SmashMouth

While I'm not satisfied that McDonald is the best hire for the job (although he may be a decent choice), I can't see why a Master's is a pre-requisite. Something doesn't sound right....

Good job Tigers! Keep it going!

Agreed from start to finish.

Well, Lumberton is not failing to provide a proper education. Neither are the majority of the schools in our area where I live. This is a political move with the ruse of being used to keep liberal indoctrination away from our kids. While I agree with keeping our kids from being led down the happy blue path, I don't agree with the way they are trying to do it. Texas Conservatives (of which I am) are simply doing this to garner support from the right. If you think they really give two craps about your kids, my kids, any kids, then you are gullible (which I don't believe you are). You're a smart guy. I agree with the vast majority of things you post. We are being given a poor solution which will raise taxes in the end and could possibly be harmful to a lot of middle class families on down to the lower class. There can be other ways to do it than school vouchers. From a guy that doesn't like paying any more taxes than I have to, I am definitely against it. I am also against fixing one problem by causing many more problems.

I posted this same example in another post.

Dr. Parigi used to put me to sleep. Lol.

I can agree with that. Discussion is a way to learn. One or both of us may learn something from it. That's what's wrong these days. We have an "all or none" concept. If Reagan and Tip O'Neil hadn't learned to reach across the aisle, Reagan would have been a much less effective President.

So legislate what can/can't be taught in schools instead of trying to set-up an overpriced education system that ignores middle and lower class. I don't like what's being taught in some of our public schools either. I'm just not for paying even more than I already should be in school taxes.

Once again, I understand your point. But it’s a flawed system. It’s probably not going to pass in Texas anyway, but the way they have it set up, it’s bound to fail. By the way, my last child graduated from public school almost 3 years ago. Where’s my return on investment now? Should I be exempt from school tax?

The average annual tuition for a private school lands between $10,000 and $12,000. The proposed voucher would give a kid approx. $8,000 dollars toward that tuition. The family still has to come up with the balance. Let's say you have a kid that goes to a private. Dad's a lawyer, banker, businessman, etc. and pays the full tuition to send his kid to the private school. With the voucher system in place, the Dad will now get $8,000 towards the kid's tuition. A net savings of let's say $2,000 on the low side. No problem, right? Meanwhile, another family who is not so fortunate who sends their kid to public school has the same opportunity to send their child to private school and pay the $2,000 difference. Awesome, right? Only problem is they can't afford it, so that kid stays in public school that is now getting less funding. Net sum, the better off family gets a break on sending their kid to a private school for a helluva lot less, and the lesser off family is stuck in the same place they were to begin with. All to pay a privatized for profit institution and have the quality of the public school fall even further behind.

You don't have to move. Go to another district of your liking. Folks do it all the time.

We will have to respectfully disagree. Because at the end of the day, I think the school vouchers will do more harm than good. If you really want to go point by point, I can do that. But it's a lot. I'm not saying school vouchers don't have some merit. Just not enough in my opinion.

You're right. And it's unfortunate. If moving isn't an option, then go to another district possibly that has an open campus? There are plenty of open school districts. There's not usually a school bus to service private schools at this point, so the child already has to get picked up / dropped off. Regardless, there are plenty of reasons against it. A voucher program that allows any Texas student to use public money (I like to think of it as "my money") to offset the cost of private-school tuition would divert dollars from public schools, tightening already tight public school budgets, without a proportionate reduction in public school costs - possibly to the point of raising taxes to keep them afloat. I also think it will incentivize the private schools to raise price of tuition (to put in their own back pockets) because they are getting subsidized by, that's right, my money.

I am a pretty conservative guy, but I am against school vouchers. Who pays for the public schools (several of which were just built in my town of Lumberton)? I have yet to hear a comprehensive argument that pushes me to the school voucher system, and I've read quite a few. And I really have issues with taxpayer money being given to private "for profit" schools.

I haven't looked yet. How did that work out?

He is one of my favorites!

1. Band maybe. Band parents, not so much. 2. I think I'm gonna cry... One of my favorite memories playing high school football was hearing the band marching from the band hall to the field to a cadence by the drum corps during pre-game. It gave me goosebumps. I think the band plays a definite role as a part of the Friday night experience. However, "the parents who care very much" (🤮) can watch them at halftime and at band competitions. Maybe they can stay for the whole game too.

Not really sure what you're trying to convey, I can just tell you that not a single player or coach was content. No matter the improvement, winners want to win.

No one is content with being eliminated. Except maybe excuse making over zealous fans who can't win an argument on merit.

That's who I would've picked. Congrats to the winners though. All finalists represented our area very well.

That makes sense. No name calling btw, check forum rules.

Mere pawns. The machine will find another lawsuit against Trump. And another. And another. (Picture the phrase “And another” fading out into infinity…).

We shall see. Just like Bill was toast. Just like Hillary was toast. Just like Biden (take your pick) is toast. Just like Pelosi was toast. All above had reason to be criminally charged and prosecuted. Nothing. I have lost so much respect and confidence in our “system”. I’ll believe it when I see it.

A loss is a loss. Both Jasper and Silsbee lost to Bellville. You could’ve just as easily replied “Check with Jasper” in your first post.

I say the same thing about the US House & Senate The “smart” ones leave with way more than they could make in the private sector.