My politics: fiscal conservative,
anti-federalist, socially a moderate libertarian, and all of it
informed by my faith in Jesus Christ to the best of my ability.
So why would I would write this piece
extolling the virtues of our local public school system?
I do so, first, because Traverse City
Public Schools deserve it. Both its high schools rank in the top
flight. West rates a 16 out of 687 in the State of Michigan; Central
comes in at 45th (see link below). They accomplish this
despite receiving pitiful funding when compared to downstate schools.
(This happens due to a cynical piece of bait and switch known as
Proposition 1.) Our two children received a solid college
preparatory education at West. They had dedicated teachers. They
benefited immensely from the unbelievable choral/theater program.
Over the years we have watched a long line of young people graduate
from West and go into engineering, teaching, medicine and other
careers that require serious higher education. We have watched
others who did not choose more intellectual pursuits do equally well
in a wide range of life directions.
I praise the public schools, second,
because I support their mission. I believe the entire community has
the obligation—no, the blessing—of giving every young person a
genuine opportunity to get educated. I can make a biblical case for
this. I actually see it as a covenant. I see it as a God-given
calling. If some see this as a violation of the Conservative Code,
so be it. I make no apology.
Jesus made it clear that we must love
one another. I can think of precious few ways to make His love more
real than trying to give EVERY child the chance to learn. Our public
schools do a better job of educating all the children handed to them
than their press sometimes indicates. They deserve less critical
rhetoric and more support all the way around.
Sure, the public schools fail
individuals. In some places they fail virtually every student. Some
families have the resources and determination to home school.
Private schools can work best for some.
I have no use for the teachers' unions.
They have forgotten their purpose and become money conduits for one
political party. I have even less use for bloated school administrations
that suck money out of the classroom and into the pockets of the few
who play the school politics game with unusual skill.
Yet I staunchly support the public
schools. I believe God does, too.
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/michigan/rankings?schooltypepublic=y&int=987308&schooltypemagnet=y&state=MI&schooltypecharter=y&page=3
