I have a friend who teaches 8th grade history. I asked him what he taught

[driver8]

his students and he told me "1600's to 1918" (I think).

I told him, "Why don't you teach your class about fascism? You've got an actual working model of it today in this country."

[dsc]

1. because history is divided now

One class is the early part and the second is the later half.

[China_cat]

2. Because if his school district is like ours,

it can't afford books that cover anything after 1918.

It's about to get worse. We got our property tax bill yesterday. In the breakdown of where the money goes, guess how much goes to the schools? Give up?

ZERO. Nothing. Nada. Not one red cent. 25.6% to the school -board- but nothing to the schools. 78.6% to the county council but the same amount to fire and police as the schools got. (Our police currently earn about the same as a convenience store clerk)

[driver8]

3. I live in California. All of this "lottery money" was supposed to go to

the schools. For some reason, I don't think that is happening.

That is amazing that nothing went to the schools. But I guess it shouldn't surprise me. Our government doesn't seem to place much importance on education, these days.

I feel so bad for the children and the teachers -- they are the ones getting the shaft.

[FlaGranny]

4. Same thing in Florida

Lottery money to schools. They DID send the lottery money to schools. Trouble is, they cut the normal flow of state money to school systems so that, in effect, the schools are getting no more money than they were before, probably even less if you factor in school growth and inflation.

[livvy]

5. We have the same deal in Michigan.

To get the lottery leg. passed we were promised that all profits would go to education. What they forgot to mention was that the funds originally earmarked for schools would be reallocated once the legislation passed the popular vote. So the lottery funds did go to the education fund, but not as additional funds as the voters expected, but merely replaced funds that were moved to other areas.

[China_cat]

6. I guess if I was a 'conservative'

the only thing that would concern me is the fact that my property tax this year is only half what it was last year.

I guess I'm one of those 'stupid' people who would rather pay my fair share and see that it's distributed equitably than to see my savings come on the backs of those who can least afford it.