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If this bill passes, say goodbye to local control over all Illinois parks and expect to see open drug and alcohol use, needles, no sanitation and fire hazards, but no ordinary park users.
Summary and audio linked here.
Chicago’s political leadership is floating a pension buyout program as evidence it is seriously addressing the city’s thirty-six-billion-dollar unfunded pension liability, but Mark Glennon, founder of the Illinois policy research organization Wirepoints, said that the proposal moves debt from one column to another rather than reducing it, and that the broader fiscal picture facing the city continues to deteriorate across every measurable dimension. Audio here.
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
The state’s existing buyout program for its own pensions is the precedent for Chicago, which should be a warning: Look out for similar exaggerated claims and shoddy analysis.
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IT IS ABOUT TIME SOMEONE IN SPRINGFIELD FACED THIS HUGE PROBLEM. PARENTS AND SPRINGFIELD MUST SPEAK UP AND NOT LOOK FOR ANOTHER SCHOOL BUT DEMAND SCHOOLS START EDUCATING! Our taxes are being wasted by administration while our kids can’t read or do math. STAND UP AND DEMAND OUR SCHOOLS DO BETTER. CUTOFF THEIR MONEY IF SCORES DO NOT GO UP EVERY YEAR. THIS IS NOT THE KIDS OR PARENTS FAULT. THIS LIES RIGHT AT THE SCHOOLS FEET.
While we’re at it let’s stop paying doctors who specialize in cancer and billing for it while never eliminating it. Scum!
I don’t know James. Joanne’s all caps sure makes her argument more compelling.
Oh, yes; my bad! Next time I’ll stomp my feet, too.
The analogy to doctors not curing cancer is always a sure winner. Because we’ve been curing cancer for hundreds of years, but for some reason it’s no longer possible.
That argument really resonates.
In case you’ve not noticed most public schools nationwide both urban and rural have hit the skids in academic performance. It’s not isolated to inner cities or rural even geographic areas you might otherwise suspect. There is something—or are some things—happening on a larger scale. This is a matter affecting schools almost everywhere in this country, but I’m sure you’ll have the cure-all we need here. After all “everybody is sayin’” and “nobody can believe” hasn’t been used yet. Spew forth!
So, you don’t mind paying doctors who are never successful apparently. I could have sworn you’d never be so generous, but it’s gratifying to know you are supporting research with a generous heart. I hope they return your generosity with some Starbucks coupons periodically.
Starbucks coupons? Wasn’t your analogy bad enough, comparing teachers to oncologists? You want to extend it into another level of ridiculous? Be my guest.
I’m comparing two groups known to generally fail. Social status is irrelevant. But, if you are willing to agree that those who consistently succeed in their job performances are both rare and have simpler goals to accomplish than those who consistently fail we might be able agree on the basic problem. How else can any logical person explain why such large percentages of public schools all over this country are doing such a poor job meeting (very arbitrary) grade standards of proficiency? Oh, I know; nearly all such employees must be Democrats, right? Republicans would clean it all up “on… Read more »
Schools are failing at something civilization has been doing for hundreds of years: teaching children to read. Doctors, by contrast, are making huge progress in saving people with cancer, something that was almost impossible only 50 years ago. This is why the analogy fails. Of course social status is irrelevant.
You’re completely misinformed or just confused by all the numbers that are used in these metrics. Schools aren’t failing at something civilization has been doing for hundreds of years. In fact, in the last 50 years, literacy rates have actually increased. In the 1970’s, literacy rates were around 85 to 90 percent of the US adult population. Today it’s around 99%. Now functional literacy (ability to read and write for everyday tasks) rates weren’t established until the 80’s. It is estimated that 25 to 30% of the adults were not functionally literate in the 80’s compared to 21 to 23%… Read more »
A quick Google search leads to the information that the US ranks 36th globally in literacy, and 54% of adults can read only at 6th grade level.
Another search shows the US spends almost twice as much per student as other OECD countries.
You do have some valid points. It’s true that education was not offered to all hundreds of years ago, and consequently literacy rates were lower. Of course literacy is higher now. But that doesn’t negate the basic point that we have known how to teach children to read for hundreds of years.
In those long, long ago days you mention schools weren’t giving mandatory education to people whose only minimal qualifications were a pulse and being of a minimal age, usually at least age 6 or close to it when starting. Schooling was somewhat optional for most in that many started their work life in their teens. Then, chasing absentees was a hit or miss effort and repeating grades often was a time used by miscreants to drop out rather than continue. Thus, only the more qualified or truly dedicated young people had many consecutive years’ worth of schooling while others had… Read more »
Good points, James. Public education got exactly what it demanded- compulsory education for all. Mostly provided in publicly financed schools. Conveniently staffed by teacher union members, whose ranks and influence grew with each passing year. Educators got what they claimed to want- public education for all, regardless of aptitude.
Should we do the same thing with the Chicago police? Since crime has gone up we should cut police funding? Seems logical.
The pandemic only exacerbated and exposed what was already a downward slide that began around 2012-2013, the year we achieved critical mass of everyone having a phone in their pockets and the social media explosion.
30% Nothing to be proud of
And CTU just got a raise for poor student outcomes.