G'morning Vern,

 VH> That's part of what we call the Cycle of Poverty.  In the counties I
 VH> speak of, the population is on welfare and they are the fourth or fifth
 VH> generation.  Education is not seen as "cool."  Children who try to
 VH> learn are discouraged by their peers.

Much the same problems here ... and being tackled by special 
schools being run by their people - jury is out on efficacy.

 VH> But we don't seem to have such teachers.

Err ...  the junior high I'm on the Board of has got to the stage 
where all our teachers have first-class degrees  -  but then this 
is a top-income, top-income area (Ministry of Education here call 
is a `Decile 10' school).   Doesn't make them all literate or 
numerate, however, but it gets close.

 VH> In fact, I was told by some teachers when I was running for
 VH> Congress in '04 that we have certified teachers who can't
 VH> read.  I didn't believe it, but so many told me that I
 VH> checked with the Federal agency that "helps" teachers.
 VH> Without any prompting, they told me their number one problem
 VH> was "teachers who can't read."

I get to visit classrooms in 3 schools (mostly to keep myself up 
to date) and often find myself shaking with the need to take over 
and correct some numerical SNAFU perpetrated in front of me that I 
know will jeopardise the class's understanding at the next level.

Here in NZ,  they're just introducing formal requirements for all 
teachers to demonstrate basic skills in maths and language before 
being allowed near a class - but the degree to which this will 
succeed is yet to seen.

 VH> Fortunately, we don't use our Army that way.  There was a time,
 VH> however, when judges were wont to give young hoodlums a choice between
 VH> jail and joining the Army.  I always wanted to meet one of those judges
 VH> in a back alley.

 MM>This nation of 4 million now has 9 billion dollars owed it by
 MM>struggling graduates and fall-outers - and the debt is
 MM>accelorating.

 VH> Same here -- student loans are a bad idea.  I'd frankly rather make
 VH> college free for those who qualify and keep up their grades.

I'll vote for that any day !

 MM>These politcians and economists ought to be re-drafted into
 MM>railway track maintenance....

 VH> Do you have any idea of the carnage that would ensue on the railways?

Not on NZ Railways - these people sold it off to profiteers,  and 
are now trying to nationalise the shambolic remnants;  putting 
them to work straightening the wonky rails and rebuilding the 
stock would be only just....

:-)))

Miles.
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