WELLS, Maine — The Maine Education Association attacked Gov. Paul LePage Friday over comments he made that morning suggesting a private school education is superior to that at a public school.
LePage’s spokeswoman said the governor’s comments were taken out of context by the MEA, who she said ignored LePage’s overall message that his initiatives are meant to improve Maine schools that badly need it.
Speaking at York County Community College during an “Eggs ‘n Issues” discussion Friday morning, LePage covered several topics before arriving at school choice, according to a recording of the comments provided by the MEA. LePage said there was a school in Maine, which he wouldn’t name because it’s “embarrassing,” where only 23 percent of graduates are proficient in English and math.
“The best public high schools in the state are around 60 percent,” he said. “If you want a good education in Maine, and I get criticized by my opponents because I’m hard on education, but if you want a good education go to an academy. If you want a good education go to private schools. If you can’t afford it, tough luck. You can go to the public school. Until the state of Maine decides, and the governor’s staff and the Legislature sit around the table and say ‘what’s best for our students,’ we are not going to fix our schools.”
Maine Education Association President Lois Kilby-Chesley said in a press release late Friday afternoon that “the governor should be ashamed of himself.”
“We have no throw-away kids in Maine,” she said. “The governor should not be saying tough luck to our Maine students.”
LePage has previously come under fire for his public criticisms of Maine’s public schools. At a July 25 press conference in Augusta, LePage described Maine’s education system as “failing,” “dismal” and “stagnant,” and said Maine students are looked down upon when they go to other states for school or work.
The MEA has been an outspoken critic of the LePage administration’s efforts to create school choice for Maine students through the creation of charter schools and other initiatives.
“It is clear the governor continues to lie about Maine students in order to continue to push his and Commissioner [Stephen] Bowen’s agenda to privatize schools,” said Kilby-Chesley. “That would only give taxpayer dollars to for-profit, out-of-state corporations. Public schools belong in our communities and should be overseen by taxpayers, not by corporations.”
Bennett said the governor’s message is that school choice in Maine is what’s best for students and said LePage’s criticisms of the state’s education system is borne from test data that shows at some schools only a minority of students are able to achieve proficiency in reading and math. She said LePage’s point is that a student should have a chance to go to a school that scores better if he or she chooses.
“It’s very disappointing to see the MEA taking what the governor said out of context,” said Bennett. “Did the governor say some of those quotes? He did. However, he was emphasizing the importance of allowing parents and students multiple avenues to achieve success. Those are the quotes that the MEA left out. … The MEA can put their spin on, that he’s trashing public schools, but clearly what he has tried to do is to improve our public school system by allowing students and parents and communities multiple options.”
There not public schools …there indoctrination camps!
The MEA says you’re right.
This kind of attitude is why the Republicans are sliding down and down.
Lets see…..the private school my kids go to, mainstream private, 300+ kids….they graduate over 95% of thier students..with 98% going on to post secondary education….MEA has run its partisan course….time they go away…for the benefit of Maine youth..the current 79% graduation rate is a crime….now, where ddi the Gov mispeak again?
Let’s see… the private school your child goes to does not accept every student. They have parents who are active and involved in their child’s life (even if the parents are obviously not the most intelligent people in the world). How you can even compare graduation rates between a private school that has the power to kick out students and a public school is beyond ridiculous.
Let’s not forget that the cost of a private school is way, way above the average amount of money spent per pupil in public schools. Sometimes by a factor of four dollars for every dollar spent at a public school.
So is Le Page willing to increase state funding so that it actually meets the mandated 55 state share plus Special Education costs? Or is he just opening his mouth wide open to insult yet more Mainers?
I’ve no doubt which it is.
Sorry, but you are wrong as far as the “Let’s not forget that the cost of a private school is way, way above the average amount of money spent per pupil in public schools. Sometimes by a factor of four dollars for every dollar spent at a public school.”
The private school my kids attended cost $3500 per year per student, and a discount was applied for mulitple enrollees from the same family. Another private school I know of charges $2200 per year per student, with an additional $250 to cover books and supplies. Smaller class sizes, too. That’s just two examples.
However, go to the Maine Dept. of Education, and you will see that the average public school per pupil spending is $9,629 (2010-2011 school year). Based on your math (“sometimes by a factor of four dollars for every dollar spent at a public school) I should be spending $38,516 per child that I send to private school. Please get your information right before posting.
I think you really need to figure out what is included in the average. There are students who we have to pay nearly $50k a year to educate because they are a danger to their school, classmates, or themselves. Private schools do not have such problems.
Unfortunately it is difficult to compare a private school graduation rate to that of a public school. A public school has to accept all students, regardless of their behavior or ability.
Oops, ltr and I overlapped.
Is that Republican math? Private schools only accept those they can cherry pick to make a profit and make them look good. Public education takes all of our children.
Lies and distortions lost the house and the senate. Please keep up the good work, we Dems appreciate your help.
and that schools name is what, so we can confirm what you are saying is true? ?
You do know public schools have to take everyone , no matter what their physical or mental problems? Private schools have their pick on who they allow into their schools.
This added to the higher incomes and more stable homes they come from also skew these results.
So..what does that tell you….hmmmmmmm
I would have to agree with you on this Sprucie.
The thirty years of indoctrination has produced exactly what the left has so yearned for;
A young populace of sheeples who would rather whine and occupy a public park than actually supporting themselves.
Good luck with your flock.
Maybe we should have some Republican schools where Republican kids can learn Republican “facts.”
The rules regarding use of “there/they’re/their,” however, are deserving of equal indoctrination for all.
Too bad you didn’t get indoctrinated: it’s they’re, as in they are, not ‘there’. You need an education.
How does that ‘free lunch’ suit you? Seems that the complainers of public schools are the ones whom are used to ‘taking’.
You made no sense..
Your school tried and failed to “indoctrinate” you on the difference between “there” and “they’re.” I guess you’re immune.
Oh, here we go again!
Evidently you went to one of the gooder schools.
Yes …I did!
And some of you can’t figure out why the GOP lost.
they’re
and the right wants their turn at indoctrination,isn’t that right?? with their digital school with their digital “curriculum” ? They already started trying to recreate history via text book in Texas with the BIG text book makers .
Yeah, LePage got a good “private education” at The Holly – and he spoke perfect English there too.
Yessah
Don’t forget the “education” at The Grand Orange…..
There’s something seriously wrong with any State leader who would insult students, parents, or teachers who attend, send their kids to, or work in public schools. Not that it’s news to anyone by now but Mr. LePage is clearly long overdue for a major check-up from the neck-up.
After helping the Democrats win one of the most lop-sided elections in Maine’s history Tea Party Paulie has come out from under the rock he has been hiding under for the past couple of months.
Maybe he’s just testing the waters now to see if it’s really true that Maine voters dumped all his conservative support just to control him from flushing Maine and Mainer’s down the toilet over the next two years? Ayuh Paulie, it’s true. No need to double down on being selfish, mean spirited and ignorant. We really do get where you’re coming from and we know where and on what date you’re leaving.
Someone must have told him that there are still some Republicans left in the Maine Legislature for the upcoming term. Give him time and he will take care of that and make sure the entire Legislature is 100 percent Democrats.
Yep. He’s like a cartoon characterization of a WW2 Kamikaze pilot. I’m sure in this latest tirade against public education he really does think he’s doing something glorious. Sadly for him (but good for Maine) he’s got the nose of that plane pointing straight down at the now defenseless GOP/Tea Party battleship. I’m “almost” feeling sorry for them now. Lower the lifeboats! Out of kindness, if there’s any good conservatives left alive we’ll try to save as many as we can.
And it’s not like he went on a state wide campaign bender to help legislative republicans, they actually were trying to win their races. I highly doubt that the Governor will be crashing anymore Appropriation Committee work sessions…….damned near certain of it.
Campaigning for them would have made it worse for him.
Go teas!
Yes, go far away teas and disband. It’s the most toxic party ever created.
it IS the Republican party
It is the rabid dog faction of the GOP.
Side burns!
After all this time, I continue to be amazed by this man’s total incompetence. Can you believe this guy was actually elected? Unreal.
No I can’t. It’s almost as if he’s wired to say the worst possible thing to insult the maximum number of people. Even worse, unlike the shame most of us would feel after saying such things (Perhaps if we were bombed out of our gourd) he does it without any remorse what-so-ever. That’s a sign of something seriously wrong in one’s noggin. Apologies are sometimes accepted Mr. LePage.
I think you’re giving him too much credit. I don’t think he’s capable of an apology. In part, because he doesn’t think he is wrong.
I hope he knows he made a another bombastic mistake here and that he should make an apology. I hope the only reason he hasn’t is due only to a poor maturational or political calculation that he might somehow lose face by admitting it. That would mean that he’s simply a poor example of politician or perhaps, a man. If he truly doesn’t realize his error here then again, it’s clearly time for a serious check-up from the neck-up. Oh what the heck, while he’s at it he might as well get a full body MRI from his toes on up. I hear things down below can make some men a little whacky upstairs as well. He needs to find some balance in his life. Maybe a little Yoga or perhaps some Zumba lessons to get that heart rate up and shed a few pounds?
check up from the neck up. you’ve used that twice. kinda ‘proud’ of yourself for using that phrase are you? got anything ‘worth’ saying?
Do you?
misuse quotes ‘much’?
He must have gone to a public school…
LOL
That “is” funny ¡
He’s trying to help the 40% of Maine students that aren’t proficient in reading like yourself. It’s the current system, not the governor, that tells kids “tough luck” if their parents cannot afford to write a check for private education. It’s the MEA hacks like Lois that want to ensure all kids have to go through the public system that they control, regardless of the quality. But don’t let me interruprt your ramblings with reading comprehension.
Who are you to judge who’s proficient in reading?
And you are probably in tip-top shape, right?
Ha! Let’s just say that I could easily run circles around the entire circumference of Mr. LePage for hours and “Still” feel quite “Relaxed.” Now you gotta admit, that probably would classify me as being in pretty good condition. 2016 Rio de Janeiro, here I come! Yoga training maybe, no need for Zumba.
Wow. Making fun of someone’s weight? Classy! Is that the best you have? Bet you were a bully in school, too. Only the weakest debaters resort to name-calling when they know they’re losing.
I agree, LePage is really a lightweight.
This guy NEVER thinks he’s wrong. If a person believes he’s always right, he doesn’t even understand the concept of an apology.
He’s not like Obama, he doesn’t need to apologize for everything!
Deflection. Irrelevance. Arguable and mostly not true.
Oh is it? The democrats were so heel bent on getting back power that they forgot about us! If you can’t see that then you are completely blind!
GREAT MAINE YOU ARE DOING JUST GREAT
That’s untenable.
Give him 4 more years MAINE
Right on!!!!
I think his supporters should all pitch in and buy him a winter coat with a monogrammed message on its back that says “I’m ashamed of myself.” And also supply warm weather gear with that phrase emblazoned on it. I suppose, just to break up the same old phrase, it could say, “I’m very ashamed of myself.” or I’m so ashamed of myself.” or even “Shame on me !”
I suspect his supporters wouldn’t donate to such a cause !
I’ll make him the coat if he will wear it, as long as it says what you are proposing.
How about KICK ME! on a Post-it note?
I thought even he’d get the message after the election. Be quiet LePage, you’re a lame duck and we don’t want to hear from you anymore. just ride out your last 2 years and collect your undeserved paycheck.
must be why his ratings improve every time he tells it like it is. hmmm
yes the state of maine loves him so much they voted his party out of power.
That’s ok when your taxes skyrocket because they spend all of you money on mindless projects, then I will love to say told you so! Good luck with that!
like we were on election day? LMAO!
See that’s the sad part, all you can do is laugh at a very serious problem. True liberal right there!
What ratings are you specifically referring to?
The ratings on “As Maine Goes”…
If it is like this last election, Maine is headed downhill on the fast track.
..on a mixed metaphor!
YOU CAN SEE WHERE MAINE IS GOING
yes, in the left direction for a change…
Rating? Because of him, Mainers voted in Democratic House and Senate members all over the state.
We the people didn’t wait 4 years to nullify this Governor. He forced us to take action after only two, and now he has much less power as Governor.
And the Demcorats did such a great job while in office, yea right,.
peace
How can you honestly sit there and say that he is waging a war on the poor? Are you listening to yourself? You sound like a fool!
And you sound like …?
I sound like someone who actually has a brain!
\\\8//////
LMAO!! kettle met pot
\\ g ////
They dems waged war on the taxpayer.
—–
if the repubs did so well, why did the lose BOTH the house and Senate?
Data please.
YES MAINE KEEP HIM FOR LIFE AS YOUR GOV.
There’s a MHPC meeting at the Seadog in Bgr Dec 12th. You can bet that the 2 remaining dummies, LePage and Moody will be there. Anyone else?
SO you two are ok with a graduation rate…(10 years now) of 80%…with 49% of those drop outs not in the work force AND not in an educational setting….nice einstiens…..
When a young person of 16 or 17 chooses not to go to school any more, it is obviously the fault of the school — is this the conclusion you want us to reach?
Could the fact that this student probably comes from an impoverished single-parent home, probably no longer lives at home, probably has a police record, probably has a history of substance abuse, and probably has been told by parents, friends — and now by our governor — that school “sucks” — have anything to do with it?
Could the fact that there are NO DECENT JOBS for high school graduates have anything to do with it?
And you think sending the above student to a private school will solve all these problems? Good luck with that.
Carefull appalled. Your grasp on reality and the truth regarding LePage’s job performance is showing. Not to mention the fact that Paulie’s ‘attitude’ regarding what he’s responsible for, namely Bowen’s performance, or lack there of, is now out there. Option’s that the public has to pay for, but only a few benefit from, is not an option. It’s a State sanctioned subsidy. And Paulie has the nerve to call for a tax cut while at the same time call for subsidizing For-profit school’s ? Who’s in charge of this circus ‘ cause it’s time that a new, and more reality based Ringmaster, was in charge.
“Two” or too? I nor any school has much control over how hard children are willing to work to learn or earn a degree. That’s primarily an issue that falls upon the shoulders of what we used to refer to as parents. Lepage is little more than the new leader of the “blame everyone but oneself” crowd. Wake up folks, you’re being manipulated for the benefit of private businessmen who want your public tax dollars in their pockets. There could be a lot of reasons why your child isn’t performing well in school. Blaming schools, principals, teachers, or unions may be convenient, but it isn’t going to do you or your child a lick of good if you’re not willing to push/hold your child accountable to achieve.
business people wanting to line your pockets?…how embarrassing….if you believe that your phoney partisan hack atitude creates a good argument you are sadly mistaken…
No, nobody is happy with a those graduation rates but LePage does not have the right approaches to improve them.
Maybe you have not followed his career. He is not incompetent. He has achieved what he believes in and is staying the course even in the face of a Democratic landslide.
Just because what he believes in is small minded, hateful, disgusting and ignorant is no reason to criticize his accomplishment of being the best at all of the above.
So what you are trying to say is that Lepage took his mother seriously when she said that he could be anything that he wanted to be when he grew up!
So he endeavored to be the best in bigotry and ignorance!
BDN
That’s the problem. Everything he believes is junk.
Just think!
We almost elected his incompetent counterpart Mitt as President!
We didn’t just dodge a bullet on that one we dodged a wrecking ball!
First you have to get the people’s attention. If parents & teachers are not doing their jobs then he is right to speak out as bluntly as possible. After all, the kid’s futures are at stake. It’s no time for pussyfooting around.
“Floggings will cease when morale improves …”
the man has terminal ‘foot in mouth’ disease!
They elected Obama didn’t they.
By ‘they’, I assume that you mean the majority of America people.
I voted for him. Yes I did. I’m happy about it.
Yes I can because some of us in this State want to stop spending us into bankruptcy!
Yes Maine you voted for him enjoy your Gov.
I plan on it. He at least has a set of nuts to speak his mind and not worry about getting re-elected.
That is why he is known as the “WORST GOVERNOR” ever elected in the hoistory of Maine. He is a Shame to the position of Governor. This can all be connected to the level of his education and how little English and Math that he was able to obtain. Why if it was not for a Maine College to feel bad for him knowing how dumb he is gave he a pass which happens in a school that needs funding. The Green Shirts must be very happy with their Clown:)
He’s just doing his job as a governor who realizes the only way Maine’s declining public schools—last in Nation? will adopt real school reforms is kick the school’s command structure in the butt periodically by reminding it and the parents that the private schools outperform the public schools and often for less money.
And if it’s a fat-cat bureaucrat doesn’t move, kick their A** enough times until it does move.
Elected chief executives find that when they can no long fund the wish list of these entrenched bureaucrats, they become whining crybabies who resort to personal attacks esp. when one of the public sector unions is involved.
Bully away, LePage..it’s the only option unless you want to keep borrowing and taxing and borrowing and taxing. The school bureaucracy MUST REALIZE there is a major revenue shortfall and they have to start going along with LePage’s reforms since they have proven to work in many other states to improve and reduce the cost of public schools.
And for the rest of you ‘haters’, you ready to pay for remediation at UMS for high school graduates who don’t meet standards?
The lies LePage is telling about our schools are not just normal political lies that rile people up and create pressure for political change. They are something much worse. Here’s why. Many of the underachieving students in our schools come from homes in which education is not valued. And now, thanks to LePage’s campaign of negativity, education may be valued even less.
We now could have thousands more kids who have another “excuse” not to succeed, not to care, not to invest themselves in their education. After all, according to the governor, attending a public school is a waste of time.
As for the governor’s claim, it is cowflop. Private school students by and large come from families that are wealthier, better educated, and who value education. It is illogical to compare those students with “the average Maine kid” in terms of achievement levels.
the echo chamber is really rattling tonight!!
Excuse me, but my kids went to a private school, and many of our friends kids did too, or are still attending. None of us are rich by any means, and we go without things (cable, sat, vacations, etc.) in order to provide our children with the best education that we can. At the same time, some of my friends work two jobs just so they can send their kids to private schools. So, your statement that “Private school students by and large come from families that are wealthier,” goes out the window, as well as the, ” better educated,” part does too, as many of these same people do not have college educations (it was beyond their means at the time), but they do desire to have a better education that what they are/were getting in a public school session. My own nephew graduated from a public school system….he cannot read or write, and he skipped almost the entire senior year (he showed up for home room and got marked “present”) and yet he graduated with a high school diploma(btw…he was not in “special education classes, either. By the time I found out he cannot read/write, he lost interest and said, why bother, they pass me every year). That is just one of many examples that I can give to you about how “great” our schools are.
Having said all of that, I do need to say there are teachers in the public school system who are really good at what they do, and show they care about the students by the efforts they put in. The schools get too caught up in “socialized” programs instead of what is really important….the basics. And, I have seen teachers that will put on MTV videos because they don’t feel like teaching that day, or they want to be “friends” with their students, not an authority figure. Because of the way the school union is set up, it’s really hard to hold these types of teachers accountable. Until you make changes at the top (gov’t., school systems, and the teacher’s union), not much will change.
An anecdote does not a general truth make.
A couple of kids in private school is easily more than $16,000 per year. I think it is safe to say that 99% of Maine could not save that much by foregoing cable, satellite tv, and vacations — so your claim in that department is ludicrous.
In the world of the 99%, lots of people are working a 2nd job to pay medical bills, to support their aging parents, to save for their kids college education, or just to make ends meet. Private schools are attended by children whose family incomes are on average WELL ABOVE those of children attending public school. That is fact.
Ummmm….sorry, but the private school my kids went to costs $3500 a year, with discounts applied for multiple children enrolled from the same family. Another private school I know of charges $2200 per year per student, with an additional $250 to cover books and supplies. Smaller class sizes, too. That’s just two examples. We are also a one-income family …. definately NOT wealthy!
I have neighbors that pay over $150 per month for every Sat. channel there is (they are on welfare, btw) … that equals to $1800 per year just for tv entertainment….most of it being trash. My kids were also taught responsibility…to get jobs and save money for their car, car expenses (gas, oil, tires, etc.) and insurance. Cell phones for my kids did not come into play until they got their license….and it was limited on how often they could use it. So, yes, there are ways to save money and make private school affordable, and no, not everyone is wealthy that choses to send their kids to private schools. Please get YOUR facts straight!
BTW….I helped my kids continue their education AND they contributed as well. I worked through my college years and paid for my education as I could afford it. It did take longer than the “normal” four years, but I didn’t go into debt for it either. Who says we should? And who says it’s entirely the parents responsibility to put their kids through college? And, why always college? There are trade schools that are overlooked, and we have a shortfall of skilled people in those areas. There is nothing wrong in teaching your kids that they need to work for what they want, rather than the idea that everything should be handed to them… including a college education. My kids are well-educated and have very good jobs….and they earned them through their own hard work.
A private school that costs $3,500 per year? I am pretty sure this is a religious school that is being heavily subsidized by a church. Can this generosity be expanded to subsidize the education of thousands of additional students? And would the donors be willing to continue subsidizing a school that is more secular in nature? I think not.
Sounds like a church school. Subsidized?
my thought too
Sounds like your nephew needed some sort of special assistance. Why didn’t his family and the school insist on it? Sounds like this was a continuing problem since the early grades and he wouldn’t have been accepted at a private school anyway. We’re all somewhat dyslexic and have potential learning problems but cooperation between the families and the schools (public included) can help. Worked for us with one kid having moderate learning difficulties and he’s now an excellent citizen, father, and college graduate.
What turned you off on your public schools? What was you parental input? My kids were publicly educated K-12 since many of the private school kids I saw (and their families) were elitist. Not all for sure, but too many for my taste.
I worked in a Private School!
The “ONLY” goal was Head Count and the Associated Dollar signs that came with it!
All else is Smoke and Mirrors!
BTW –Teachers popped in videos there at that private school as well and went to the break room to socialize!
You are obviously clueless on the state of education. Any parent with half a brain knows our schools are failing our children. You obviously don’t have children presently in school, get your head out of the sand. Most thinking parents want school choice and support the governor on this issue. Education is changing and you need to get with the program.
No, you don’t have clue what you are talking about and have never spent two seconds teaching a classroom of students. We have very good test scores on balance in Maine, we have good schools and teachers and administrators which are overwhelmingly supported by our towns and cities, we have great colleges, and our drop out rates are going down. You are as clueless as that walking JOKE you call a governor. You people just don’t get it. You get POUNDED in an election and then come out with this garbage. Wait until 2014 when we send Paulie The Goofball packing along with another huge chunk of his GOP waterboys.
It’s like the I.D. 10-T’s on Fox Nooz…. “Let this (victory) be a lesson to the Democrats…”
Yes, I have spent time teaching in a classroom of students. My students love and respect me.
Most thinking parents know that diverting public tax dollars to private schools, corporate-run virtual schools, and even homeschoolers is a bad idea — because it weakens public schools and creates a two-tier school system, one for more privileged kids and one for everyone else.
Most thinking parents know that the performance record of charter schools is no better (may actually be worse) than public schools.
Most thinking people know that private schools and charter schools would rather not have to bother with kids who have special needs or have behavioral issues — and so, to the extent possible, they don’t. Most thinking people know that inclusivity and equal education for all are central to what makes us America.
Why don’t we let thinking parents have the choice of what is best for their children. Don’t believe everything the teachers union tell ya.
All “thinking parents” have always had that choice. There’s NOTHING stopping them from sending their children to private schools. Like Lepage, they’re simply not thinking too deeply if they think we should start drawing funding (public tax dollars) away from public schools to make that happen.
They do have a choice, they can send their kids to private schools but not on the Public’s dime.
Of course what you’ve said here is true. The problem is that you’re saying to to someone who’s insight on this subject doesn’t seem go beyond their own desires and the political rhetoric of the GOP Tea Party who are clearly fixated on draining every last public education tax dollar into one of their own private businesses. Sad that people can’t think more than one or two steps ahead to know when someone is really only trying to put the screws to them. As they say, there’s a sucker born everyday.
Hold off on attacking homeschool kids. We pay our property taxes, and thereby support public schools, while still paying anywhere from $600 to $1,000 on our curriculum (out-of-pocket) all with one income! I don’t get back one dime from my school taxes to pay for our homeschool curriculum. Nothing I pay to the government is diverted to pay for homeschool supplies.
I have no problem with my taxes supporting public education because my daughter utilizes the public school for music and PE. The rest of her subjects are taught at home.
My daughter has attended public schools for those two programs since Kindergarten. When I asked her if she would rather attend public school or stay with homeschooling her response was to BEG me to continue to homeschool her through high school. She thought, by asking that question, that I was considering sending her to public school and she panicked. Why? She HATES the way the students disrespect the teachers. She claims there is absolutely no discipline and the foul language and bullying (YES, there is still bullying going on) greatly disturb her (she is not one of the kids bullied). With all the disruptions, she doesn’t understand how her peers can learn anything.
Anyone who claims our public schools are just fine as they are live in a fantasy land. I know because I’m there picking up my kid after her two classes. I hear, first hand, how it is in the schools. I hear the frustration of the teachers about how the parents no longer teach their kids to respect their elders or exhibit basic manners; I hear from parents how teachers don’t want to teach but just show movies or espouse their social or political preferences.
There’s enough blame to go around for everybody as to why our public schools are a mess. It’s now time to stop the blame game and get down to business to fix the problems. I can tell you that unless something drastically changes in our situation which makes homeschooling an impossibility, there is no chance of our kid ever attending public school.
My comment was certainly not an attack on homeschool kids. I was merely making the point that, in these economic times, with education dollars already stretched so thin, it is not a good idea to start diverting money away from public schools.
Providing up to $1,000 reimbursement to families who homeschool their kids might even be do-able. But LePage’s idea that “the money should follow the student” could be very destructive, especially to small, rural public schools.
Your comment about stopping the blame game is right on. Please write the governor with that suggestion, and I will do the same.
go for it gov. Lepage we don’t need the MTA we need a PTA to take back our school system.
Not sure he is taking back our school system, as much as dividing it. Just read the comments here if you don’t believe it.
Sorry your kids did poorly, were they among his 40% that aren’t proficient in math and English? Was LePage?
My kids attended a rural public school and all did very well as did many of their classmates, they’re out of college and working in Maine.
It’s true that some of our kids are in such bad homes that a 4 year private boarding school might give them a chance that they don’t have at home, but I doubt Maine’s got money enough to pony up for that privilege.
Sorry to disappoint you but my children actually have done very well. They have all gone to college and some have advance degrees. Every single one of them is employed. Oh by the way I home schooled my children.
Education is changing. Must be why the folks in Newport are so upset (and with good reason)
My children went to public school in a very rural area and received very good educations.
School choice favors the wealthy.
I am with you letstrythisagain. I check my kids work and grades often during the week and am appalled at the things they tell me about their public school. We supplement learning here at home as well and they get assistance with their homework. When I viewed their grades most recently and saw C’s and then saw the number grade assigned to it, it was over 81%. Hmmmmmm, and it takes a 93% to get an A. Yet when they ask for help at school they are told to ask a friend or to “try harder”. So, if the grading is more stringent for the student, where are the teachers in giving help? I get ignored if I email a teacher to help my children with something WE found difficult regarding homework at home, having used the internet for help and other resources. Thankfully I went to school in another state, I was an engaged student and I still love to learn. The attitudes of the teachers we have encountered in the school systems they have attended are dismal. So even though I work full time, evenings are spent teaching them what teachers will not and helping them with things the teachers push back on. The MEA should be ashamed of it’s lax approach to teaching. We cannot afford private schools but we make the time to teach them at home what public schools fail to properly teach while the kids are there.
My point exactly . Kids who come from Uneducated parents are at a big disadvantage.
Agreed!
Dear Ms. Bennett: When LePage says “If you want a good education go to private schools.” that is not the same as saying students should have school choice. That is telling everyone that the governor of Maine does not back public schools in the state of Maine, and that he does not, in fact, have anything good to say about public schools. It is also showcasing his own ignorance. Again. I wish he’d put some energy into educating himself on topics before he opens his mouth. He makes a lousy spokesperson for this state and a lousy advocate for our state and our students. I’m so glad my kids were out before he got in, and if he’s anywhere near education with his influence when my grandchildren come up through I will hope and push for them to be in another state. Just so I am perfectly clear – I love the state of Maine, it is the governor I have no use for. Nobody needs to step in and clean up my statements.
Except for the fact that he’s right, right? If you want your children to get a quality education in Maine, the chancws of getting such an education for them is slim to none in the public school system… Also, for those naysayers, yes, I have raised three children, all of which suffered through the public school system. I am one of the parents with kids the Governor was referring to in his comments; I cannot afford to send my children to a private school…
It’s ok sheeple, just follow the leader now, it’ll be alright…
Considered those stats on how we rank?
The MEA IS the problem. Their interest is in money and political power – nothing more. The educating of our students is not even on their screen.
MBE
I’m looking forward to seeing how Adrienne Bennett spins this one. lol!
is he wrong? I suppose you will be like everyone else and blame the RSU 19 problem on him as well?
<Maine you voted for him you will never learn
Hey, let you MEA superlatives crow but as a teacher for over 30 years, I preferred my kids to be homeschooled or at a private school as much as possible-as well as not having the liberal slant to most everything.
I hate to even partially agree with Governor LePage. That being said he is correct that the quality of student results is going down hill.
IMO, the parents are probably the largest part of the equation in the failure of students to reach their potential. That isn’t the fault of the schools, it is the result of the thinning of the pool. As it stands now the best and brightest HS graduates are leaving and have been leaving Maine in ever higher numbers. They can’t make a decent living on minimum wage in seasonal jobs. They have to leave. Which leaves us with an ever larger % who stay and just get by. Many of whom have issues. From addictions or just plain lack of inniciatives to improve their lives. They are making babies and when their kids go to school they have no role models at home nor people who have the ability to help them excell in school.
The schools are at fault for just passing the failing kids along the chain who have little or no chance of grasping the next grade level curiculum.
It’s a vicious cycle.
The head of the MEA is the one who should be ashamed. The numbers don’t lie.
MHPC staffers have PhDs in making numbers lie.
OK, so what is the school that has only 23 percent of graduating students showing proficiency in English and math, and where is the data to support the claim?
Stop trying to cover for him, Ms. Bennett. He said what he said, so let him deal with the backlash.
He is an embarrassment to our state and I cannot wait for him to be done as governor.
Just another brick thrown at public school teachers- what’s new?
Not all public school teachers are good teachers. They should earn what they deserve.
Ok so even bad teachers are decent babysitters. Let’s do the math. Average daycare per child $100 per work week, average class size, 20 kids (it is a flexible number) so $100 x 20 = $2,000 per week. There are 35 weeks in a school year, thus the bad teacher who should only earn what they deserve as a professional babysitter should make $70,000 per year.
What post are you replying to??
Did I say that all public school teachers are good teachers? I did not.
I said nothing about what teachers earn. What post did you read?
Union complaints. Who cares?
We should. Someone has to call out the Governor.
Ask the voters that gave the house and senate to the Dems. They care.
I’m one of the people who did, and I don’t care.
Maine in top 15
Average Mathematics scale score sorted by all students (overall results), grade 8 public schools: By average scale score, 2011
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/statecomparisons/withinyear.aspx?usrSelections=1%2cMAT%2c0%2c0%2cwithin%2c0%2c0
Just because Maine is in the top 15 isn’t saying much other than most other states are even worse. All you are saying is that the rotten apple we have here doesn’t have quite as much rot as most of the rest of the barrel.
More bunk from you. Nice attempt at a spin around the block that. Your statements speak for themselves, exposing your ignorance on the subject.
Reasoning isn’t your strong suit.
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/statecomparisons/withinyear.aspx?usrSelections=1%2cSCI%2c0%2c0%2cwithin%2c0%2c0
Average Science scale score sorted by all students (overall results), grade 8 public schools: By average scale score, 2011
Maine top 15 here too
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/statecomparisons/withinyear.aspx?usrSelections=1%2cWRI%2c0%2c2%2cwithin%2c0%2c0
Maine in top 6
Average Writing scale score sorted by all students (overall results), grade 8 public schools: By average scale score, 2007
Thanks for providing these scores and the links.
Just a few more inconvenient facts for Mr. LePage.
Let’s not allow the facts to get in the way of the LePage administration’s rantings of falsehood.
The way they want to fix the schools is to give teachers more money, More money somehow will make teachers better teachers..LOL!!!!.
The teachers themselves are uneducated. . An uneducated electorate are easily fooled..
That explains why the Republicans have more support among the less educated doesn’t it? If you don’t like the teachers in the schools currently, pay more money to attract better candidates. Currently the unemployment rate for teachers is less than 5%, there are clearly not a lot of people waiting to take the jobs.
Perhaps we could save some money and use it for that very thing if the union would cough up Insurance numbers.
They don’t need to cough up a thing. They earn their insurance and it is set in stone in a binding, negotiated contract.
Seriously, what on earth are you talking about?
When shopping for insurance rates it is a handy device to have the raw data of insurance usage by a group. The union controls the data and had been resisting the school districts using it.
Untrue, that information was the property of the trust, not the union. a law passed recently requiring the trust to release claims info to the school districts.
Correct the law has changed. Why did the union object so strenuously even to the point of threatening legal action if they had nothing to hide?
Did they?
No.
They may have taken an interested party or intervenor status in a legal action, I don’t know that, but I do know they weren’t the principal party with primary standing if there was a legal action.
The Union has NO ACCESS to the funds. Never did. It’s all in the trust. Same thing is true for Maine Municipal Employers Health plan funds. No union hands get near that money. you don’t have enough information to make the comment you did with any accuracy.
All my information is readily available in BDN news stories.
That may be but you posted wrong information and took an undeserved catty swipe at the teacher’s union. You can’t escape that.
Catty swipes at the teachers union are well deserved when they attempt to prevent school districts from saving money by joining in a suit against the schools interest.
And you are educated? What are your criteria for “uneducated” teachers?
Yet Republicans are always urging the public to throw more money at millionaires… there’s a magical belief that this will one day result in jobs.
Or better schools, or prisons, or hospitals, etc. The private sector fails miserably in these areas. Then it just takes even more government to regulate their incompetance when it’s all about the bottom line. We don’t save a dime. In fact privatization costs us more in the long run.
This is where I believe my R brethren get some of it wrong. I believe schools and prisons in particular are inherently governmental activities. I don’t have any problems with private hospitals…but municipal/regional hospitals are my government’s job and place, too.
Perhaps “more money” would attract better “educated” people to teaching?
Sucks when a politician actually says what he believes, its even worse when its the truth. The problem is with families more than teachers though. Teachers get kids who aren’t prepared to learn, kids whose families don’t place enough emphasis on education and these kids are mixed in with those who are ready and want to learn. You suppose that causes problems???. Not everyone needs to go to college, the world needs ditch diggers also
a vulgar oaf commenting on education
Quite. Which makes it rankle all the more that – Grodd help us – he’s basically right.
Sometimes the truth isn’t what the public wants to hear. In most, if not all case students do get a better education in a private school.
And there are a number of reasons for that, especially their ability to select their students.
That is one of many.
For all commenting;
if you are a business owner here in Maine or say an employee of a Maine company, is your company in the top 15 in the US in any category of ranking, like innovation, profitability, etc., like Maine’s educational system ranking ?
Have you actually interviewed recent HS graduates applying for a job? For that matter many college graduates are not much better. Their lack of knowledge and ability is pitiful. Most cannot make change. Many cannot do basic math, read an instruction manual or the company handbook, or fill out the job application. Many cannot write, most cannot spell, and forget about grammar.
Yep, something to be proud of all right.
Total bunk. Obviously you haven’t either. If you have you must be offering minimum wage, no benefits, and no opportunity for growth. If you are a so called “job creator,” you are most certainly a bottom feeder.
No, he’s absolutely right. Go ahead and quit your cushy government job and strike out on your own. Try to hire a few people for your enterprise. You’ll see what he means before you finish reading the first 10 applications.
In your mind perhaps, but not in mine. For the record I do not work for the government, I work in the private sector. I wouldn’t work for the government, those folk hardly have it “cushy.” For the most part they work in thankless jobs, basically due to thankless people like you who do not value their service. I am in a position of leadership where I have to hire my staff. We pay well above the minimum wage to start, offer benefits, hire full time, and focus on hiring locals first. I can assure you Maine educated candidates come highly qualified, are well prepared, present themselves well, and generally become valued, long standing employees. You may want to polish your crystal ball, it is not serving your rhetoric well.
Actually it’s not bunk. My husband took us all out one night. When he paid the bill, the high school student manning the register couldn’t make change for a $20. My husband had to correct him 3 times! The sad part of it all was the bill came to $15.50 and this kid couldn’t make change for that! A few days later, we were at another store, and the high school cashier also couldn’t make correct change. It took him two times. My husband had to correct him as well.
Of course, our homeschooled daughter (4th grade) was a witness to all of this. Her conclusion: “That’s why you’re always teaching me how to count back change!”
That could and does happen nationwide, even in the state with the best public schools. To make a generalization like that on the basis of an isolated incident or two in ridiculous in my opinion.
I always thought it was up to the student to do well, not the type of school they attend. If the student has zero desire I don’t care if you send them to the best school money can purchase, they are still going to fail.
That is the difference between public and private schools. Private schools can pick and choose their students, who are usually the offspring of successful and intelligent parents, and, not suprisingly, successful and intelligent students. Public schools have a mandate to take everybody as students, the really dumb unmotivated ones as well as the really smart overachievers. Comparing the two is like comparing apples and oranges. Until private schools are forced to take the stupid ones as well as the smart ones, such comparisons have no validity.
It has much more to do with being able to pick their teachers.
Gov LePage nailed the MEA right between the eyes……79% graduation rate with 49% of those not in any school OR in the workforce…..The MEA is truly criminal and trying to cover its butts….sorry for you….MEA has run its course and the state should do what little stuff the MEA does right now for schools…
The MEA is a criminal enterprise designed to swindle the taxpayers.
I am very pleased with the Bangor School system for the most part. My child’s teachers this year are for the most part pretty good. (one slow moving teacher who sometimes appears to just go through the motions). Bangor does regularly have higher test scores than the rest of the state. Now if Betsy could get the insurance data from the union things would be better. Maybe move dollars from insurance costs to the classroom.
One reason the schools continue to get away with their poor performance is that everyone thinks their town’s schools are good. It’s the other towns that have the bad schools.
I have a question, Why doen’t we ever hear from Teachers. Since they are the ones on the ground of battle, why don’t they have a voice in how a school is run?? Is it because the unions only demands are cash and benifits??
#1 Administrations should never have so much power as to be able to fire Teachers or blackball them.
#2 Make your unions ask that teachers get half the seats on all school boards..
The number 1 abuses can happen, that’s why there are teacher’s unions.
Actually they pretty much run many school boards.
Mandate school board membership? Sounds like communism to me. Last I knew they were elected officials who choose to run on their own.
Teachers and their families are prohibited from running for school boards, so you can’t say the people have the option of choosing to run when they don’t. Basically, we want people who are completely ignorant of education making the decisions for what happens in our schools, and then when things don’t work out, we blame the teachers.
What are you babbling about? First of all, I never said I was qualifying teachers or their families to serve in my statement. Please do not be putting words into my mouth based upon your assumptions. My point was that school board members are elected officials and therefore school boards shouldn’t be mandated to include teachers or anyone else for that matter. We are, and should continue to be, free to choose any qualified citizen. No board shoud be front loaded. As to your second assertion regarding the qualifications for school board members, I would say it’s bunk and you don’t know what you’re talking about. I would also dare say most school board members are parents with children presently in school or have had children attend school in the past. By and large they are community leaders doing a valued service, performing their civic duties.
Tom, once again, we are not free to elect qualified citizens. If we were, then it would be fine for teachers to serve on the boards. We do not want qualified citizens on the school boards, we want those without a background in education. I think that there should be a set of seats reserved for educational professionals. If we want the best schools, we should perhaps let the best people run them instead of the crews we have. It would be akin to a corporate board refusing to allow anyone with business experience sit on it.
You make my point. Since teachers are disqualified, by virtue of the opposite we qualify others.
If I wanted to make good bacon, the last thing I would do is ask the pigs.
So organizations who hire people should never be able to fire them?
Now rank Prep schools in US and Maine? Maine has zero in top 20………….
Rank private schools in Maine to the US ? Any in top 20 in US?
So, urban myth Maine public schools are failing………………………………………and that Charter Schools, vouchers, Maine Prep Schools and Maine Private Schools some how will improve education for Maine kids……………..
thank you IRISH for all the REAL facts about Maine schools and their ranking on national test scores—– not the ones that goes thru Bowen “transformation” machine .
Oh, the ONLY top high school ranked in US (top 50)?
Maine School of Science and Mathematics”In 2012, U.S. News & World Report ranked MSSM #38 on its list of “America’s Best High Schools,” a ranking of public high schools in the United States. ” Again a PUBLIC high school, though a magnet HS, is the ONLY ranked High School in Maine……. public gettin’ it done…………….
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/maine/rankingshttp://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/maine/rankings
My son in law went there. Has a college degree in engineering as well. He also cannot spell, write well, ect. Love him, but I certainly do understand why many companies are moving design work to China or India.
OML, your hate and disdain is appalling. I wonder if your son in law knows how you disrespect him in the public forum and if so if he “loves” you back. Honestly.
You believe we should all hide or ignore the truth. So all your relationships are based on lies.
I’m not sure where you get the impression I “hate” anything or anyone.
I guess you see in others what you feel yourself. It’s called projection.
You make that impression with your words and how you project them in the manner you frame your arguements.
I’m a teacher, and I can tell you that LePage is correct — public schools are at 60% or less . . . IN THE SAT. Do you know what the SAT measures? Nothing. It’s an APTITUDE test. Colleges don’t even pay attention to it anymore.
But if one wants to go and research public versus private schools, he/she would find that public schools are on par with private schools when it comes to SAT scores, regardless of the fact that public schools cannot pick and choose their student body.
Furthermore, public schools don’t drop low achieving students. Kids with learning a disabilities, ADHD, low reading abilities, and autism or Asperger’s are still required to take the SAT. So whereas a private school can pick and choose its students, public schools don’t have that “luxury.”
And lastly, those of you who are trashing on public schools:
It’s = it is
Its = possessive
Your = possessive
You’re = you are
There = location
They’re = they are
Their = possession
Get your grammar straight before you dump on the education system.
Thank you.
Loved my teachers, and still give thought to those that enlightened and changed my life. I can name them all, and do in my own thoughts from time to time. You all deserve more then you recieve. Please don’t forget, most of your pupils still remember the impact you have made on our lives, and will try to pass that down to ours, in hopes they don’ t give you nearly the headaches I gave you!
Thank you again.
LOL…another ego-tripped teacher who thinks people actually listen to the tired old drivel that ran out of steam two decades ago…sigh.
And nice try on the supposed ‘grammar lesson’ there lame-bull. Next time try and get your ellipses and dash diction sorted out, you literary tramp.
Nicely and smoothly said Mr Jack Lakeson (Xtra-traneous)
I am sorry for the hurt you endured in school, oh, let’s say 20 years ago. Which teacher told you you’d never amount to anything and that you don’t matter?
Ego-tripped teacher, probably the one you believed because back then you didnt know you were so angry…..sorry for that.
So you went on to get a degree in what, um, English, or better yet, you started but never finished because of self-fulfilled prophecy of your own inadequacies. It’s a shame.
If you had any clue, and I suppose you are just a warrior whom hides behind his computer darting out criticisms that may make you feel better, because “hurting people=hurt people”; you’d know that that there are lots of teachers out there whom actually go into teaching to help, not hurt.
I hope that you don’t hurt yourself falling off that self inflated cushion of insecurity. If you want people to listen and you want to matter (which I assume you do or you wouldnt be so openly insecure about the-teacher-who-didnt-believe-in-you) Go get a degree and look for a job that changes lives, not sours them
Sorry for your old issues,
Empathetic in Maine
you quit school huh??
You need a space after both sets of “…”.
Don’t start a sentence with “and.”
You should put a comma between “there” and “lame.”
“Lame-bull” is an unusual pairing on words. Credit goes to you for ingenuity.
“Try and get” should be “try to get”.
It is actually OK to have a single (unpaired) dash, and it’s OK to end a sentence with “…”. I grant that the combination is unusual.
Referring to anyone as a “tramp” is despicable.
It sounds to me as if you did not spend enough time listening and learning in English class. I also wonder whether or not your parents taught you to be polite.
There’s no rule against beginning a sentence with “and,” or even “but.”
Also, in American English, the period goes inside the quotation mark.
It’s wordy to say “I also wonder whether or not your parents taught you to be polite.” It’s more economical and succinct to say “I also wonder whether your parents taught you to be polite.”
Just saying…
Not to get into this, but there is actually a rule against using a conjunction at the beginning of a sentence. Basically if you have to start a sentence with an and or but it means that your prior sentence was a sentence fragment. Many writers today violate this, but it doesn’t mean that it isn’t a rule; mind you it is not one I pay too much attention to.
“there is actually a rule against using a conjunction at the beginning of a sentence.”
It’s a convention, not a rule.
Who are you to be insulting my Gramma, she is a wunnerful woman.
This is awesome! Finally someone to see things as they are. I love it!!
Kids with Asperger’s are hardly “low acheiving.” Quite the opposite, actually.
Ain’t = Never had No Learnin!
LOL
Thank you, sir! May I have another?
Public school teachers fabricate ‘disabilities’ to conceal their own incompetence. Complain to a school teacher that your child isn’t learning anything in class and you’ll get a avalanche of special ed testing and a committee of dingleberries with education degrees trying to tell you that the problem is with your child. The public school special ed system is overwhelmingly a boondoggle to cover for teacher indolence and ineptness.
.
Been there, done that.
It shows a lack of decorum to correct grammar here. It’s rather arrogant.
I also don’t believe you.
Lets say a person spend 1000 hour studding vocab on the SAT one do well on that section 100o hours on math (dose not go beyond alg 11) I think one could ace that section as well . SAT scores mean nothing except you can score higher on that test. Funny I have a friend with 8 years of college Many higher math classes who got a 3.9 to 4.0 GPA who is not nearly in my ball park with basic math skills . She picks on my spelling haha. I can not believe how slow she is at math . I was better in math in 4th grade than she is today . Education has its biases do more to social class than natural ability .
I feel sorry for Ms Bennett. She come s from a great Maine family. She had a great public school education in Maine. Why does she continue to cover for the Chief Clown Lepage? Its time to move on Ms Bennett. Its still not too late to save your career.
I’ve given up feeling sorry for her .At this point she is nothing more then a well paid enabler .
It’s called money. Obviously she has no conviction.
Remember in February 2011 when Gov. LePage said that two towns were about to default?
But then no towns actually did.
Did you vote for Dill?
I worked on the Angus King for Senate campaign. Why would I have voted for Dill?
Not that this has anything to do with LePage.
But how brave you are writing from behind an alias.
Of course you did. You run Dirigo Blue a Democrat website and then vote for King. Sounds opportunistic to me and a little bit like a hypocrite.
As for you calling me out. In some corners that could be considered threatening behavior. At the very least an attempt to intimidate.
This is a website where anonymity is welcome. Are you setting the rules now?
I remember that. I also remember that Hartland was revealed as one of those towns after a bunch of people accused LePage of lying even though he had been telling the truth and helped bail Hartland out.
In fact, the people who attacked him were wrong, but they never had to admit it, and now it looks like the same types of people are lying about it. Par for the course. Just keep lying….
See below: Hartland Concedes Validity of Default Claim
http://www.pressherald.com/news/hartland-concedes-validity-of-default-claim_2011-02-24.html
That doesn’t fit your narrative now does it? And I get a kick out of your “no towns actually did.” Well, let me tell you, that’s a sign of success when a community like Hartland is on the verge and they don’t default. Thanks to the LePage admin.
Stay classy…
Uh, I think you missed the part where the town officials said that although they may have been in trouble had a large local employer left, they were never actually in trouble enough to consider defaulting.
“Frost, the town manager, stops short of saying the town would have been ‘ready to default’ if the tannery sale had failed, but ‘we would have taken 10 steps backward.’
“‘We’re a hardship town, but we’re thinking positive,'” she said. ‘We’re not in jeopardy of defaulting with anything, especially not with the sale to Tasman.'”
Did you read the whole article?
What is your point with this statement? Also, it would be nice if you would address the point of order regarding Hartland and whether it was bailed out in order to save it from default.
Classic foot-in-mouth disease. Again.
Yes, speaking the truth is just so unacceptable.
Governor LePage, enjoy the title while it’s still yours to use. But take a hint from voters: don’t buy your business cards in bulk. A two year supply is all you’re gonna need.
Holy crap I can’t believe I voted for this DB. I’m so sorry.
:-(
Someone should usher Mr. LePage into psychiatric care. Soon.
His vindictive tripe is essentially demented hate speech.
I don’t care what voices in his head are telling him to do, it shouldn’t be inflicted upon the school children of Maine.
That their supposed Head of State belittles them at every turn is beyond sane comprehension.
Point of order: Being a jackhole is not, technically speaking, an actual mental illness.
Being a sociopath is.
Private education generally is better than the government schools.
What is wrong with this guy. Who the heck does he think he is!!!
Can you imagine ANY CEO criticizing his own product and then referring customer to his competitor, instead of trying to improve his companies product???? He would be IMMEDIATELY canned by the Board of Directors and investors. And I hope taxpayers and voters can find a way to can him for derelictioin of duty and abuse of power!!
And by the way his “advisors” are full of baloney, taking advantage of his lack of knowledge and experience and taking him for a ride . The legislature need to replace BOWEN ( the primary source of his info), immediately ,if not sooner. I ‘ll bet he has a financial conflict of interest with some of these “PRIVATIZE the school” groups LIKE K-12 INC.
Governor you job is to look out for and protect the public’s investment (in this case in PUBLIC schools) NOT sell it out to the highest bidder!!
My understanding is the issue at hand occurred in Orono. Am I incorrect?
Even so. I am still on the whole, happy with Bangor Schools.
What is wrong with this guy. Who the heck does he think he is!!!
Can you imagine ANY CEO criticizing his own product and then referring customer to his competitor, instead of trying to improve his companies product???? He would be IMMEDIATELY canned by the Board of Directors and investors. And I hope taxpayers and voters can find a way to can him for derelictioin of duty and abuse of power!!
And by the way his “advisors” are full of baloney, taking advantage of his lack of knowledge and experience and taking him for a ride . The legislature need to replace BOWEN ( the primary source of his info), immediately ,if not sooner. I ‘ll bet he has a financial conflict of interest with some of these “PRIVATIZE the school” groups LIKE K-12 INC.
Governor your job is to look out for and protect the public’s investment (in this case in PUBLIC schools) NOT sell it out to the highest bidder!!
Of course private school education is superior: That’s why wealthy folks send their children to private schools (Duh!) Private schools are also free of the affliction of teachers’ unions and US DOEd mandates, both of which have so seriously damaged public school education. Remember, we created the Department of Education in 1979 in reaction to the fact that we’d fallen to 5th place in education in the industrialized world. In the most recent rankings, we’d fallen to 24th.
American student test scores compare very favorably with those in other countries WHEN economic status is factored in. In other words, rich kids from America test out right at the top when compared to rich kids in other countries. Poor kids in America test out right at the top compared to poor kids in other countries. Poor kids don’t test as well as rich kids anywhere.
Some interesting myth-busting facts right there.
What are the implications of this? Here’s one. If you could lift 100 percent of American kids out of poverty, we could again lead the world in test scores. I say, let’s go for it.
But that’s socialism or something. Poor children should be made to suffer for being born poor. It’s the American way.
You’re a public school teacher, right?
Governor LeBUFFOON just doesn’t get it and never will. The guy needs to get on some serious meds. He’s unhinged. And NOTHING was taken “out of context.” That is a VERY clear statement, and he will pay at the polls BIGTIME in 2014. It will be WORSE than the SMASHDOWN his party just took a few days ago. What a BUFFOON. He won’t be able to get elected as dog catcher.
Can’t wait for 2014 to get rid of this clown.
And which taxpayer mammary are you nursing at?
BDN
well they generally costs more….have NO idea if they are actually any better .
Whether you go to a private school or public you can only teach those who are willing to learn. I never went to a public school but interacted and played sports with others from the public schools in the area and thought scholastically they where on par with our education, physically though at least in our case we had the upper hand and I think that’s because we worked a farm from dawn till dusk and school was our only break.
Private schools ARE superior to public schools as a whole.
It’s quite evident from the nature of the video that they were purposefully trying to find something to use to attack him with again.
He is right. Private schools blow away public schools. I always attended private schools from k through MBA.
LePage just gets hit hard from the politically correct left. I find it refreshing that a politician is telling the truth.
We have now gotten the 2014 election for Governor started and no less than LePage has himself made the biggest issue the most important. His comment’s that kid’s need to go to a private school, instead of public, for a quality education is no less than a slap in the face to every taxpayer and parent in Maine, not to mention that he has a total disregard for the kid’s own effort’s and initiative. It shows a total lack of respect, or deliberate disrespect, for the school’s and teacher’s in Maine. What’s really sad is that it also, by extension, shows how much vision LePage has in the future of the Maine workforce and their education. Maine business’s, beware. This is the guy who is supposedly in charge of educating and training your future workforce. How many of you are comfortable with the guy who’s supposed to be educating your future workforce telling the world that yout worker’s are, at best only 60 % litterate ? What does that say about the work that went into your product that you have to make to meet consumer demand ?
Oh, and by the way, has it occured to anyone that LePage’s comment’s are deliberatley aimed at the for-profit educational system ? I was under the impression that the School System was suppossedly run for the benefit of the kid’s and their future, not some corporation’s bottom line on their Annual P&L Statement. Somewhere out there a big, dirty secret is looking for someone to expose it. 2014 is not that far off and as time grows closer the secret’s size, and importance, only grows bigger.
Well said. These on the fringe right want to privitize everything, roads, bridges, schools, parks, privatize all the commons, and government functions. Everything run on a for-profit basis, totally unregulated. A corporate dictatorship.
And an end to a legions of public employees collecting paychecks for leaning on their shovels.
.
It will be a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.
I don’t feel it has very much to do with the school at all, but with the kids. My kids went the the public schools and have excelled beyond high school. If you are paying for the school, it is usually for a kid that wants to learn and likes school. A lot of people may be more inclined to send their “c” student who hates school to the public schools, why pay for that?
He continues down the road of idiocy
“LePage said there was a school in Maine, which he wouldn’t name because
it’s “embarrassing,” where only 23 percent of graduates are proficient
in English and math.”
I can believe it…… probably is one with a majority french speaking, like the Guber. Didn’t he have to take the tests to get into college in French ’cause he was to ignorant to take them in ENGLISH? Why yes I believe that is true. LOL!
No medicine in the world can fix ignorance.
In that time frame, where have US children fallen in poverty levels? Do you consider there is a correlation there?
Right on the money!
Those are his thoughts, his words. They deserve to be attacked.
what is the nature of de lawd
I agree with the Governor on this. He is right, and I like the tough attitude. The type of school though doesn’t matter. Those who want to learn will, those who don’t want to, won’t.
Those who don’t become public school teachers or state employees.
OH THE CHILDREN!!!
LEPAGE HATES THE CHILDREN.
Meanwhile, the MSA continues to protect the duds that infiltrate the ranks of good teachers in our system.
Hogwash !! Like in any union shop, the good and proficient are purged. If not by peer pressure, then by government regulation (e.g. Baldacci’s fingerprinting edict).
He is trying to promote better education in our schools and ‘surprise’ the MEA is against that. I agree wth him.
Still, I was intrigued to read of a well-designed study released today by the Center on Education Policy that challenges decades of research on the advantages of private schools. “Contrary to popular belief, we can find no evidence that private schools actually increase student performance,” said Jack Jennings, the center’s president and a former staffer in the Democratic-controlled House, in a press release. “Instead, it appears that private schools simply have higher percentages of students who would perform well in any environment based on their previous performance and background.”
The study suggests vouchers for private schools are unnecessary because — once you control for socioeconomic status — students at private schools aren’t performing any better than those at public schools. The study says that it is “the kinds of economic and resource advantages their parents can give [students]” — as well as the level of parental involvement in their kids’ education —that determines success or failure in high school. That’s a message the teachers’ unions and Democrats in general love: The problem isn’t in the schools; it’s with social inequality.
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1670063,00.html#ixzz2BouiXOfD
No, the problem is a collection of public school teachers too lazy to scratch their own glutei maximi.
Nice lie . If you feel that way about teachers why don’t you become one an show every one how its done an don’t for get you do not get to chose who’s in your class an no help you are on your own with 30 kids in you class .
The teacher union thugs quickly purge anybody who demonstrates competence or initiative leaving only the lame and the lazy.
Oh, and public school teachers haven’t had 30 scholars in their classes since the 1960’s. Even then they managed to turn out a product who could correctly spell words like ‘and’, ‘everyone’, ‘it’s’, ‘forget’, and ‘choose’. Do the taxpayers a favor and surrender your teaching certificate.
Why do teachers buy supplies for the kids in there class if they don’t care about the kids ? You like to lie about unions an teachers . To make a long story short the supper want to get rid of a bad teacher after he want to the union they ok you know what steps you half to do. After going thru all the steps the super changed his mind about getting rid of the teacher so whos fault is that the union
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He is…… People get upset over anything…
Beware of Republicans of the LePage common variety, their concern for our children’s education is a shroud that masks their intentions to privatize all things. They are Pirates that plunder the public.
Headstart. Children need to know their ABCs before entering school. Read to them. If they feel stupid on day one, it’s all down hill from there.
SO true !
Headstart – a total failure and taxpayer boondoggle ever since LBJ started it. A government program designed primarily to furnish layabouts and party hacks with a low/no effort paycheck at government expense. Had Headstart actually been able to produce just half the results its boosters claim, students would be reading War and Peace in the 5th grade. After 40 years of Headstart, you will be lucky to find an 12th grader that can read a newspaper editorial with any comprehension — unless he went to a private school.
Let’s say you’re obsessed with getting your child into Harvard and you send him to a fancy private school where there are lots of parents like you and lots of kids with amazing resumes.
Harvard will only accept so many students from each school. So the competition at an elite private school may be far more fierce for your child than it might have been if you had sent him to your local public school and provided the enrichment you thought necessary. I know parents for whom this has worked out splendidly.
One misconception I often hear from parents is that private schools have enormous resources. In fact, a good public school is likely to have more academic offerings, and more after-school activities than most private schools.
Most private schools not established for the purpose of helping kids with special needs lack all kinds of special programs. That includes programs for kids who are brilliant as well as students who need significant remedial help.
Student success in school comes from parents who care enough to participate in their children’s school lives. Oh, I’m sure teacher quality plays a role too, but consider this: schools with actively involved parents attract and retain the best teachers. What has the governor done towards promoting parental participation in the schools? What has the MEA done? Political, religious and social leaders who belittle the value of education are part of the problem. Political, religious and social leaders who belittle schools and teachers are part of the problem. How does the governor’s disrespect help improve our schools?
As far as I’m concerned, if a kid is not reading well by high school, it’s too late. A focus on education/reading needs to start before the kid even hits school. And while I see that there is a problem if kids need remedial reading to get into college, then let’s let the good old personal responsibilty kick in and let his parents or the kid pay for extra help. Not the tax payer. I’m already paying substantially more in property taxes this year due to the tax “cuts” of Governor LePage.
I’m sure there are a lot of economic/social issues/parenting issues that need to be addressed and it’s never as simple as we’d like it to be. But just holding public schools responsible for everything is NOT the answer and is just as simplistic. They cannot be substitute parents.
PS Governor: Listening to you speak is not exactly a shining example of good communication skills.
It is to bad that Maine is so critical over a mans words of reality. I agree with him. I have thought for a while that we should do away with most of the public schools that are draining us the tax payers and the federal budgets.
I think a private school allows the family more freedom of the childs education in all areas, religion, nationalities, ethics and other career building skills that would otherwise be over looked in the public school systems.
When interviewing for a private school you are looking for the best education for your “individual” child. Not one education suites everyone. If the private sectors was more of the focus instead of public school, one suites all mentality, we would see schools for the individual issues teachers face everyday.
I have a child in a small public school. I think she misses out on so much because the school cant afford books, teachers, heat, paper, sports and many other things that matter to me. If we went to private school, I could interview for the things that matter, religion, arts, music, patriotic issues, and so much more. Some parents may choose to interview for sports, or science, or history, it would be endless chances for our children to make a difference if we could direct them to their natural capabilities. Not text book education that is up to “standards”.
All I am saying, is we in my family are not on board with the cattle call that stands as School. I think with all the diversity that we face now, we need to let our future leaders of this world focus on what skills they have to offer, not just text book standard education that boarders on values and ethics that are trying to be portrayed thru edited versions of what has happened so far. With out knowing the past, you will not create a better future.
PS this is the longgest comment ever, I usually will not take the time to read a comment like this. Sorry
Hey governor, here is a good indication that the public education system in Maine is not as broke as you make it out to be. None of our high school graduates have to get special permission to take college entrance exams in French.
Just Somali.
Your bigotry is dripping from your chin or is that lepages diarrhea.
I am having trouble seeing how giving more options for students and parents to go to private or for-profit schools is going to improve public schools. I can certainly see how it could help the student. If Big Paulie wants to help students, his options path may be best, but it will come at the cost of local public schools where the children of the 48% will be left. The real question is do we want to improve student performance through the local public schools or through market driven for-profit educational supply houses? This is a tough issue. Sometimes I think that if the state is going to continue to interfere in local schools, it should just stop picking some schools over others based on financial issues and pay based on proven student growth by tests that are nationally recognized, not the latest teacher-turned-author-turned-consultant.
Considering LePage is a product of the very schools for which he’s advocating that, as a result of his education or lack thereof, he couldn’t even pass the entrance exam to a private, for profit, business college. Actually, the push for private schools began as a result of desegregation, I know, I lived through it. The reality is that public schools, nor the MEA , are the bogeyman. When parents and students are themselves held accountable for their own educational outcomes then, and only then, will you see improvement in education. Public education, by law, has to accept every student, INCLUDING those whose parents don’t give a rap about what happens with their kids. Private schools, by virtue of their costs, are able to cherry pick only motivated students. To quote a conservative friend of mine who attended both public and private schools “in public schools I had better teachers; in private schools, there were more motivated students so to do well, I had to work harder.” The Republican/TeaPublican Party, the so-called party of personal responsibility, seems to want to blame EVERYONE ELSE, but themselves for their own educational failings. Wonder why you guys lost so big in this election? People are tired of you hypocrisy and fascism.
2104 can’t come soon enough…
People cry over the silliest stuff….. Tissue time??????
Get used to this SD. You have been rendered a lame duck! lol!
Because of Mardens’ success, LePage must think that all Mainers can be sold bullsh-t if you package it right and price it cheap.
Our public school systems are nothing but liberal indoctrination centers. LePage is right! As for the MEA, they could care less about our kids. If the MEA, feels threatened by private schools, then they need to loosen the strings and work with the school systems to FIRE the useless teachers. Yes, not all teachers are equal, like the MEA would like you to believe. Some teachers are terrific and should be compensated extra, not lumped into the pool of bad teachers when it comes time for raises. The MEA is totally USELESS!
The MEA is the biggest enemy of decent education in Maine. They are but a collection of maggots feeding on the decaying corpse of quality education.
this “taken out of context” excuse is lame once again (and how many times have we heard it?). what he said was clear and in context, per usual.
“If you want a good education go to private schools. If you can’t afford it, tough luck. You can go to the public school.”
as many know, this man is not fit to serve as governor and only won because of a fluke. anyhow, 2 more years and he’s gone—and at least we now have a D legislature so he shouldn’t be able to inflict nearly as much damage.
I think that the Governor is right on. We do need choice for our students. Our education system is broke and the sooner we step up to the plate and start fixing it the better off we will be. What the MEA is affraid of is the loss of jobs and funding as the dollars start to follow students to other educational institutes. This state regionalized in order to improve education and cut back on cost. It doesn’t seem to be working. Citizens need to get involved in the education of their children as do especially parents. Education is a two way street and we need to open both lanes if we want our children to be successful and to have successful schools also. One could go on and on in favor of both sides of this issue but the bottom line is we need to get moving to fix the education problems we have. And yes they are out there it just needs to be realized.
Do a search an see if privet schools are better than public schools ?
Governor: when you’re in the bottom of a deep hole, stop digging.
Oh boy, here come the nasty deflective sour grape defenders of ignorance and political miscalculations. Have at it boys and girls. Unlike LePage, I can take it with a chuckle.
Karing nailed it….79% graduation rate….with 49% of those not in workforce AND not in any educational setting…..your side is absolutley wrong here….but you dont care…thats the tragedy….you support a ideology of failure and Governor wants to do SOMETHING about this crisis……
Waldo, misusing stats to support an agenda isn’t exactly a new idea. There are many other cause and effect relationships to be found here that are far more likely to be true relating to why our educational system may be suffering. I’ll cut to the chase and just tell ya up front that parents today are not the diligent surveyors of their children’s work or work ethic that they used to be.
Now on to the sham that’s being played on you. First of all, Mr. LePage couldn’t care less about anyone’s child that’s not named LePage. He has two goals regarding education.
1. Rip as many public tax dollars as possible out of the hands of local schools/communities and put all that money into the pockets of his big business buddies who either run for profit schools or supply for profit schools. If you want to help big businesses keep supporting LePage. If you want to support your children, support your local public schools.
2. Do away with the teacher’s union who in no way lends their support to ideologies that place monetary profits ahead of education (i.e. people who work in schools seldom would support the primary goal profit-profit-profit of conservatives). Weakening workers has always helped conservatives reach their primary goal.
When that money is taken out of public schools and local communities guess what will happen? Your public schools will suffer even more or (are you ready for this?) local taxpayers will have to pay higher taxes to keep them running. The goals, the math, and the outcomes seem obvious to anyone who’s really paying attention.
yawn…your ideas arent even close to fact and they are so easily fact checked its embarrassing…. look go to http://www.mekids.org (maine children alliance) the stats are there….very, very liberal org who gets thier info directly from the work product of DHHS…actually the Maine Kids count book has loads of great onfo that shows the crisis this state is in….all info that serves as the foundation as to Gov LePages work for the people of Maine…..Um…do you know how much the State currently spends on our public school system?
heres your math….education budget divided by # of students in public school =cost per student….hint…its over 2 billion dollars taxpayers spend….and the result? 80% graduation rate wth almost half of those not in a job and not in school…..
what a partisan hack phoney who doesn’t even understand maine education…but please continue…its fun….
Sticks and stones Mr. Waldo. You’ve used a lot of words here but somehow managed to actually say nothing of use to anyone. Hmm…that about sums up everything out of LePage’s mouth as well. Any chance you two are related? Thanks for another sour grapes chuckle though.
Thank you governor Liepage, you just lost more republican seats in 2014.
Apparently, the shellacking the other day did not send you the message that you are destroying any chance of a republican being elected for any office in Maine.
Reading some of these responses that moved the topic of LePage’s comments to spelling and grammar makes me more grateful than ever that I had wonderful English teachers when I went to a public high school many years ago. I lived in a small town with a small high school. Back then, I thought I was deprived of what a larger high school could offer. Now I know how lucky I was. The students were few in number in every class. Getting individual attention was never a problem as the teachers would walk up and down the rows of their classrooms and offer assistance to those of us who were too shy to raise our hands.
Yes you are so right an also you did not have mentially challenge kids in you school either they had there own school
LePage has mouth open without brain intacked again.. Wonder if Acadia is open for business?
I am not sure that I can express this without “attacking”, so I will be brief.
Given that I have not heard or read a transcript of the entire speech, it boils down to an apparent summary policy of “ONLY POOR CHILDREN LEFT BEHIND”.
I firmly believe that we have, and should work to enhance, one school system. I also believe that we are ignoring an opportunity to fill our existing schools with foreign students rather than shut them down and create rural ghettos.
If we are unwilling or unable to operate one school system that works for all, how do we hope to sustain two systems and thereby do a better job?
I wonder who’s gonna involk Godwin’s Law? Taking bets….
Does anyone else find this title extremely misleading? Shouldn’t it read “LePage attacks public education; MEA responds”. It sees as though the MEA comments were far less aggressive than LePage’s. Just a thought.
Nice ramble!
If the shoe fits wear it!! he schools are more about fluff than substance as it has been for years, time was whe you graduated from a public high school you could enter as an entry level worker and being from Maine gave you a leg up on anyone else..
Lets go back to teaching what is needed ….
How does it “fix” a school if a parent opts to send their child to a private school?! It means less money coming into that public school so ultimately its hurting the public school more, and not fixing it….
Huh? Are you saying that if a child goes to private school, the public school loses money? Cripes, I give up.
Yes if the town / city pays for it the money will be taken away from the schools because the kids are not going there .
Well.they don’t
Son were is the money coming from the parents will not pay fot the Gov has said so
Then the public schools will have to do a better job, won’t they? Competition is a good thing.
Paul,Paul,Paul, your not in mardens warehouse talking with the guys! watch your pie hole
Some of you people hate the union an teachers . Do you know that some teachers buy school supplies for the children ? You know they don’t half to do that they could just say to bad . If a child does not want to learn there’s nothing you can do about it
What I took from his comments was his understanding that unless one can afford a private school, one is out of luck, which was the kind of slap at the Maine public school systems he’s been doling out all along. I can’t get upset with the MEA for taking exception, butI don’t think he meant it as a slap at the kids or families who can’t afford private school tuitions. As always, the guv’s clumsiness in using the English language comes back to bite him in the keester. It’s his own fault.
Of course he didn’t mention the wide variety of private “academies” which range from boarding institutions to competent parochial schools to those village academies which educate local kids to those fundamentalist “madrassas” who teach sectarian religion first and let the rest sort of take care of itself as long as it isn’t at odds with holy writ. The guv doesn’t think in that vein, so what we get to hear is yet another tilt at the windmills.
Thats right, hang the man for telling the truth. GOD forbid if anyone actually points out the schools are broken. Private schools ARE better because the teachers are actually accountable for for teaching ( GASP). They know poor performance means the door for them. Maine public schools are a big hug fest taught by left wingers ( for the most part) with a dumbed down agenda for learning( A stepped up agenda for what they want). Making sure somebody is not offended is much more important then the ability to Add or Read. Making sure no christmas decorations are in place is way more important then being able to contribute.
LePage is brash and you guys can’t stand it. He is honest in the way he comments and speaks as he sees it and it burns your rears ( We elected him by the way). We hired him to fix problems and run the state, not hold hands and sit and be content with the status quo. He needs to break eggs for the omlet.
If my wording is not fromatted correct or if I misssspeelled anything here, I went to public schools. I went to work in junior high and almost never went to school ( fixing the teachers cars for them had perks) and was passed anyways. I went on to get my G.E.D. which took all of a couple of days. ( They even hired me to work there after I was 18 and I could not handle the dragged out pace they call a work load).
If I had bothered to show up anytime during my senior year, I would have had a regular diploma.
Compare your comments and views to global warming. Some don’t believe in it and the rest do. Is there really a problem? The answer to that question and the Maine public schools is YES. Try and take an honest look. If his style of making comments draws more attention to OUR tax dollars at work and how they are spent, so be it.
I wonder how many people here draw a check or a friend or family member from the schools?
I Proudly support the Gov. He isn’t a toady for the left or right, he has the best interest of Maine at heart.
I have wondered why all these private schools are cropping up ? And with new construction attached. Haven’t looked up the stats why and then there is the issue of Homeschooling? Maybe the Gov. and Maine Dept. of Education should form a task force of teachers Homeschoolers, Parent Teacher Org. and ask themselves why ? Hmmm
I guess he didn’t get his wake up call! He’s already a lame duck. A BIG one AND LAME! Two more years and he’s out of here!
my child did MUCH better in a private school versus public high school as the teachers at the private school had more time to spend with each individual student. Trust me, we couldn’t afford the $4000 a year tuition, but we made sacrifices to do so. Public schools have too high of a teacher/student ratio. Our daughter was struggling in public high school because of this. As one teacher told me “its not my fault that this school has managed to give me every derelict or every kid that’s going to fail high school in my class, so I am sorry I don’t have any extra time to help your daughter be successful in my class”. Pulled my daughter out of that school and two weeks later she was enrolled in private school. She made Deans List with straight A’s at the local public university last year. She is now enrolled as an education major. She wants to become a teacher. If she had remained at public high school, the outcome would not have been the same. We had tried tutoring and working with her ourselves, to no avail. She wanted to quit school as she was frustrated with the system, as were we. This does not mean that public school teachers are ALL horrible. On the contrary. Its the flaw in the structure of how public school systems are designed. I can see why parents would rather have their kids attend private school.
Give me a school……..let me cherrypick who attends………let me charge high tuitions AND get federal and state aid! Yeah………my school would probably perform better than a public school who doesn’ share those luxuries. If you want to send your kid o a private school than pony up the bucks yourself and don’t complain. Both my daughters did as well as your daughter and they both attended public school. I would have to say that my participaion as a parent and my daughters commitment to their own futures were more important than the education they received. Teachers cannnot make kids learn if they are not supported at home.
did you pay attention to details that I wrote in my posts? My child WAS supported at home. We DID take an active role, as did she, in her education. If you noticed I wrote that we had tutoring for her….worked with her ourselves, and she WANTED to learn. I did not complain about the cost of sending her to private school. I just stated the fact that in my opinion, the teacher/student ratio is TOO high in public schools. I am sure teachers would rather have a lower teacher/student ratio as well. Did you see the comment that the teacher made to myself and my daughter? He said this after he repeatedly REFUSED to help her with school work during a study hall or after school. My child was a good student with a learning disability. Never got into trouble-never ever had a detention. Because of this a smaller school environment was better for her. I am glad your daughters did well in public schools. Some kids just do better with private schools. I would also like to add that you come across as slightly hostile in your post. Your response baffles me. Public schools do need to address their teacher/student ratio for starters. If there has been an increase in demand for alternative educational programs by parents, you have to wonder if this is because parents are feeling that their children are being shortchanged by public school systems. Curious if you know what percentage of students drop out of public high school versus private schools. Look it up, you may be shocked.
BDN
If there was school choice a parent would be free to move their child to any school they felt offered a better education & the money would follow the child. THAT is what the teacher’s unions don’t want you to be able to do.
Nice try.
School choice benefits those who have the means and money, it does not help the less advantaged.
BDN
Now THAT spokesperson has a real education!
Actually the Governor showed GREAT restraint. He didn’t state what is incredibly obvious to us all:
The public schools and government employment are the perennial refuges for the slackers in our society.
Lepage and his spokeswomen should start looking for other work. This man’s total incompetence continues to amaze me. At least I can say I didn’t vote for this man.
Funny how we use world rankings to support the need for health care overhaul…. How we doin’ in ejamacayshun?
Looks like a lot of liberals on here need a “reading comprehension” course. After accurately describing the state of private vs. public schools he immediately talks about fixing the problem, not abandoning any kids to their current status quo.
Parents spend thousands of dollars a year sending their kids to private schools even as they pay taxes to support schools they don’t use. Yet the MEA would have us believe they do that for no good reason. How stupid do they think we are?
This man is a monster. Seriously? Two more years of this? Heaven help us all…
Get over it.
The liberals always think that the problem with public schools is that we have not spent enough…well..how much is enough..you fools don’t know! I went to private school…luckily !
It shows. Really it does, your attitude exemplifies the attitudes of the more affluent in society.
Ya..that’s right…kids grown ..no mortgage no debt..ya…I am a fool..work hard! no need to bring the top down to your level..get off your butt and climb!
…….
Did you want a prize?
0
Yes clearly you attended the remedial numb nuts private school…..congrats….you are the quintessential example that attending a private school isn’t all it’s cracked up to be as our dim witted governor thinks it is…..try again Kweef.
You are right if he had done a search he would of know that .
There is something seriously wrong with teacher unions. They are way overdue in putting the kids first. As far as LePage’s comments go – I guess the truth hurts. The parents also need to accept some blame for the condition of our schools & the curriculums. If a child with normal learning ability comes out of high school not being able to read or do basic math, then teachers & parents are more than likely to blame.
I’m a teacher. I care. But I still think LePage is a monster and is going to hurt children.
Maine’s Governor want’s to hurt children. Just great….
Oh yeah that’s it. When he wakes up in the morning he wants to hurt children. Get over your union crap and your thug mentality! You people are unreal in this state!
Move and leave us behind to enjoy it.
I wouldn’t give you the satisfaction! And unlike you I want the state to move forward not back!
Then keep your GOV
Then it’s a stalemate. Isn’t it?
This state will move forward without the help of LePage, the tea party and most of the toxic conservative thought patterns.
No, you’re the one that’s unreal.
Boy that’s a constructive response. And why is that Gopher boy?
No, LePage doesn’t wake up and want to hurt children. But he does wake up and want to “do good” in the eyes of his ideological chums at MHPC and ALEC. Why do you suppose the same billionaires who poured millions into the Romney campaign are so hell-bent on dismantling our system of public education? Do those people wake up in the morning thinking about the best interests of poor kids in Maine? I think not.
Can anyone blame Lepage from feeling the way he does…….. The man is attacked by the libbies for taking a morning dump………….. I’m sure it didn’t take him long after becoming governor to realize the mistake he made in thinking he could actually make a positive change for the State of Maine…………. Maine is a loser state, has been for quite a few years, and will continue to be that way for years to come……………
PS: Yes, I plan on leaving the State soon; the smell is making me too sick to continue living here…………
If a governor “takes his morning dump” in public, it rightfully becomes a topic for public discussion, does it not?
Yes, but only as far as respect and meaningfull dialogue is concerned………………. There is too much character assassionation involved…………… Your objections are duly noted………….. Give the man a break…………….. I believe LePage is a one term Governor only because the people in this state aren’t willing to face the hard facts; again meaning Maine is a loser state…………….
Your Governor hurt someone you got to be kidding me
If you were teacher you would have sounded the alarm for maines education crisis years ago…when it started
you’re a teacher and you write “Maine’s Governor want’s to hurt children”? try again
I get a chuckle when he is always misunderstood and his comments taken out of context…yeah right LePage, you are something else and I can’t wait for you to be voted out. You have done nothing but harm this state, bully people, put down people. Why is it that you think you are right? Because misguided people elected you …guess what I didnt vote for you….I am praying for the day we get rid of this A*****H**** ….God I can’t wait…oh my words were taken out of context that’s not what I meant…LMAO …VOTE TO GET RID OF HIM
Why isn’t anyone mentioning parental responsibility when it comes to their kids proficiency in school? Teachers can only do so much. Parents need to take more of an active role in making sure their kids are doing well.
THats because they want to blame everyone else because the kids are failing in school
This man hurts this state every time he opens his mouth, or takes his pen out. It’s more than embarrassing at this point. : (
Oh, poor MEA and its “don’t hold me accountable teachers”. Lapage speaks the truth and the MEA is mad because they can’t get their greedy hands on union dues.
OK you want to be that way teachers will no longer buy supplies for the kids in there class if kids fail it will be your fault because the kids do not have the supplies they need
What jobs has he be brought to the state that’s what he ran on so he lied to the people of Maine .
Public education stinks! It is nothing but a liberal brainwashing center run by liberal unions for the benefit of unionized teachers and the prevention of conservative ideology in future generations to promote the progressive vote!
If you can’t see this…you’re not paying attention or you are a liberal!
Liberal = person who does not religiously watch Fox News?
That would be your definition, I take it?
I work in public schools. What you are saying is a lie.
You are foolish
The Republican party is too liberal for me, my wife, and my sons, yet I’ve never watched Fox News in my life. I haven’t watched any news on TV in years. The internet is the only place where you can get reliable news, and I’m sure the liberals are working very hard behind the scenes to make sure that the news on the internet becomes govt-regulated ASAP.
Because everything you read on the internet is true?
Bon jour!
oops. sorry. wrong spot
Too liberal? Interesting…can I ask what an appropriate conservative Republican party would look like, in your estimation?
So what you are saying is that the union tells the schools what they will teach ?
Enough is enough. He needs to beat his drum about something else for a change.
Public education is vital.
got to love it. the have nothings have voted themselves a raise, and those few who work hard and made something are being targeted for more abuse. great. what happen when those few give up and pull their money, expertise, and smarts out of the game? who will support those unfortunate have nothings then???
lepage says some thing so obvious that everyone knows is true, but he’s a republican and cant possibly know anything. our schools are failing. and have been for some time. the union blames it all on money, they aren’t getting enough, and can only provide the failing system we have. god forbid we agree that a new idea is needed.
this country is toast, we will not survive four more years under the current direction, then none of us will be free to pursue happiness, but apparently just over half of us will happy about it.
before you lose something that matters, you should reflect on the phrase ;
“Qu’ils mangent de la brioche”
my guess would be that their public education failed to prepare them for the real world. time we fixed the system, and allowed parents there rightful choice on how to educate their children.
Thats because the parents are to lazy to see what there kids are doing in school if they fail its always the schools fault not the parents fault
Do these schools you are taking about do the take mential challens kids ?
If private schools did not provide a better (usually more individualized) education, why would anyone in their right mind pay money (usually a lot of money) to send their children to them?
Thats because they are brainwashes . Do a search an you will see there is no diffrence between privet an public schools
I’m going to go way out on a limb and guess that you didn’t attend a “privet” school.
No in did not but i worked at the Railroad made good money got laid off went to work at BIW an made great money there Retired from there after working over 20 years never laid off from BIW. Now i have a very good pension to live on
Judging students on standarized testing is a joke. There is absolutely no incentive for student to give a damn about these tests that don’t effect their grades or course of study. I recall through out middle-school and high school not taking these tests seriously as they were of no benefit to me.
Also, my wife is a teacher and she often deals with the thought process that the responsibility for educating children falls soley on the schools and teachers. Parents of kids need to take responsibility in their children’s education as well. Come to PTC’s, help your kid with their homework, read and engage in educational activities at home with them. Education doesn’t end when kids walk onto the school bus and head home. Parents should work with and along side teachers in the education of or children.
What does she teach ?? Is it tough the same way as when you were in school so kids can understand it ?
Ever hear of the term, “You learn from your mistakes”? If a student does poorly on a test/homework is able to go back and learn what he did wrong or what he needs to do better how is this a bad thing? Regurgitation of subject matter on a test and then allowing it to fade away as you begin to prepare for the next test isn’t an effective way to learn. It’s not just about getting perfect grades it’s about actually learning and retaining information.
No, its about cheating and taking the easy way out. If you were an engineer and built a bridge that collapsed after the first car drove over it, you don’t get a redo! You get fired.
Elementary and High School students aren’t building bridges. But I’m sure that engineer, on his path to becoming an engineer, made several minor mistakes either in idea or execution that he learned from and was able to not make that mistake the next time around. This is about learning not professional practice. But I’m sure you, concernedMainer, have never tried something that you failed at a second time and just decided, “Well, I failed! Might as well give up!”
It is the Governor’s job (along with the Legislature) to ensure our public education system is excellent. Bad mouthing the education system instead of strengthening it is an abdication of a fundamental responsibility of his office.
Statistically, the greatest determinant of academic outcome is the “condition of the home”. If the child has a parent supportive of learning (or especially two), good order in the home, a quiet place to study, a sense of security and stability, the child’s learning prospects are going to be pretty good.
LePage’s visceral hatred of the less well off in our society comes through in many ways. He is deeply ashamed of the environment he grew up in, but instead of attempting to use his position to make life at the bottom in Maine a bit more tolerable, he heaps blame, scorn and derision on those at the margin.
The academic outcomes in public schools should not be viewed in isolation. Educators do need to make improvements, but much of the academic malaise which is ascribed to their failings actually is the failing of the body politic to deal with the unpleasant realities of the lives lived at the “bottom”.
This old Republican thinks that if the “bottom” is able to lead a decent life, the rest of society will be in really great shape. It is within our collective power to change the economic life of the underclass, and with it, our own.
You have an incredibly dim view of life going on there and you have the wrog idea if you think liberals are into killing children for their convenience.
Why aren’t all you conservatives willing to step up and adopt every child of women who need to consider an abortion?
Our children are not all born into poverty and not all of us need help to survive with TANF and food stamps. Those who do need these programs are citizens of this country and matter as well.
That sort of attitude and talk is part of why the GOP lost.
Do you really believe that everyone receiving assistance needs it?
Yes.
Some Due . Do you believe the Rich need a tax cut? Funny tax cut to reduce the National debt . I think you should check Regans record and compare it to Carter. It is not a perfect world . Lets pay off the Debt and cut spending in the right places .
The GOP lost because there are now more takers than makers in the US. You libs went door-to-door warning people that State and Federal benefits would be cut off if Obama lost. JFK would not recognize this democrat party. Very sad.
Based upon the last election results, “NO ONE” recognizes the GOP/Tea Party anymore. That has made the majority of Americans very happy!
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I am one of the 47% please do not insult me and say I am a taker . I get no state help or federal and work hard .
30% welfare rate says you are very, very wrong…..when people are givin a choice to be dependent on the state government or actually work….well,…30%….what more can you say…you be the judge, but the safety net you so is being jeopardized by many people recieving benefits because its easier than working…..heres my proof….30 % welfare ….
The safety net is vital.
posted in wrong spot
The x factor is always the parents. Whether one sends their kids to private or public, they can’t just expect the schools to make their kids into not only book smart, but responsible, compassionate, empathetic citizens with real world skills. All the reform in the world won’t change this.
I’m not dismissing the value of book smarts, but they aren’t everything.
Wow. How do you really feel about that …
Those with money can move their children around, those with none can’t.
If this is an example of real critical thinking I think your education failed you somewhere. Does “your” include probability or does it merely stress certainty. I agree that the use of math and critical thinking is necessary after high school but instruction may not be (unless it was not stressed enough in high school. Your broad-brush generalizations and condemnations may be due to some deficiencies in your education.
Baldacci tried to impose consolidation on schools, but with no teeth consolidation was rejected. The resulting inefficient cost structure is why performance suffers. The Governor merely reflects the reality with a description of the symptom, but he’s not the problem.
I do not agree with LePage on many issues and I do not necessarily agree with him now. But is there even the tiniest grain of truth in what he is saying? Put aside the nature defensiveness that comes to the fore when someone makes such statements, and see if his remarks can be evaluated for any actual facts. If anything he says is true, it can be used as a means of improving education across the board for all children.
No. LePage is harmful to our children and all living things in Maine.
I disagree; the blame rests squarely on George Bush’s shoulders………………..
No it does not! Obama has had 4 years to fix the supposed problem and has not done a thing except put us more in debt. But you liberals can’t see that. I find it very funny that you got what you wanted but you still manage to slam republicans and don’t try to solve a thing except to sling mud!
A joke son, a joke………………………..
Give it a rest already. That is getting so old even to
Democrats at this point. Your Obama said he was going to fix it in 4 years and he failed…now all you that voted for him need to blame yourself now for his screw-ups and stop blaming someone else for it. Hold HIM accountable and make sure he does what he said he was going to do. We all know how much of a change he made in this country since he got elected…I thought it was quite awesome that once Obamacare was announced my insurance went up $30 more a week…I cant begin to tell you how excited I was…not.
unemployment was a high 7.6% when he got elected and now it is a very low 7.9% …Good Job!
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He cries that he came from an abusive environment… Maybe, he should look and see how abusive his words and statements are to others… If he can’t properly express himself then maybe he ought to shut up… Seems like every time he opens his mouth his spokeswoman has to ask us to not take it out of context…
Maybe, he ought to stop trying to be a bully and engage his brain before he opens his mouth… It is better that he be quiet and look like a Jackass, then to open his mouth and remove all doubt… Maybe there is some truth to his words, because look how stupid he is… but he should hire a speech writer to untangle his constipated brain and diarrhea mouth…
Yes he had the lucky break of being taken in by Peter Snow . How did his 16 other bothers and sisters fair??? I think a few did ok most did not.
“I have actually heard teachers in the public school system say that math is not necessary after high school…” No you haven’t.
Sorry woody, stick your head in the sand, but it is true.
No sand anywhere. Do not and will not believe this lie.
So I guess you’re backing up our esteemed governor and saying all kids enrolled in public school is a throwaway kid, that the schools in the University system and the junior colleges are wasted and if you don’t send your kids to a private school or college, tough luck.
Private schools, magnet schools, charter schools, and similar educational institutions are selective in the students that they accept and in those that they retain. Marginal students – academically, behaviorally, and motivationally – are unlikely to be accepted and even less apt to be allowed to stay.
Conversely, with statistcally insignificant exceptions, public schools and their teachers have a responsibility to all students, not just those who are the easiest to educate. Public schools do not pick and choose their “raw material”.
Public school teachers’ challenges to educate students across the broad spectrum are exponentially more difficult than those in private education. Scapegoating public education for the ills of American society is grossly inaccurate and unfair.
If it is such a cushy job, why aren’t the critics clamoring to become public school teachers?
If it is such a cushy job, why aren’t the critics clamoring to become public school . Thats because they have no clue what they are talking about an they hide behind the PC . They are not smart enough to do a search to fine the truth i know they were never tough that school to seek the truth
Flag
There was a school in Maine, which he wouldn’t name because it was “imaginary”….
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It’s pretty easy to check school scores on the most recent SAT. Just go to the Maine Department of Education website. It doesn’t look like the scores from the academies in Maine are much different from the scores of comparable public schools. The academies don’t have a magic bullet. Their teachers come from backgrounds just about the same as the teachers who work in public schools. The books come from the same publishers. The only advantage I am aware of that the academies have over public schools is that it is easier for them to eliminate “problem” students.
Being critical based on evidence is one thing. We always need that sort of leadership. LaPage’s style of criticism is offensive, hostal and divisive. Bennett, I am sorry, there is no context where the insulting is acceptable. As talented a spinner as you are, this is not a top.
We need an intelligent and civil Governor. Currently we do not have either of those qualities in the Blaine house.
Wasn’t LePage a product of foster care and public schools? Guess that is why he had constipation of the mind and diarrhea of the mouth.
You left out college graduate with an MBA, successful business man, mayor of Waterville, and Governor of the State of Maine. Yea, the public schools and foster care really stunted him.
Total privatization of all government functions – especially education- is the never ending goal of the Tea Party and its lackeys.
Charter schools offer a perfect solution within which to alter and transpose embryonic minds of the young.
Tea Party governors all push Charter Schools whilst heaping scorn on the public education systems within their states. They are ordered to do so, by their Tea Party rulers.
By now, it should be clear why Charter Schools for those financially well endowed are glorified,and public education – which serves all – is demeaned.
As is common with all of this governor’s contemptuous and tactless outbursts, Adrienne Bennett, his flack, is deployed immediately after his rage, to explain “what he really meant to say.”
Unfortunately, not even she could unravel a shred of evidence to prove that he knew what he was saying, anymore than what she said, he said, had been misquoted.
Im astounded every day that this man was elected! A Maine govenor who is ashamed and embarassed by Mainers!!! He always has something negative to say about us and how we live and yet hes worried about what negativity a mural will bring!! Now our children are going to be illiterate morons with no education unless we parents can afford hundreds or thousands of dollars to send them to a private school or academy! This doesnt say much for him as our govenor, hes suppossed to be making public schools better, not cutting more funding, and talking of shutting the schools down. How dare him shame the teachers that get paid very little for caring for and educating our children, or making parents feel like they are not doing enough for their childrens education!!!!! I went to Mattanawcook Academy and I went to Central High and from my experience I was taught the same things, had the same subjects the only thing that was different was how I was treated by classmates because of my finacial status, you seem to be more excepted by people in a private or academy school if you have money. In all fairness theres cliques,and $$$ status in EVERY school. Just because its expensive doesnt mean its best!! If Lepage thinks our children aren’t getting the best education then he needs to fix it, not ridicule it!
He’s right. The majority of public schools in this State give our kids less than an adequate education.
Oh really? You can’t put all the blame on the teachers. parents need to be involved. Everyone has a part on education a child.
In my case, I’m putting more effort into my child’s education than the school is. I’m sure I’m not the only one.
Right but you are only dealing with one child how many children does a teacher deal with ?
Can’t answer that one. I only know we had to ask for homework. The teacher does not issue home work because most kids will not do it.
So who’s fault is it if the kids do not do there home work ?
Who is running the asylum?
?????
So….how much money is enough?? come on..show me how smart you are..
He wants to give out vouchers were will the money come from ? The only thing i can think of is the schools ?
You know the old saying you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink the water .
Le Page is exactly right. We had children attend public and private school in Maine and private was FAR better. It’s no secret that private schools offer a superior education. The teachers are better-paid and they know they can be fired if they screw up (instead of being suspended with pay forever because of unions). Can’t fault Le Page for telling the truth!
Could it be that kids going to private schools come from higher incomes? Could it also be that not just any kid is accepted to to private schools?
Sorry to bust your higher income bubble. But, yes there is a BUT. Most private schools DO have students from less financially well off back grounds, attend on scholarships. This has been happening for years.
I would agree with what you that income is not the whole reason. That being said let’s see a break down of real numbers . It is a different make up of student regardless of income . parents tend to be more educated and less likely to have issue like alcohol drugs etc. You are still comparing and apple to an orange . Public school have issues it seems to be more about test scores than teaching kids to learn. Yes social class has a lot to do with it. compare SAT scores or drop out rates between well to do and disadvantaged .
Most those not so well off are not the same not so well offs in public schools . They tend to score higher on test . Tend to come from less dysfunctional families . The main difference it not JUST the school.
So what are some solutions that could be applied to help this situation/ I firmly believe in a dress code. That would be a start. I would do all possible to encourage parents to be more involved in the kids lives. And wouldn’t it be a dream come true to see wealthy in every political party, donate MORE to their local public schools. Teachers should have a set number of students per class. Period. And we need to insist on more physical education and same in the arts and sciences. I believe that Together We Can.
No..my parents were far from rich…but put me into private school..
Just read many comments about this article. Am not at all surprised how fast people jump on the band wagon of dislike of Gov. Paul LePage. It is obvious that many commentators did Not read the entire article. They were in too much of a hurry to trash a decent man who is not guilty of much of what negatives you all spout here. His statements apparently fell on thin skinned liberals who will use anything and anyone to get their way. This time it is pie in the eye for everyone who does not listen to the absolute sense about Maine schools spoken by Gov. LePage. He has done more good for Maine to date than the previous two governors during their entire terms. If you all would read the entire article, then you may see the reality of the school systems in Maine. The Gov. did NOT insult anyone. He stated FACTS…………
I read the entire article. You are wrong. Governor LePage did not use facts. He made up crap about Maine education and he pretended they were facts. That’s called lying. And in the process of lying he insulted Maine, teachers, parents, public education in general and the taxpayers who pay for public education.
Governor LePage has done nothing good for public education in Maine. And he does not rely on facts.
Another public parasite gets her nose out of joint when our governor finds the temerity to point out the turd in the punch bowl that is the MEA.
Do not believe a word you say. too biased. not worth the read.
Education in general in every state in this country is not what it used to be, not just here in Maine. Republicans, if you remember had a big hand in a recent effort to improve education, remember “No Child Left Behind?” So if folks are remiss to let someone on the far right reorder education excuse -uuuuu-zzzzz-me/us for questioning another state wide effort from the same bunch that brought us the last debacle. The Republican resume will reflect an A for effort, and an F for achievement, as in the economy so is our education still reeling from the last architect of shaping our children’s minds, your hero W.
PS
Be glad we’re not Texas they’ve had nearly 20 years of “No Child Left Behind” and they’re “double dumb” down there, a conservative experiment gone terribly awry.
You have managed to irritate many people. Do you know how many wealthy liberal Texans have 2nd homes in Maine and spend tons of money in Maine? Just saying.
You know very well what we’re talking about here … education, and in Texas they finish at the bottom in all most every educational metric. They are at the top of the list though in having the most 30 year old grandmothers. Thumbs up huh?
That is the most profound view of Texans I ever heard. You are a smart one, yessah.
It’s neither profound nor a view, they’re facts anyone can look up.
He lies. He’s been caught in his lies. His time is done.
List the LIES . do you really have ANY/
I just perused a couple of film clips on YouTube in which LePage is speaking to ta group of home schooling parents, both clips are from one meeting. In these clips LePage claims that the difference in home schooling and public schooling is that the home schoolers are educating and that the public schools need to ‘put god aback in school’. He goes on (in a 2nd clip) to say that he will continue to push the teaching of creationism as well as “evolutionism” in public schools. He continues to say that if this does not happen we should home school and create charter schools in which people can ‘do anything they want’. He talks about prayer not being allowed in public schools. Schools are not allowed to LEAD prayers in public school; there is no law prohibiting prayer in school. The more I listen to and hear about this man, the more convinced I am that, yes, he is totally out of touch with realities.
Hey Lepage my intentions are not to be rude but,My son went to a class D school on a very low income and is now going to one of the best schools in the Nation with a 3.7 GPA.Most of his schooling is paid by scholarships!It is not the “private schools” that are making our percentage up.It is what you put into it.When i mean what “you put into it” i mean the parents also.Some of us can not afford to put our kids in “private “schools.So sit on that and think about Mr.Raised in a brothel.
Raised in a brothel/ Just wanted to say Hurray for your son’s success. No matter what our incomes, we as adults had educations and our children deserve the best we can provide. Again, if we could work together for the good of the educational system, then our kids would benefit greatly . For our kids sake, we need to learn to work together.
Here is something totally missed by the Governor and the Commissioner. Many, many Republicans work in public schools, and know the hard work and dedication they give to Maine students everyday. A large segment of Republicans will not be there to support LePage or his team in the next election. This will be a one term Governor.
This is not about political parties. This is about the children in Maine and their need for the best educations we can provide. If we can put politics aside, then together we can improve on the educational system.
Yes it is about politics. It was politics that got us this intellectual midget. It will be politics that get him out of office. And until he is out of office no amount of “putting politics aside” will counteract Mr. Kiss My Butt’s agenda to harass public education and public school teachers and advocate for private school vouchers.
Your remarks are a sad reflection of yourself. I will pray for you and all the liberals who are bent out of shape that a REPUBLICAN is Governor. You sure can’t attack him for over spending. Baldacci and King were the top spenders. LePage is cleaning up their spending mess.
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Believe whatever you choose. I happen to think Gov. Le Page is doing his job. Sorry if that makes you unhappy.
You aren’t sorry don’t lie. You are doing nothing but perpetuating the lies of the GOP.
Gov. LePage is a decent man. He may irritate many but he is far from being a “lame Duck’.
Suggest you read Sarah Smiley’s column in this paper, perhaps it will instill Niceness into your way of thinking. I am thrilled with the election results too. If you have not been this thrilled in a long time, then learn to buck up.
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Sarah Smiley is a smarmy little opportunist.
that is entirely your little mind opinion.
If he was running BIW it would gone under. down the tubes
I suggest you’ll need very large shovel on that pile when you start to move it out of your way.
So you are saying that there is nothing wrong with our public schools?
Let me explain it so you understand Little Miss Sunshine.. Mr. LePage is wrong for our public school system. He is wrong for this state. He is a man of very little talent, education, understanding, kindness and common sense. He hasn’t a clue how to govern and he has governed badly. You like him because he is rude to educated, thoughtful, caring and intelligent people. You like him because he dislikes teachers. You like him because he has tried to bully all the same people you would like to bully.
the Only politics here is that of negative dribble of dislike of the Gov. time to take your heads out of the sand and work together.
Maine schools are full of Republican teachers and staff members who have had it with this governor and his administration. Those of us in public schools know the hard work and dedication that is given to students everyday. Our voices will be heard in the next election. This governor does not reflect the values, beliefs and approaches of a lot of Republicans here in Maine.
Now how in the world were children educated prior to the Dept of Education ? how did our forefathers get by without their state run education?If public education is so great..how come no one knows enough to yield when coming off a ramp in Bangor ?..just sayin
Do you really want to know how our ancestors were educated with out public schools or are you simply being obtuse on purpose?
No…really want to know how in the world did they get so smart..after all they wrote the constitution ..most with no formal education..our kids today..cannot make change without a computer/register
The way most people “of the gentry” received their educations.
Ya…no
gone
If you would take the time to look up the writers of the Constitution you will find that most were people of means, educated at home with tutors and mentors, read widely and wrote extensively as did all educated people of that time. They were however the exception. Most people could not afford education on that level
If you would again take the time to look more carefully at our youth today you will find that many are exceptionally well educated, write well and think logically. They are hidden in an age that gives it;s praise and attention to the mindless celebrity, the pop star on the magazine cover, but they are there waiting to be honored instead of denigrated as elites and snobs.
For the most part I would agree..our forefathers were mostly self taught..though not well to do..most struggled as many do today..I myself graduated computer from a private school.after spending the first half in public schools..so i have the ability to see both sides..now on children today..my children went to.public schools and on most but not all subjects they did well..however on key points ie history not so much
The sooner he gets out, the better. He is nothing but an instigator and troublemaker. His style of leadership went out years ago: thinking that one can insult, bully, abuse and scorn someone or something into changing into the way that YOU want them to be/do. He is a sickness to the people of Maine.
I notice no one is giving a answer …
Because it doesn’t exist. As with many of his comments it’s gone. Yours should go also, most of them.
This is all about ALEC and their ‘charter’ schools that we the taxpayer is supposed to support. A very, very bad idea and now that Mr. LePage is a lame duck governor I don’t think he will get his wish. And that makes me very happy. The taxpayer should never be forced to support private schools, many of them being religious.
Nor should the people be forced to pay for PBS the Liberal tv and radio network…………………..
PBS gets very little funding when you look at the big picture. But, that being said, I agree with you. I don’t think you, a non-viewer of PBS, should have to pay any tax for it. But does that mean I don’t have to pay any taxes that go to wars that I don’t support?
I do see your point. However, my point about PBS is that it is Liberal slanted, and IF it was GOP slanted, the Liberals would have made a fuss that they should Not have to pay. Tit for Tat. PBS should get ZERO funding IF they are a Politically sided business. NONE.
You know, I haven’t watched PBS in so long I can’t speak to your claim that it is ‘liberal’. I think you get more fair and balanced from PBS than Fox, which is the right wing arm of the Republicans or MSNBC being the liberal arm. I know I was not happy with Jim Lehrer, who did a lousy job moderating the first debate, helpful to no one.
I used to think that PBS was valuable to America’s education of children but now I think that young kids should almost never be watching any TV. Add in the computers that even toddlers have now and the less TV the better. How can teachers (boring!) ever compete with the excitement on a screen. I think it’s a real problem in education these days.
So, yes, hammock bear, I am in agreement with you. Stop the (minute) amount given to PBS. Let them fend with the market.
I agree with you that PBS was valuable to the kids education. But from where I sit, I would not have a TV in my home if I had small children. Too many parents rely on tv as a Babysitter. Teachers must have difficulty competing with TV. Teachers in a large sense are the daytime version of a babysitter……….. Our country needs many changes as our population soars, and PBS would be a start to get them off the USA payroll.
I agree. “No TV homes” with parents interacting more with children instead of leaving it up to Big Bird and Elmo to teach our young ones would be a very positive for our country. Too many people just plop their kids down in front of TV and use it as a babysitter, as you say. It’s very easy to do and I did it at times when my now 26 year old was little. I remember when I was in elementary school I had a friend who had no TV and we all felt so sorry for her. In my home it was on from the Today Show to after Jack Paar. (Showing my age here!). I used to fall asleep in front of the TV.
If PBS were to go I do fear that many people’s access to the Arts would be diminished. And a country that doesn’t support the arts suffer. How do you feel about that?
Mr. LePage believes circumventing the Constitution and praying in school will improve public education. He believes teaching biblical nonsense instead of science will improve public education. He believes giving public tax money to church schools will improve public education.
As governor and leader of the state he has publicly insulted and denigrated Maine teachers, parents, students and taxpayers. He has stated that students only get a good education in private schools.
Could someone please tell me how this man of limited talent , small intellect and foul mouth is going to improve public education in Maine?
What an utter embarrassment to the people of the great State of Maine. He is the antithesis of what an educated man or woman should be: open-minded but well-informed, well-read as well as well-spoken, and above all of that, responsible with each and every word that flows from his mouth.
We are in real trouble in this State O’ Maine, for, the Governor really does not know what to do.
“The Biggest mistake Maine ever made”
LePage is a disgrace.
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Wow. Based on what I read, there is a lot of venom in everyone’s fangs when it comes to the governor. Personally, I can’t really approach this from either side because frankly, I don’t give one whit about either side, so before you spew the “con” or “lib” buzzword, save your breath and use your head instead of your emotions.
Here’s the thing, as I see it: LePage says Maine’s education is falling behind. Well, he’s right, whether you like it or not. And it didn’t start (nor will it end) with him. Maine has become a stagnant state; it refuses to change or get with the times, and now, Maine is paying for it. From what I interpret, LePage is saying the “tough luck” bit to emphasize his point that our education system sucks. Yeah, maybe too blunt, but he’s right, too. Unfortunately, people deem fit to rail on him for this as if he’s trying to be malicious, mainly because people will hear only what they want to hear.
Our schools are crap, and all of you (and me) are responsible. You want to see who’s REALLY at fault? Look in the mirror instead of finger pointing. I didn’t see insults, frankly; I saw a man expressing his frustration at how poor our school system right now and wants to try and change it for the better. Maybe his way’s not the best, but at least the effort’s there, and I can give credit for the effort.
Right now, all I see on these comments are a mountain of malice/venom and a molehill of actual ideas. I honest feel…well, I’m not sure, but there are ways of improving the system, and I’ve grown tired of the “I hate LePage” stuff, so come up with a solution instead of complaining of the problems. Here’s some ideas:
Montessori schools are said to be effective, so why not consider those? Perhaps incorporating more practical exams into subjects like American Government or English class (why would you want to sit through Hamlet when you can act it out?)? Instead of forcing regurgitation of material, why not use handbooks? During my board exam for my PT license, I read books that didn’t have questions from the material, but I had materials that helped PREPARE me for the exams. Why can’t teachers use these materials for a particular class and apply it in their own way? I think that could help, at least some.
Discipline is also a huge problem. I don’t know why, but there seems to be more disrespect towards teachers than I remember when I was in school. I honestly wish there was a way to alleviate this because I see more than I remember who show no respect towards others (I’m 27, so it’s been a while).
These are only ideas, but remember, you can create change in your own way, so try something small to begin. When many do a small thing, it becomes huge, and I don’t mean impeachment or censure. I mean actual change and improvement. If you want to help, you have to accept a degree of responsibility, look at yourself in the mirror, and be proactive.
Thank you Matt, you speak volumes. And you speak the truth.
Matt: The discipline problems in school are an almost direct result of the conservative disrespect for education has been evolving for 60 years starting with Phyllis Schlafly and her merry band of anti-public education millionaire
She and they write and speak often spreading the propaganda of the depravity, yes depravity of teachers, the lack of patriotism in the curriculum, the intrusiveness of school administration into family life and the exhaustive and unsupportable expense of public education.
They have been doing this since the late 1950. Ms Schlafly and many other conservatives have created disrespect, distrust and negativity toward public education and now many parents dislike and distrust their child’s teacher, are suspicious of the curriculum and do not honor the goal of universal education and openly express their lack of respect for education to their children.
Children go to school knowing their parents do not respect what they are doing. Under these conditions discipline becomes an issue.
This has lack of respect has been evolving for a very long time. Mr LePage and his attitude toward public education are part of this movement toward forcing the public to support private education.
Really?? make.more of it
Ok ms liberal..how would YOU fix public education?? don’t tell me…spend more….the common mantra.So what is the right number? liberals do not.know.
Taught in the classroom 23 years; with regard to curriculum content, it became worse each year as social engineering and a liberal agenda replaced math, science and literature. Gov. LePage is correct in his comments, and MEA is interested in collecting its monthly fee from teachers as a first priorty. Think I’m wrong? Present a classroom of seventh graders with a math problem requiring the use of several operations. Tell them to “show their work”, and they may not use a calculator. A former principal once told me “the teaching of spelling is a waste of time. They’ll pick it up when they read.” My curriculum director told me I was teaching “too many details” in my course on Western Civilizations. Our children cannot read, write nor perform basic math functions at grade level. The reason has little to do with teachers, but is a factor of our liberal social structure. Attacking LePage is just a way to hide or avoid the real problem.
Oh, Western Civilization. Riiiiiiiiiiiight LOL
I totally agree!!
Governor LePage is absolutely right! He’s the best.
I second that..meeting adjourn!
I’m curious; what has he done to earn your approval?
were is the money coming from when the state pays for it ?
is that the best you can do?
I thought it sounded a bit more gracious than explaining to you why your ability to think might improve if you were to extricate you head from it’s rather dark location.
darn. do not know what you are talking about.
Private schools can provide a good eduation but cost are high for Parents on their own. Some are exclusive . I think any move to move tax money from local comunities should be decided in s vote fom taxpayers not a mandate from on high.
Oh ya..put it to a vote..bahaaaaaa!..anyone out there gonna cut funds to there schools??! I doubt it!
So you want to pay to send someone else’s kid to private school!!!! That’s what vouchers is all about. “School choice” is not an acceptable option since it removes funds from a district that very likely needs it more than the district that receives the student. If you want your tax dollars to go to a district other than the one in which you live, move to that district. Don’t ask the other taxpayers in your district to weaken their schools for you. Schools cannot work with a “survival of the fittest” mentality. If you think the public schools are not doing the job they need to, get involved to make them better. Don’t run away from the problem. Fix it!
LePage and Bowen are NOT out to fix the problems with our public schools; they are out to destroy them and open the education market to private enterprise.
Private schools and public schools cannot be measured using the same metric. Private schools are selective; public schools, by law, cannot be.
It is the law of the land that all kids must receive an education funded by the taxpayers. That is what the public school system is all about. If it’s not good enough for your kid, then it’s your “choice” to send them elsewhere and the burden should fall to you and not your neighbors.
Who would EVER work for this man, like his spokeswoman here … and look as incompetent as he is? This was not taken out of context, the quote is right there! Saying it’s not what he meant is soooooo old by now. He again spoke off the cuff and put down his own state’s schools, and generalized about academies. And there are good academies in Maine, just like good public schools, but if I were associated with one of them I sure wouldn’t what him speaking FOR us. Arrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhhhh. How much longer is it until he is GONE?
You want to knock unions well here’s one for you a lady home school her kid an she has to ask the teacher for home work . So she ask the teacher why she had to ask the teacher for home work . The teacher told her she does not give out home work because the kids will not do it . So who’s fault is it because the kids will not do there home work SO who’s fault is it the teacher or the union or the parents ?
… huh?
You have no come back so you use this . Like i said if the kids will not do there home work who’s fault is it the unions,, the teachers,, or there parents ?
You’re quite right, I have no comeback, because I have no idea what you’re on about. Seriously, none. All the words appear to be English ones, but the order in which you’ve arranged them just… doesn’t resolve.
Ok let me go line by line
now a lady was home schooling her child she would always have to ask the teacher for home work for her child.
So she asked the teacher why she had to ask her all the time for home work The teach told her that she does not give out home work because the kids do not do it
So i said who’s fault is that the union the teacher or the parents or the kids ?.
so i think said it right to begin with.
Paul, it is a compliment to be scorned by those who scorn the truth. Ask any Pastor who preaches what God said instead of what those who scorn us know He meant to say.
Keep up telling the truth Governor, the truth may hurt, but it is the only thing that is going to turn this state around.
“Ask any Pastor who preaches what God said instead of what those who scorn us know He meant to say.”
Well, sure, I mean, that goes without saying, but… wait. What?
You replied with but… wait. What?
But wait what? What are you asking?
But let me get something out:
Title: The obama agenda over the next four is easy to understand
Source:
The Holy Bible
Published: Nov 11, 2012
Author: Anaylisis by me
Post Date: 2012-11-11 08:07:51 by BobCeleste
First let me say that I am convinced
that obama is one of the ten little horns, he is not the anti-Christ,
but he is one of the ten little horns.
It is important to
understand that the majority of those on Liberty Post can not think
like obama, we cannot get our minds to be so warped, so corrupt, so evil
that we can think like he does, there are some here that can, those I
have in my bozo file I believe are servants of the evil one as well, so
they can, like obama think in terms of pure evil.
What obama
will do over the next four years is simply to make evil good and
acceptable and good passe. Let us turn to Leviticus 18, 19 and 20 as
guidelines as well as John 3:1-21.
He will cause the liberal
theologists to reach such prominence that they can convince young and
old minds full of mush that living a good life, one that follows the law
of man, will get you into heaven, that you do not need Christ.
He will continue to make every thing prohibited in Leviticus 18, 19, and
20 even more acceptable. Just as he has reversed the commands of God
concerning the absolute prohibitions on male homosexuality and abortion,
so will he now move to reverse sex between kin, and animals, cheating
in business and anything else that is morally right.
If there is a God, he is probably laughing hysterically at the election joke he just played on small minded people like Pastor Bob.
My, my, Nostradamus is from Maine.
Oh, well, that clears everything right up. I had not entirely divined that you’re completely daft from your original post.
Its crying time…OMG
Tuesday was rough on you but why are you still crying? Wipe those tears away, everything will be all right. Unless you are wealthy…………………………. ;)
Mainer’s were smart enough to boot the tea party out of office and if we could get rid of the mouth we would. Yeah for Maine. The education system can’t be that bad; we saw through Lepage’s BS
The governor can rave and rant all he wants now, he’s powerless.
I’m so glad that Maine saw what was happening and did something about it. I cringe at what is going on in Florida and Texas and other tea party states.
The sad thing about the governor is that marketing education to the global market is a perfect fit for Maine. The Millinocket experiment needs a little tweaking but it was a good idea. Maine has some great educational institutions and can attract students from around the world.
Ya..cause when i think of you liberals and your way of thinking I think of mayor Bloomburg ….tax lg drinks..can’t donate food because the Government cannot know what is in it..looking at every major city..run by dems ….how are things in Chicago..no crime there huh? Conservatives rule!
This article is clearly biased.How much is true? I wonder? The Public school system has failed in many ways. No question about that, however, the parents have failed more, as a whole at least. The moral degradation continues.
Ok there are kids that have a hard time to learn stuff i know i was one i would pay attention in class but when i walked out the door if i was ask what the teacher said i could not tell you this was back i n the 60’s. What needs to be done is to have some one that the kids trust an they can open up to. The kids mite need to be tested by a pro. to see whats wrong to to help them so they can do better but that takes money .
Gov. LePage is correct. Private schools do much better than Public schools. There are reasons for that and maybe that should be looked at. The MEA has to protect their side of the issue so therefore, the best thing for them is, distort and take things out of context.
Do a search an see if they do ” are private school better than public schools ” us this .
proof?
There is something seriously wrong with our educational system in this and other states. Back in the 1970’s and 1980’s, students earned their grades. Homework was completed, quizzes and tests were taken, and if a teacher discovered a student was having trouble with the material, that student got help. Now, since ‘no child left behind’ students aren’t required to learn, just attend…sometimes. A private institution places more accountability requirements on students, teachers, and parents. Requirements that encourage a student to be successful, and offer assistance when difficulties arise. Public schools don’t bother with this accountability. Public school teachers provide information, but they don’t bother to ensure that every student not only learns the material, but can also apply it in the ‘real world’. I’ve seen my children through the public school system, and wished I could afford a private institution. The public school system doesn’t make the students a priority like a private school does. The public school system makes the almighty dollar their priority.
What needs to be done is .
1 how many kids are in the class ?
2 How many of the kids are on the same learning level
3 Extend the day so kids are in school till 3 pm no getting out early for any this like sports ect.
4 have teacher helpers in the class so that they can help the kids because there is more that one kid that needs help at the same time. Say you have 5 kid that need help an it takes 5 mins or more with each kid that could take up most of that classes time .
This is not all true. Maine has adopted the Common Core Standards and school systems are moving towards a standards based diploma. Might want to check into that and attend school board meetings to learn more about how your town is progressing towards this goal. $$$ is an issue for public schools and always will be.
Maine Education Association President Lois Kilby-Chesley said in a press release late Friday afternoon that “the governor should be ashamed of himself.” “We have no throw-away kids in Maine,” she said. “The governor should not be saying tough luck to our Maine students.”
Really. Have you been in a Maine school lately. Our school have had throw-away kids for years. The problem is that there are now more of them. Not only are there more students who ar not learning, there are more teachers that have no skills to teach. They are some of the same 23 percent of students who graduated withou being proficient in English and math and are the product of our failed education system themselves.
” Have you been in a Maine school lately.” yup, have you been? The difference is special ed kids are now in the classroom instead of warehoused in institutions far away from society . YUP they have civil rights, NOW and you will hear the parents scream ( and sue) if you violate them. KIds are as good and smart as EVER , probably even smarter then the past . AND our national rankings on national tests PROVE that. Maine is in the TOP ten And we are #1 in science PUT that in your pipe and smoke it and then try to sell HOW bad we are.
The right and Lepage and BOWEN continue to be totally disconnected from the facts and reality.
The drop out rate for virtual schools is TRIPLE the rate of traditional school. And THAT is the direction they want to TAKE US?? THAT is what they call “REFORM” ? Bowen is selling a bill of goods to Lepgae and Lepage is just the stupid enough DUPE to BUY it. Go to the DEPT of ed web site Tthere you can get a color coded map of the US and ALL the state rankings .
Maine and ALL of New England is head and shoulders above all the rest .Irt’s all there in technicolor . The WORST scores happen down south where charters schools and virtual schools have been an institution for decades!!!! That is NOT reform UNLESS appealing to the lowest common denominator (and getting the worst national test scores) is your goal!!! YUP stupid is easier to DUPE in poltical campaigns.
AND Bowen has been peddling this privatize the school stuff for a t least a decade as “consultant” and educational “expert” at the Hertitage Center well BEFORE becoming commisioner .
The purpose of the Heritage center is NOT to promote good eduction or what is best for the nation BUT to promote what is best for the PRIVATE sector .GET IT ? Probabaly NOT . The Heritage Center wanst to privatize VERYTHING, not because it is better for schools or prisons or etc BUT because it is good for business. GET IT?
They don’t CARE about our kids ; they care about themselves.
OK let me ask you this how come the kids are not learning an you can’t put the blame on the teachers there are others to blame . You can’t blame the union because they have NO SAY to what it tough in school
The children need to understand the basic concept of Math and English To begin with. If the basic concept is not understood than the whole propose of the subject matter is lost! It must be observed if children in a class room is understanding the concepts being instructive
with the subject. If a child does not understand the basic concept of the subject. He or she can not achieve the required results which are needed on state test results. It is unimportant about where the child attends school. What is important that teachers are giving the time and materials to help them understand. They need to make sure that all their students in their class are understanding their concepts of what they are teaching!
How long is the class 40 mins ? if so thats not very long to help the kids that need help
Ok how about that the state set a grade level for every kid that in extra activities like sports, band ect. like a B plus a B or a B minus if you do not maintain that you are out
In the schools that I have worked in they do. And for some students they pass when it is “their season” and don’t when they are not involved in an activity. Seems to help motivated them to do well.
It should be year round not just during there season.
I agree!
Would you please go back to school (or edit ) before posting ??
You know so much you edit
What don’t you understand do you mean by there season ?
Gov. La Page needs to think before he speaks. Hurtful words spoken can not be taken back and will always be remembered.
When I grew up and went to school we had one teacher and sometimes large classes. If you walked into the school during class time you could hear a pin drop. I went into a local school recently, during classes, and I thought I was at a three ring circus. Students in the halls, hollering back & forth, loud noises coming from classrooms and it looked like utter chaos. People need order and quietness to learn. This idea of anything goes does not produce quality education. I believe Gov. LePage is right about public schools if this one I was in was any indiciation.
And you walked to and from school uphill each way too.
Back in the day, yada yada yada.
And in 3 feet of snow while carrying the kid sister….
I went to school back in the day. It was cold and miserable.
Welcome to the club.
And no one had ADD or needed medication .HMM– maybe all that walking to school burned up some energy
U are sooooooooooooooo funny
You are right on what you say it was the same when i went to school in the 60’s the hall way were noisey but once the teacher came in the class room an said to be quit you did as the teacher said
IN the olden days they used the “traditional education” that many now want to dis.
IT appears they can’t “win” .
My kid went to one of the worst schools in the state. Even that school had its exceptional teachers. After high school, he got into a prestigious midwestern college and graduated summa cum laude. The schools are not the problem. The politicians are. Bush’s NCLB was the first nail in the coffin of public education. The righties are just trying to continue what he started.
You are right all the teachers are trying to do is get the kids ready to past the test an nothing else counts . If the governor wants to blame any one it should be Bush he’s the one that tied the teachers hands .
LePage is a disaster.
He’s bound and determined to try and have it his way, this time his bullying tactics will not work.
We have no throw-away kids in Maine,” she said. “The governor should not be saying tough luck to our Maine students”
I beg to differ. I have known many throw away students. They are the ones that do not learn in traditional ways and consequently do not do well in school. They become discouraged and don’t want to go to school but have to. So, they act out and are repeatedly suspended – sometimes expelled. Schools need to look at different ways to educate – some kids are hands on and do not do well with reading and writing.
My daughter in employed in a before an after school program in VA. . Yes she part baby sitter but her biggest part in for PE an Home work she helps out a lot of kids an they come for all types of back grounds. Plus kids open up to her with there problems see she a psychiatrist so she able to help kids with other problems. She is the law with the kids but she fair to all,, the kids respect her for that. Yes she gets a couple each year that try her but it does not work
Please re- read befiore posting. There is at least one error in every sentence. Private school education? home schooled Or virutal education? It makes it hard to follow your thinking and what you are trying to say. There is an edit button, so you can correct it, now.
public schools no longer teach in “traditional ways” either. They ,like students, have “evolved “.
Some kids simply don’t like school and don’t want to learn .They often have parents who had “bad experiences ” and disrespect schools themselves , just like Lepage is doing. He is sending a HORRIBLE message to students. And setting a terrible example.
One of the best debates I saw with lepage, when he was running, was one conducted by students .They were VERY well prepared , had done their research and asked excellent questions. He had a hard time answering them, was NOT prepared , had NOT done the reeserch . AND he was clearly IMPRESSED by their performance. They blew his socks off.
Bennett is wrong. The governor was not “emphasizing the importance of allowing parents and students multiple avenues to achieve success. ”
What the governor said, was, “If you want a good education go to private schools. If you can’t afford it, tough luck. You can go to the public school”The governor meant to be ugly, demeaning and disrespectful . And he was. In no way can that statement be spun to indicate that the governor was doing anything, but again, dumping on Maine teachers, Maine education and Maine students.
Only a very stupid, petty and incompetent person would believe statements like that could help improve public education in Maine.
Ok there are kids that have a hard time to learn stuff i know i was one i would pay attention in class but when i walked out the door if i was ask what the teacher said i could not tell you this was back i n the 60’s. What needs to be done is to have some one that the kids trust an they can open up to. The kids mite need to be tested by a pro. to see whats wrong to to help them so they can do better but that takes money