Hales: Education, police, budget are top priorities

 @kramr  @UtterReality Agreed, but what is the solution? We can't put our heads in the sand and pretend that every child will come to school with the benefit of strong parenting at home.

The Newark New Jersey school district spends $22,000 per year, per student, and still generates subpar results regarding student achievement through K-12.  If dollars spent per student are the sole determinant of educational success, (as some liberals would have us believe) these kids would be the best educated in the United States.  The point being, I think we would all agree, that several factors come into play.........cultural attitudes towards education, parental input and encouragement into their child's learning process (often dictated by the number of children in the family and their economic/familial situation, ie., whether both parents are present (if not directly in the home, at least involved in some positive fashion) and contributing to family structure/stability).  We can certainly point fingers and blame the teachers' unions, aging physical structures, PERS, district management /policies etc. ad infinitum.......and we would be right to a certain point, however, let's not miss the forest for the trees.  The spark to ignite a child's curiosity and yearning to learn starts in the home.  It is then nurtured and encouraged by committed teachers and other responsible adults in the community.  Obviously, we have a complicated situation here..........finite resources, abysmal graduation rates, declining competitiveness in the world market place. All the easy and simplistic answers are just that, easy, simple and WRONG!  We as parents need to invest as much time and EXTRA effort to encourage our kids, participate when and where possible (volunteer to help in the classroom, chaperone on field trips, participate on site councils, get involved in budget and oversite commitees to learn how your tax dollars are spent, or misused),  Yeah, it does take time and energy, but at least then you can offer praise when warranted, and legitimately gripe when necessary.  The squeaky wheel does get the grease.  Secondly, the teachers' unions need to face the reality on the ground..........charter schools are here to stay, equitable school choice is a growing philosphical movement and shows no signs of diminishing.  The teachers' unions need to acknowledge the fact that the majority of their customers (taxpayers) value the freedom to live where they choose, engage in meaningful work where they choose, commensurate with their skills/educational abilities.  It would logically follow that they want the freedom to send their kids to the schools that can provide those individualized programs of their choice based on their child's needs, attributes, aspirations and talents.  Our public school system is based on school choice now, however it is determined primarily on household income/neighborhood choice.   Let the parents/taxpayers determine where they want their kids/customers to attend school.  Let the dollars follow the students like they do now, only with choice, not some predetermined boundary/building/determination/constriction.  Does that mean some of these cool-looking one-of-a-kind school buildings will probably close, unfortunately yes, it happens, demographics change, people move, neighborhoods evolve in different ways.  Lease/sell the unneeded buildings/property where possible, close/shutter/demolish others when necessary.  Does that mean the need for properly trained, committed and inspiring teachers will diminish.....don't think so.......our projected future increase in regional population will dictate that the demand for QUALIFIED instructors will also rise to some extent.  Will they be moved/shifted to other areas in the community?  Probably, happens all the time in the private sector.  Unions are like most any other organization, the majority of their members are hard-working, give 150% effort, frequently contribute extra time and money out of their own pockets both publically and anonymously to keep their schools/organizations/companies afloat.  The problem lies in devising a system, structure and process to divest themselves of the deadwood in a reasonable time frame.  The private sector does this through performance reviews, measurement/metrics, peer reviews, oversight, etc.  Short of committing a serious felony, some of these so-called teachers are basically guaranteed lifetime employment.  What's with that?  I don't want to continue to pay for these dullards and their retirement benefits, do you??  This nonsense impacts us directly through ongoing substandard performance in the classroom, along with preventing a qualified and motivated teacher from assuming a contributing role.  The teachers' union better get ahead of the curve on this before the taxpayers do it for them through increasing enrollment in private schools, charter schools, home schooling, support for vouchers, decreased enrollment in sub-standard public schools along with diminishing enthusiasm for ever increasing property taxes and school levies that allow certain schools to continue to produce an inferior product. 

@dougrpdx...why do we always get the worst leaders in the state and town ???

@noneofyourbizzness  The pedophile comments were relavent  as long as Sammy was in office, but now that he's not  they should go away for most part with only the occasional referrance as part of a joke ...... kind of like saying  given the leadership these days, its like everyone in America is wearing a blue dress.

@dougrpdx @Beergod    Ya, axpman comments are really out of line......... given how Sammy IGNORED the laws regarding camping in city parks in one place but strictly enforced them in the Pearl. [rolleyes]

 @Saltire 

That is what got my attention. Any time they are playing "nicey, nicey" they are pandering. Now he will have to 'do" stuff and that will show us who he really is.

 

Being that Portland is a leftist town he will pander to them to get reelected. That includes pandering to the unions which means that nothing will change in the schools and graduation rates will remain embarrassingly low.

 

We will stay the same below average city which isn't saying much. Comparing us to other cites is like comparing someone to Charles Manson. Anyone would look good compared to him and Portland looks good compared to Detroit, Philadelphia, Baltimore, East St. Louis and other cities. But that doesn't mean we are a good city.