Should taxpayer dollars be used to fund private education?

[tw]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

That's a classroom. A lecture hall holds over 100 (and 100 would be a small one), and is generally encountered for the first time in college.Or, how about 45? Why not 60?

Exactly my point. Where were their numbers? What is the difference between a 30 person lecture hall and a classroom constructed for 5 students? Well, so many are posting declarations that a smaller class size means a better education - and did not post numbers. So yes, a class of 30 is better than a lecture hall of 100. We can easily make both cases because why? No numbers were provided with a claim that smaller classes are better? Same tricks were used to prove Saddam must have had weapons of mass destruction.

The OPs post asked about financing private schools. I am still asking why - a question still not answered? But then this is exactly how Rush Limbaugh lies are spun into political agendas. Others just assumed private school meant better education. Why? No one posted a number until that 15 July NY Times article. No wonder Rush Limbaugh still has listeners. The shortage of analytical questioning - the shortage of doubters - is mountainous. Smaller class sized are 'proven' for superior education? The classic popular perception - rather than hard facts .... the numbers.

So why do we finance private schools with taxpayer money? Our education systems are too good? We need to dumb down the kids? Since the problem was not defined and since the NY Times article provided facts, then apparently kids are being too well educated. A completely logical conclusion when a problem is based on assumptions. Why should taxpayers finance private schools that don't provide a superior education? Only one reason is logical - we must dumb down the kids.

Curiously, only Happy Monkey and tw have even put forth numbers for a 'large' and 'smaller' classroom? Why did so many previous posters assumed private schools have superior education? Does popular myth mean it is a fact? I am mystified that products of this education system could let 'Saddam has WMDs' logic be used again.

This never was a rhetorical question. What is the problem to be solved in the OP's original post? Anyone. Not just Luisa. Anyone who posted. What is the problem being solved by funding private schools?

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by tw

Exactly my point. Where were their numbers? What is the difference between a 30 person lecture hall and a classroom constructed for 5 students?

The amount of attention the teacher can pay to the students.

[xoxoxoBruce]

I don't need quantified studies to know a class size of 15 is better than 30, because I've had and lived with both.

15 - The teachers answers ever question. By hearing all questions can find out what they're not communicating clearly and change methods.
30 - The teacher will answer 4 or 5 questions and move on. If your question wasn't covered, too bad.

15 - The teacher has more interaction, can observes more closely each student's work
30 - The teacher can't even see what many of the students have on their desk, no less keep track of each students feedback. Much easier for the kid to skate.

15 - The teachers have time to really read papers and evaluate content.
30 - The teachers can only scan papers, catch spelling and punctuation errors, but not enough time to really Analyze content.

Simple logic would tell you the same thing. Any time there are numbers, there's someone with an agenda behind them. The agenda may be benevolent, but it's there, because people don't compile this stuff for a hobby.
Even if they did, they wouldn't have access to the information in most cases. Oh, and the people supplying the information have their agenda too.
Be careful of simple numbers, they're never simple.

[yesman065]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Be careful of simple numbers, they're never simple.

Your numbers made it pretty clear and simple, kinda logical too.

[tw]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

I don't need quantified studies to know a class size of 15 is better than 30, because I've had and lived with both.

15 - The teachers answers ever question. By hearing all questions can find out what they're not communicating clearly and change methods.
30 - The teacher will answer 4 or 5 questions and move on. If your question wasn't covered, too bad. ...

Why are your teachers all so incompetent? My best classes were the larger ones - 30. And those teachers never had problem answering all questions. But then xoxoxoBruce cites speculations as facts. Where xoxoxoBruce do you post by citing facts? Your numbers are classic speculation.

Some of my worst classes were 3, 5 and 10 students. That fact trumps speculation that xoxoxoBruce has posted. To make a point, xoxoxoBruce, instead, must provide peer reviewed studies. He does not. In fact this discussion automatically assumed private school education is superior - twisting the same speculation into a fact.

Meanwhile, xoxoxoBruces numbers are wrong. Replace 400 with 30; appreciate his typographical error. Yes, xoxoxoBruce, anyone can just arbitrarily post numbers as facts. Meanwhile, xoxoxoBruce’s conclusion – all classes should be reduced to one student – He fogets to mention that fact from *his sources*. But I mock.

There is no proof that classes of 15 means a superior education. There are studies that contradict - a wash. Most glaring assumption from that same spin - that private schools are superior education. Why would a teacher not be able to serve 30 students? 85% of all problems are directly traceable to the top person. During the baby boom, education was superior when class sizes were frequently 30 students.

Again, there are times when a smaller class size is necessary - ie autism. So that proves all large classes do not provide superior education? Nonsense.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Fuck you and your peer reviewed studies. I LIVED it. :p

[Beestie]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Fuck you and your peer reviewed studies. I LIVED it. :p

Again, Bruce posts anectdotal evidence as facts. How do you know you lived it? More speculation presented as fact by xoxoxoBruce in the Cellar on the Internet in the Universe.

Unless you can prove that you weren't in the Matrix then I dismiss your experience as emotion wrapped in enigma surrounded by speculation under cover of fact. Same as top management at GM.

And if you didn't live it then it wouldn't be true? More speculation. At GM they speculated a lot. So does our mental midget president. He went to a school with small classes. In the Matrix.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Beestie

Again, Bruce posts anectdotal evidence as facts. How do you know you lived it? More speculation presented as fact by xoxoxoBruce in the Cellar on the Internet in the Universe.

I'm telling him you've got an MBA. :p

[yesman065]

Originally Posted by tw

Some of my worst classes were 3, 5 and 10 students.

That is because the smaller the class size the more obvious a buffoon you are. My goodness, but you have got be the reigning champion for pompous asses. Thankfully only you think you know everything. Try not talking down to everyone else and perhaps your occasionally valid point or thought might, just might, be well received.

Oh and leave Bruce alone or I'll send UG over to rip your intestines out your ass and strangle you with them.