How Much Trouble Is Trouble Worth?

From the New York Times, comes this recent article, "Enrollment Off in Big Districts, Forcing Layoffs," which details the connection between charter schools and trouble in public education.

Some might say that the increase in charter schools is a result of trouble in public education and they have their points.

But ultimately, the question we must ask ourselves is:

Do we or don't we want a healthy public education system?

And given the fact the all branches of our public education system - K-12, Adult Education, Community College, State College and University - are sickened,

Is it worth the trouble it will take to restore our system to health?

Trouble - that's the real issue here, isn't it?

There is trouble in our educational system.

And it will take cause us some trouble - some effort - to repair it.

It might not be "fun." 

It will be meaningful.  There will be reward in both the work and the result.

But some of the work will be difficult.

And we are a culture that has come to forget the joys to be found in work.

We seek our joy elsewhere.

In distraction.

But work there is to be done and the question is how and where we do it.

If we don't, our troubles will worsen and eventually, there won't be enough distraction to relieve us of the pain they will cause us.

So let's think of what we really want.

A sound public education system with the mission to serve everyone and create a thriving economy, a healthy community, and a high level of civic particpation?

Or an expanding for-profit education system that doesn't have a mission to serve everyone?

If you are interested in learning more about the privatization of education, you can attend the upcoming Labor Fest workshop:

Who is Behind Privatization of Public Education?

July 29, Sunday, 10:00 AM  -- Free
518 Valencia  - near 16th St, in San Francisco  

Education, Privatization, Bill Gates, Broad, KIPP, Pearson And The Gulen Schools
A massive national and international organized plan to privatize education has been implemented over several decades. Billionaires, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Broad Foundation and the Pearson corporation among others, have infiltrated hundreds of governmental bodies including school boards, city councils and our local, state and regional governments. They seek to turn our education system into a profit center worth tens of billions of dollars. This also includes the Gulen Islamic cult led by Imam Fethullah Gulen, which runs the largest chain of charters in the United States funded by public money.  We will also look at the criminal conflicts that have allowed politicians to personally benefit from using their public positions to profit from their votes and actions. This forum will look at how this has come about, who did it, how it is affecting us and who is profiting from it at the cost of public education and finally how to stop this attack on our public education system.

Speakers:

Madeline Mueller, Professor SF City College, AFT2121

Susan Miesenhouse, CFA CSU Longbeach

Kathleen Carroll, Lawyer and Whistleblower At Commission On Teacher Credentialing

Bruce Neuberger, AFT 4681 San Mateo Adult School

Sharon Higgins, Researcher and Blogger On Charters, Parents Across America

Sponsored By United Public Workers For Action  www.upwa.info