* so unnecessary.
If CCSD was abolished, almost overnight any number of private schools would open up to satisfy the demand for quality education services. For all tastes and price points. Football schools, drama schools, $25K/yr schools, $20/wk schools, and on and on. And nobody (but paying customers) would care what would was being taught or staged in *any* of them.
Though Rent is billed as an "after-school" program, this sort of activity -- especially its controversial nature -- is a HUGE distraction. The players dream (and text) about it all day. The Administration has to deal with parental fallout from both sides. CCSD has to vector its phalynx of lawyers and circle the wagons.
Right-wingers go ballistic when some kids get exposed to complex social issues. Some complain that the kids don't learn about money & finance. But nobody cares that CCSD math and reading scores stink.
By the way, Rent is a Marxist passion play. It bashes landlords and glorifies bohemian slackers.
CCSD is one big after-school activity. All fluff, no substance. Public daycare. This is *all* so unnecessary.
If CCSD was abolished, almost overnight any number of private schools would open up to satisfy the demand for quality education services. For all tastes and price points. Football schools, drama schools, $25K/yr schools, $20/wk schools, and on and on. And nobody (but paying customers) would care what would was being taught or staged in *any* of them.
Daniel Allen, PhD
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Daniel Allen, a UNLV psychology professor, said Generally, people who have bipolar disorder need to be on prescribed medication
A stooge for Big Pharma.
Daniel Allen, a UNLV psychology professor, said Generally, people who have bipolar disorder need to be on prescribed medication
A stooge for Big Pharma.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Schools Open On Columbus Day
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
The schools should be closed on Columbus Day, and the other 179 school days of the year. The kids might learn something.
The schools should be closed on Columbus Day, and the other 179 school days of the year. The kids might learn something.
CCSD Offers Private Tutoring. Only 14% of Eligible Kids Show Up.
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Another CCSD gimmick. The kids are smart to refuse this public tutoring service. They have better things to do with their time than have nonsense spoon fed to them. If private tutoring is such a good idea, why do we waste billions of dollars each year for CCSD?
Another CCSD gimmick. The kids are smart to refuse this public tutoring service. They have better things to do with their time than have nonsense spoon fed to them. If private tutoring is such a good idea, why do we waste billions of dollars each year for CCSD?
Public Education Choices
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Public schools are a *political* institution. They close for MLK, but not Columbus. They maintain spending for football, but not for arts. They teach our government is meant to be of the people but not small. Nobody cares about low test scores. The big concern is about school names, the 10 Commandments on the wall, and cultural sensitivity.
If schools were 100% privatized, no one would care what goes on in any school but the one their own kids go to. And singles and childless couples wouldn't be burdened with providing childcare for other people's kids.
Public schools are a *political* institution. They close for MLK, but not Columbus. They maintain spending for football, but not for arts. They teach our government is meant to be of the people but not small. Nobody cares about low test scores. The big concern is about school names, the 10 Commandments on the wall, and cultural sensitivity.
If schools were 100% privatized, no one would care what goes on in any school but the one their own kids go to. And singles and childless couples wouldn't be burdened with providing childcare for other people's kids.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
CCSD: Separate *Is* Equal
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
A music teacher might be teaching more “music appreciation classes”
McEducation. My kids are homeschooled. They receive best-of-breed music lessons from a very good, competitively priced, private piano teacher. CCSD provides a completely superficial education. Not enough instruments. Really. And what the heck is a "Director of Fine Arts Education"?
There seems to be no instrument shortage for LVA music students. What gives? Separate is *not* equal.
How does CCSD get away with such huge school disparities? Kids in one school receive arts enrichment, but kids in another school get music de-appreciation. If CCSD is going to provide McEducation the least it can do is offer a standard menu.
A music teacher might be teaching more “music appreciation classes”
McEducation. My kids are homeschooled. They receive best-of-breed music lessons from a very good, competitively priced, private piano teacher. CCSD provides a completely superficial education. Not enough instruments. Really. And what the heck is a "Director of Fine Arts Education"?
There seems to be no instrument shortage for LVA music students. What gives? Separate is *not* equal.
How does CCSD get away with such huge school disparities? Kids in one school receive arts enrichment, but kids in another school get music de-appreciation. If CCSD is going to provide McEducation the least it can do is offer a standard menu.
Smatresk & His Band of Thieves
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Smatresk and his band of derelict administrators are the ones who have to go. They craft lowered admission standards and ridiculous departments, for the benefit of jocks. They hire the Athletic Director, the fool who, in turn, hires over-rated clowns like Sanford and Kruger. Whenever I hear crooked politicians decry "excessive" executive compensation, the poster boy I think of is Smatresk.
Smatresk and his band of derelict administrators are the ones who have to go. They craft lowered admission standards and ridiculous departments, for the benefit of jocks. They hire the Athletic Director, the fool who, in turn, hires over-rated clowns like Sanford and Kruger. Whenever I hear crooked politicians decry "excessive" executive compensation, the poster boy I think of is Smatresk.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Las Vegas Academy Conceit
Originally posted in a LVRJ forum.
LV Academy kids ought to be less condescending towards their poorer CCSD counterparts. Poor parents might start to resent your attitudes and lobby their Assemblymen to provide equal opportunities for *their* kids. Then your little club will start to look more like *other* public high schools.
I don't know how much parents pay in LVA fees and after-school private instruction, but they're getting away cheap. Private *elementary* arts schools go for $20-$25K per year! None of you ever send me so much as a "thank you" note.
Your public school can't be as great as you all seem to think. It must be quite bureaucratic. It must embrace affirmative action, diversity, and other left-wing notions. It must inculcate a fair amount of uniformity, especially in thought. Seems like *none* of you have been exposed to ideas such as the government which governs least, governs *best*. Indeed, the opposite must be true. Your principal is a double-dipper at the public trough. LVA by day, and NEA/NEH by night.
LV Academy kids ought to be less condescending towards their poorer CCSD counterparts. Poor parents might start to resent your attitudes and lobby their Assemblymen to provide equal opportunities for *their* kids. Then your little club will start to look more like *other* public high schools.
I don't know how much parents pay in LVA fees and after-school private instruction, but they're getting away cheap. Private *elementary* arts schools go for $20-$25K per year! None of you ever send me so much as a "thank you" note.
Your public school can't be as great as you all seem to think. It must be quite bureaucratic. It must embrace affirmative action, diversity, and other left-wing notions. It must inculcate a fair amount of uniformity, especially in thought. Seems like *none* of you have been exposed to ideas such as the government which governs least, governs *best*. Indeed, the opposite must be true. Your principal is a double-dipper at the public trough. LVA by day, and NEA/NEH by night.
No Federalization of UNLV
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
for Nagamine's state salary of $72,072, the university gets that back several times over because of the grant.
The federal government (via the NSF) has no more constitutional authority to fund astronomy research than Japan's government does to fund foreign military adventures. That half the grant is skimmed for UNLV overhead (a typical expense factor) is a backdoor federalization of university support. Nagamine's grant should be cancelled, and the money returned to US taxpayers.
UNLV's Professor of Basketball makes $1M per year. Fire him and replace him with Nagamine. Cut the jocks. Nagamine can build a squad from his lab crew. Now *that* would be a college team!
for Nagamine's state salary of $72,072, the university gets that back several times over because of the grant.
The federal government (via the NSF) has no more constitutional authority to fund astronomy research than Japan's government does to fund foreign military adventures. That half the grant is skimmed for UNLV overhead (a typical expense factor) is a backdoor federalization of university support. Nagamine's grant should be cancelled, and the money returned to US taxpayers.
UNLV's Professor of Basketball makes $1M per year. Fire him and replace him with Nagamine. Cut the jocks. Nagamine can build a squad from his lab crew. Now *that* would be a college team!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Public Education Is A BAD Deal for Taxpayers
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Most of you seem to know how *awful* the CCSD schools are. Even if Las Vegas Academy is exceptional (and I don't concede that), the price of maintaining one good CCSD school is the cost of (I think) hundreds of bad ones. That's a bad deal.
The Nevada Constitution requires at least one public school per district. If it will make you feel better, I would not object too strongly if LVA were it.
Most of you seem to know how *awful* the CCSD schools are. Even if Las Vegas Academy is exceptional (and I don't concede that), the price of maintaining one good CCSD school is the cost of (I think) hundreds of bad ones. That's a bad deal.
The Nevada Constitution requires at least one public school per district. If it will make you feel better, I would not object too strongly if LVA were it.
Public Education: We're #50!
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Nevada still ranked 36th in the nation for the amount of revenue spent on education.
The Nevada Constitution sets a legal minimum of one public school per district (18 statewide). The legislature should deem any number above that "unnecessary" and vote those schools out of existence.
Figure $100K per school, including teacher, books, and little red schoolhouse. That would bring our state's annual tax obligation for K-12 down to less than $2M per year. Then Nevadans could brag: WE'RE #50!
Nevada still ranked 36th in the nation for the amount of revenue spent on education.
The Nevada Constitution sets a legal minimum of one public school per district (18 statewide). The legislature should deem any number above that "unnecessary" and vote those schools out of existence.
Figure $100K per school, including teacher, books, and little red schoolhouse. That would bring our state's annual tax obligation for K-12 down to less than $2M per year. Then Nevadans could brag: WE'RE #50!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
CCSD Promotes Teen Pregnancy
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
As many of you know (or should), affairs between high school teachers and students are commonplace. Teen sex is the rule. I suspect these happen more frequently at LVA than any other CCSD high school simply because arts courses involve much closer physical contact between the participants, who tend to be hot-blooded anyway.
As many of you know (or should), affairs between high school teachers and students are commonplace. Teen sex is the rule. I suspect these happen more frequently at LVA than any other CCSD high school simply because arts courses involve much closer physical contact between the participants, who tend to be hot-blooded anyway.
CCSD OUT of Arts Education
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
During a recent lunch period, one student was .. playing a classical melody on her clarinet while in transit.
There are plenty of private music conservatories to choose from. You can get a clarinet teacher to come to your house for as little as $25 a lesson. These arts magnet schools are just political schemes to provide patronage jobs to left-wing fine arts teachers, and to incubate a constituency for future unconstitutional state arts commission grants. If these kids want to study theatre there must be any number of community groups and summer camps to choose from. Leave the taxpayers out of it.
During a recent lunch period, one student was .. playing a classical melody on her clarinet while in transit.
There are plenty of private music conservatories to choose from. You can get a clarinet teacher to come to your house for as little as $25 a lesson. These arts magnet schools are just political schemes to provide patronage jobs to left-wing fine arts teachers, and to incubate a constituency for future unconstitutional state arts commission grants. If these kids want to study theatre there must be any number of community groups and summer camps to choose from. Leave the taxpayers out of it.
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