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Post by krc11 on Feb 7, 2017 21:12:54 GMT
The thing that really worries me - We have shifted so far one direction and with all the calls "remember Nov 2018" that we are going to do exactly the opposite in a few years. So we are screwed one way and then the other way. I know it's too much to ask for people just to be moderate! But I know the vast majority collectively prefers to be far right and far left and no middle ground.
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Post by cade387 on Feb 7, 2017 21:16:11 GMT
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quiltedbrain
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Post by quiltedbrain on Feb 7, 2017 21:17:08 GMT
Whoever Senator Richard Burr is he said this: "Betsy DeVos has dedicated her life to improving education, so I am glad she will continue to fight for all children as Secretary of Education. Attempts by Senate Democrats to stall the President’s nominees only distract from the very real struggles of North Carolina’s families seeking the best education for their children." I guess he's probably North Carolina, but I'll verify that in a minute... But how can he possibly say she has "dedicated her life to improving education" ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png) ? omg, when has she been dedicating her life to education? Maybe the fancy private school education she had, and that she could afford to give to her kids. How can he actually SAY something like that? omg Yeah, the twerp is from NC. Both of our senators voted for DeVos. DeVos' family contributed to both of their campaigns. I think it's worth mentioning that NC teacher pay rates have been consistently near the lowest in the nation in the 3 years we've been in NC. Burr, unfortunately, was just re-elected in 2016. However, he won by a narrow margin, which makes it all the more galling that he is not taking input from ALL of his constituents. Our other senator, Tillis, isn't up for re-election till 2020--we're stuck with both of them for a while. Blech.
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scrapaddie
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Post by scrapaddie on Feb 7, 2017 21:20:55 GMT
I'm not aware of a teacher shortage. In fact, there are many certified teachers who cannot find employment. It depends on where you are and on what subjects are looking at. There are lots of elementary teachers, But not so many science and math, for instance
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scrapaddie
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Post by scrapaddie on Feb 7, 2017 21:27:40 GMT
melissa - trust me - in my district we were paying 6 figures for an art teacher. A high school art teacher. You are correct about regional pay differences, but this is a first ring suburb to one of the poorest cities in the nation. I live in an area where teachers are relatively well paid, but no teacher can get that kind of money. Pay is not based on subject, but on education and experience. On a personal level, I am happy to be retired
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Post by mamakoala on Feb 7, 2017 21:28:45 GMT
yet another reason to continue homeschooling.
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Post by 2peaornot2pea on Feb 7, 2017 21:33:14 GMT
Trump could have easily found someone for that cabinet that has some experience in education. Seriously. Does he not know a single contributor who attended public school for at least a short time? Or someone who once took a course on education? Maybe even someone who at least sold a product to public schools? (grasping for straws) As far as the teacher shortage, it is a regional issue which does affect our nation as a whole. If you live in an area where a teacher can actually support a family on a teacher's salary, you are less likely to see it. If you live in a place where a teacher's salary leaves a family of 4 at the poverty level, you are going to find a shortage. A friend posted teacher salaries in Oklahoma recently. It was shocking to me. Granted the cost of living is a lower there, but it's not that low. That, and the numerous politicians who have made teachers public enemy number one. Blaming teacher unions, salaries and benefits for any/all of societies ills.
I blame all of the Scott Walker types off the world for the shortage of qualified teachers.
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Post by mimi3566 on Feb 7, 2017 21:33:43 GMT
yet another reason to continue homeschooling. That's how my dd feels...she homeschools her kids and has done so for several years.
Sad, nonetheless for those that don't have that opportunity.
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Post by mamakoala on Feb 7, 2017 21:35:33 GMT
yet another reason to continue homeschooling. That's how my dd feels...she homeschools her kids and has done so for several years.
Sad, nonetheless for those that don't have that opportunity.
I agree. TBH, we sent our son to our local 'highly rated' school for one semester (last semester) in 9th grade and i was APPALLED at how truly shitty it was. I mean, the teachers were playing Legally Blonde in class, the children were getting yelled at for not writing their name in the correct corner of the paper, and one teacher droned on about how awesome Trump was and how liberals just wanted their "post birth abortions" (yes, he really said that. Unreal). I couldn't pull him fast enough.
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Post by snugglebutter on Feb 7, 2017 21:35:56 GMT
So do people hate her because shes wealthy and lacks experience? I fully admit I don't know much about her or the position why will this create a teacher shortage? why will this hurt teachers? what do you mean voucher? for what? for who? You might want to read the thread from the beginning, along with this one link HERE and this one link HERE and there might have been one more but I can't find it. She is in favor of taking public education tax dollars and using that money to give vouchers that could be used for charter schools or private schools. The problem is that the amount of the vouchers would likely not cover the entire cost of the for-pay schools available in many areas, so the net effect is that the neediest kids will stay in the worst schools only now those schools will have even LESS money available to educate those kids. This in turn will affect teachers because who wants to work in unfunded public schools with crumbling infrastructure teaching needy impoverished kids (some of whom may also have special needs, are not native English speakers and many of whom are already coming to school unprepared to learn)? It will also affect lily white kids like mine in good suburban schools, because money from our property taxes that has been earmarked for funding the public schools will be siphoned off by wealthy people in my community who are already sending their kids to private religious schools anyway, only now they will get to use the vouchers funded by general taxpayer dollars to get a break on the expensive tuition. My kid gets a high quality education in her public school because our community actively supports our schools, plus we have VERY dedicated educators and an active, engaged PTA. Even so, if it wasn't for the dollars that our PTA raises annually, my kid's school wouldn't have half of the library books, STEM resources, computers, iPads, smart boards and other niceties they currently have that help our kids learn. Our PTA also completely funds the payroll so we can have full time music and art teachers. So yes, vouchers will definitely create a negative impact all the way around regardless of who the kid is or which public school they go to. The bolded thoughts above are the main reasons I think vouchers are such a terrible disaster of an idea. At the price of most private schools in my area (DFW), a voucher isn't going to suddenly make them affordable to most families. It will instead pad the pockets of those who are already affording private school. And what about rural areas? They obviously don't have the options that bigger cities have. We cannot leave these families, many of whom are growing the food we eat, in the dust.
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pyccku
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Post by pyccku on Feb 7, 2017 21:38:22 GMT
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Post by mimi3566 on Feb 7, 2017 21:38:37 GMT
That's how my dd feels...she homeschools her kids and has done so for several years.
Sad, nonetheless for those that don't have that opportunity.
I agree. TBH, we sent our son to our local 'highly rated' school for one semester (last semester) in 9th grade and i was APPALLED at how truly shitty it was. I mean, the teachers were playing Legally Blonde in class, the children were getting yelled at for not writing their name in the correct corner of the paper, and one teacher droned on about how awesome Trump was and how liberals just wanted their "post birth abortions" (yes, he really said that. Unreal). I couldn't pull him fast enough.
She was actually considering putting the 12 year old in the public high school when the time came....she commented today that that would not be happening now. She will homeschool all 3 of her children until they graduate high school.
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Post by myshelly on Feb 7, 2017 21:43:46 GMT
My husband is a public school teacher. He has worked at the same school for 16 years. During that time he has been teacher of the year 4 times and nominated for teacher of the year 12 times. Today he started looking for work in a new industry. I was a public & private school teacher before my boys were born. I've subbed the last couple of years. With the way education is going nationally & in Kansas (ugh!) I don't see myself going back in the classroom. Totally understand your husband's thinking. What industry is he looking into? I need to do the same! Two years ago he received a job offer from a museum. He's reaching out to his contacts there first.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2017 21:58:06 GMT
@zingermack - I messaged you the payroll info.
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pinklady
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Post by pinklady on Feb 7, 2017 22:00:06 GMT
Please pass this on: Attachments:![](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/thumbnailer/F13a1RoeYgL_DUoiRMaP.JPG)
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AnotherPea
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Post by AnotherPea on Feb 7, 2017 22:05:36 GMT
My husband is a public school teacher. He has worked at the same school for 16 years. During that time he has been teacher of the year 4 times and nominated for teacher of the year 12 times. Today he started looking for work in a new industry. congrats on his accomplishments. Your numbers surprise me though. Your schools must do things radically differently than ours do.
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Post by Darcy Collins on Feb 7, 2017 22:12:55 GMT
Whoever Senator Richard Burr is he said this: "Betsy DeVos has dedicated her life to improving education, so I am glad she will continue to fight for all children as Secretary of Education. Attempts by Senate Democrats to stall the President’s nominees only distract from the very real struggles of North Carolina’s families seeking the best education for their children." I guess he's probably North Carolina, but I'll verify that in a minute... But how can he possibly say she has "dedicated her life to improving education" ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png) ? omg, when has she been dedicating her life to education? Maybe the fancy private school education she had, and that she could afford to give to her kids. How can he actually SAY something like that? omg I'll start that based on her poor performance in the confirmation hearings, Betsy DeVos was a poor choice. BUT - people seem to know absolutely nothing about her. I can understand those who are against her has she is a huge advocate for school choice and vouchers. But there's this recurring theme that she's done nothing in education and was selected purely based on her campaign donations. I noticed a blurb where Laura Bush spoke highly of her and wondered about the disconnect as I have quite a bit of respect for Laura Bush. Betsy DeVos worked with Jeb Bush for over a decade on Foundation for Excellence in Education a non-profit focused on education reform. She's also been on the board of American Federation for Children - that specifically focuses on school choice. She also affiliated with the Education Freedom Fund that provides scholarships for low income students in Michigan to attend private schools. This interview is old - 2013, but gives some more detail about her work in education reform. Oppose her because you don't like her policies or where she wants to take education - but she has spent both time and money on improving education. ETA oops forgot the link: www.philanthropyroundtable.org/topic/excellence_in_philanthropy/interview_with_betsy_devosfixed my multiple misspellings of her name.
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Post by cade387 on Feb 7, 2017 22:17:00 GMT
Whoever Senator Richard Burr is he said this: "Betsy DeVos has dedicated her life to improving education, so I am glad she will continue to fight for all children as Secretary of Education. Attempts by Senate Democrats to stall the President’s nominees only distract from the very real struggles of North Carolina’s families seeking the best education for their children." I guess he's probably North Carolina, but I'll verify that in a minute... But how can he possibly say she has "dedicated her life to improving education" ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png) ? omg, when has she been dedicating her life to education? Maybe the fancy private school education she had, and that she could afford to give to her kids. How can he actually SAY something like that? omg I'll start that based on her poor performance in the confirmation hearings, Betsey DeVos was a poor choice. BUT - people seem to know absolutely nothing about her. I can understand those who are against her has she is a huge advocate for school choice and vouchers. But there's this recurring theme that she's done nothing in education and was selected purely based on her campaign donations. I noticed a blurb where Laura Bush spoke highly of her and wondered abou the disconnect as I have quite a bit of respect for Laura Bush. Betsey DeVos worked with Jeb Bush for over a decade on Foundation for Excellence in Education a non-profit focused on education reform. She's also been on the board of American Federation for Children - that specifically focuses on school choice. She also affiliated with the Education Freedom Fund that provides scholarships for low income students in Michigan to attend private schools. This interview is old - 2013, but gives some more detail about her work in education reform. Oppose her because you don't like her policies or where she wants to take education - but she has spent both time and money on improving education. ETA oops forgot the link: www.philanthropyroundtable.org/topic/excellence_in_philanthropy/interview_with_betsy_devosMaybe you think it is improving education, but I can tell you that many of us in Michigan do not agree with her efforts as improving education. Also, her and her husband also tried to buy their way into the Governor's mansion and it has been pretty ugly with their inability to understand those who don't have money.
My feed today is FULL of teachers in Michigan who are disgusted. I don't like her dismissive comments about the poor and that she expects pay-for-play. Add to it that every single teacher I know is speaking out R & D alike..... that says something.
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Post by Darcy Collins on Feb 7, 2017 22:23:12 GMT
I'll start that based on her poor performance in the confirmation hearings, Betsey DeVos was a poor choice. BUT - people seem to know absolutely nothing about her. I can understand those who are against her has she is a huge advocate for school choice and vouchers. But there's this recurring theme that she's done nothing in education and was selected purely based on her campaign donations. I noticed a blurb where Laura Bush spoke highly of her and wondered abou the disconnect as I have quite a bit of respect for Laura Bush. Betsey DeVos worked with Jeb Bush for over a decade on Foundation for Excellence in Education a non-profit focused on education reform. She's also been on the board of American Federation for Children - that specifically focuses on school choice. She also affiliated with the Education Freedom Fund that provides scholarships for low income students in Michigan to attend private schools. This interview is old - 2013, but gives some more detail about her work in education reform. Oppose her because you don't like her policies or where she wants to take education - but she has spent both time and money on improving education. ETA oops forgot the link: www.philanthropyroundtable.org/topic/excellence_in_philanthropy/interview_with_betsy_devosMaybe you think it is improving education, but I can tell you that many of us in Michigan do not agree with her efforts as improving education. Also, her and her husband also tried to buy their way into the Governor's mansion and it has been pretty ugly with their inability to understand those who don't have money.
My feed today is FULL of teachers in Michigan who are disgusted. I don't like her dismissive comments about the poor and that she expects pay-for-play. Add to it that every single teacher I know is speaking out R & D alike..... that says something.
I should have said TRYING to improve education. I completely understand the criticism - if you don't like vouchers and you don't like school choice (which is pretty much 90% of all teachers I know) - you're not going to be a fan of hers. She was an extremely controversial pick who then performed poorly in the confirmation hearings - as I said I'm not here to sing her praises. It was more the multiple comments on this thread from people who seemed to think she had never had a passing thought on education.
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Post by mollycoddle on Feb 7, 2017 22:25:34 GMT
I'm really not sure that she is going to have a lot of impact. First of all, she is clueless. Second of all, many people have excellent schools and will not appreciate seeing their local dollars funneled to some fly by night charter or religious school. Third, she is undoubtedly going to piss off parents of special needs kids. They will be formidable.
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katybee
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Post by katybee on Feb 7, 2017 22:27:48 GMT
My husband is a public school teacher. He has worked at the same school for 16 years. During that time he has been teacher of the year 4 times and nominated for teacher of the year 12 times. Today he started looking for work in a new industry. congrats on his accomplishments. Your numbers surprise me though. Your schools must do things radically differently than ours do. What numbers? How many times he's been nominated for TOY? In my district, teachers are both nominated and voted on by their peers. We have the same, stellar teachers show up year after year. Last year's winner had just won 2 years before.
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Post by Darcy Collins on Feb 7, 2017 22:32:39 GMT
I'm really not sure that she is going to have a lot of impact. First of all, she is clueless. Second of all, many people have excellent schools and will not appreciate seeing their local dollars funneled to some fly by night charter or religious school. Third, she is undoubtedly going to piss off parents of special needs kids. They will be formidable. As I am all for local control of public schools - I'm hoping she has no impact. If parents are interested in vouchers or school choice, it's something that should be implemented in THEIR district - not something that should be federally mandated.
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oh yvonne
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Post by oh yvonne on Feb 7, 2017 22:32:59 GMT
The thing that really worries me - We have shifted so far one direction and with all the calls "remember Nov 2018" that we are going to do exactly the opposite in a few years. So we are screwed one way and then the other way. I know it's too much to ask for people just to be moderate! But I know the vast majority collectively prefers to be far right and far left and no middle ground. Yes, exactly! OMG, such a mess!
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Post by elaine on Feb 7, 2017 22:33:14 GMT
Our only hope now is a pack of angry centaurs. DeVos has no idea what centaurs are. The same applies to public education.
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kibblesandbits
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Post by kibblesandbits on Feb 7, 2017 22:34:16 GMT
I should have said TRYING to improve education. I completely understand the criticism - if you don't like vouchers and you don't like school choice (which is pretty much 90% of all teachers I know) - you're not going to be a fan of hers. She was an extremely controversial pick who then performed poorly in the confirmation hearings - as I said I'm not here to sing her praises. It was more the multiple comments on this thread from people who seemed to think she had never had a passing thought on education. ^Exactly^ Of course she's been involved in the education field, and she's done some great work. It isn't the work of the status quo - which is exactly what teachers and unions do not like. The thing is though, there are way WAY too many schools that Just. Don't. Work. It's those schools, those students, and those parents who will begin to see some action and some benefit. Is she the best choice? Well, probably not. But, our school systems are teetering on a very dangerous precipice and strong action sometimes is what is needed. It remains to be seen what will happen. Since a bill has been presented to completely eliminate the DOE, it would seem that she won't have too much time to do a lot of damage. THIS teacher is reserving judgement.
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Post by ntsf on Feb 7, 2017 22:37:37 GMT
the problem too is that she has never spent time in public school as a teacher, a parent, an administrator.. she does not know anything about testing, or how to measure progress or ANYTHING about education for kids with special needs. she is anti public schools.. and something like 90% of kids in our country go to public school.. she pushes a pro fundamentalist christian agenda..
she may say she is for "reform".. she is for putting money in private school and screw the rest of the kids..
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kibblesandbits
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Post by kibblesandbits on Feb 7, 2017 22:39:51 GMT
Maybe you think it is improving education, but I can tell you that many of us in Michigan do not agree with her efforts as improving education. Also, her and her husband also tried to buy their way into the Governor's mansion and it has been pretty ugly with their inability to understand those who don't have money. Not sure where you live, but I can tell you that in my area things are seen a bit differently. Further, "she" and her husband did not try to buy their way into the Governor's mansion, any more than any other candidate does during a contested campaign. The DeVos family employ thousands of people in their various plants and offices - I can assure you that they do indeed have an understanding of life outside the pearly gates. They live comparatively low key lives, certainly don't have the most lavish house in town, their kids played on the local Y soccer leagues right along with my kids. Please - there are so many difficult topics facing us as Americans, can we perhaps address them logically rather than with excessive hyperbole and angst? Wild protestations and extreme emotions have no place right now. Clear thinking is key. SaveSave
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Post by mollycoddle on Feb 7, 2017 22:42:45 GMT
Just read this-from NY Magazine:
Image She’ll get to be secretary of Education, but probably won’t have much luck getting Congress to enact her policies. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Betsy DeVos and the president who nominated the longtime champion of publicly funded private schools to be secretary of Education can have a muted celebration today after Vice-President Mike Pence broke a Senate tie to confirm her. But the surprisingly difficult struggle over DeVos is not a good sign for the policies with which she has been identified.
For one thing, her nomination and her performance in confirmation hearings galvanized public education advocates to an unprecedented degree, and also made her a symbol of the sometimes comical fecklessness of the incoming Trump administration generally. As Alia Wong notes, DeVos was the target of a savagely effective Saturday Night Live skit and has become something of a social-media cartoon villain.
“All us education nerds were on Twitter saying, ‘Whoa, there was an education secretary being spoofed on SNL!’ That says it all, right?” said Joshua Starr, the CEO of PDK International, a professional educators’ association, and the former superintendent of Montgomery County Schools in Maryland.
What matters most about DeVos, though, is the polarizing effect her nomination produced in the Senate. None of the ten Democratic senators from states carried by Trump who are up for reelection in 2018 supported her confirmation, and she lost two Republicans (Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski).
That spells trouble for the idea Trump embraced during the presidential campaign: using federal education funds as a carrot and stick to get states to embrace and expand “school choice” options, which in the Trump-DeVos universe means giving parents public money to choose private (including religious) schools as well as independently operated public charter schools. Enacting that proposal would involve an amendment to the Every Student Succeeds Act (the successor to No Child Left Behind) that would normally require 60 Senate votes, including eight Democrats. It’s hard to see where those votes would come from.
It is possible a radical education proposal like this could be nestled into one of the two budget reconciliation bills Congress is expected to consider this year, assuming Republicans can get their act together on various related political and policy decisions. But the first of those bills is supposed to repeal Obamacare, and the second is reserved for tax cuts, and after the furor over DeVos it is doubtful the administration or its congressional allies will want to risk either of those mega-priorities by engaging the political buzzsaw that endangered the DeVos nomination.
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Post by ihaveonly1l on Feb 7, 2017 22:43:35 GMT
As a public school teacher of 21 years...my heart hurts today. I believe in public education.
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lizacreates
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Post by lizacreates on Feb 7, 2017 22:57:07 GMT
Pence: Betsy DeVos will have great impact as Secretary of Education. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a public school, a private school, a parochial school, a charter school, or any other kind of school – she will help ensure that every student has access to a good school.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), an advocate for vouchers and charters, called DeVos a champion for low-income children who don’t have access to great schools.
There we go again – that word “access.” I can't do any better that what Bernie Sanders said to Price re healthcare because Sanders’ statement applies to Devos’ beloved voucher program as well:
Sanders mimicked Price’s last phrase, “‘Has access to’ does not mean they are guaranteed healthcare. I can have access to buying a 10-million-dollar home but I don’t have the money to do that.”
Similarly, the poor and regular working families have access to private schools (IF they even have options in their districts) and indeed, they can get vouchers. The rub is where will these folks get the rest of the tuition from? How will a public school be a “good school” when you have a Sec who will have the power to further underfund them? They love touting that word “access” like it’s the panacea for whatever ails the country. They need to learn a new word: reality.
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