hmmmm fresh carcinogens filling the room...what a great plan for a healthy future!

It wasn't that long ago that students families would contribute firewood to US schools.

Sadly, now everything is "Provided" by the state in the US, severing the ties of financial accountability between Parents and Schools in the US.

It is a terminal flaw of public education. Anything you are just handed is not respected like something you have to earn.

In China, most students pay tuition. There is competition for limited spots.

And they are outperforming our hand out public education system.

While we just throw more money (Washington DC spends over $20,000 per student per year but has some of the lowest performance).

So we tried throwing money at the problem, and only made it worse. It's time we go back to having parents pay for at least some of their kids educations. It works at the college level in the US, which is considered one of the best systems in the world.

Ryan obviously doesn't have a child in school. I have 2, and one who has graduated. Every year I pay more out of pocket to their school for "required program fees" than the year before. This is in addition to taxes, lunches, and supplies.

Performance of the educational system has much more to do with proper management of the system over time than a dollars per student cost. As management allows the system to decay, costs go up to remedy the deficiencies. Sometimes the decay is avoidable, sometimes not. The problem faced by many school districts is significant revenue reductions with increased enrollment, compounded by old facilities.

@pao: Then vote out the incompetent twerps running your local school board if you aren't satisfied with the results. I was mortified to learn the superintendent and other counselors of my former ISD were spending taxpayer dollars for 'team training vacations' out in the Caribbean.

Go to PTA meetings, board budget announcements and the like. Request a statement of your district's expenditures. Work with fellow parents and teachers to effect better change.

Throwing money at the problem is one thing when you have money to throw.

We don't anymore.

A small tuition for public schools would keep all the parents interested in the results.

We should also adopt a system that has some elements of the German system, where you have to test into a high school that is designed as a stepping stone to College.

Many students there get great vocational training. Only 1 in 3 will go to College here anyway.

So why do we try to teach students as if they will all be on a College track?

You're right on the money Ryan. Most kids don't appreciate the education they are receiving for "free." I say the ones that don't want to pay attention, that don't care about being there....kick their asses out, they're a drain on the rest of the student population that want to be there and learn something. Let them go out and make their way in the world and see how easy it is with no education.

BlazerFan ==There is a problem with your thinking the ones that drop out what do you think they will do?? That's right get into trouble and go to jail and probably prison and who pays that bill?? Now if we had a jail and prison reform where all had to work no matter what or else. then it (might) work.

They do that already. A high School diploma doesn't do much.

In fact the only thing you need to know about a high school diploma is that no one checks them. The jobs that would require it pay so little, that they won't dare eliminate those applicants without the diploma.

If you just say you have one, who would even waste time checking?

Can you imagine that these are the people our kids have to compete? Our kids can not set their feet on the ground each morning because they watched too much TV last night. Time to wake up American kids. That is the message I had for my kids for the last 5 years. Even that could be too late. Chekc the Indian kids. They are even tougher!

John,

Only 1 flaw in your plan - "reduce property taxes" - like THAT will ever happen.................

Especially not in good ol' PA.

I live in Monroe county( Rochester, NY. )We pay between 10,000-15,000 dollars ayear in property taxes and the state wants to raise them. Taxes will never go away.

And the problems will never go away either.

I was kind of wondering about that myself.

Burning coal in an unventilated area sounds very dangerous. I know the kids need to stay warm and all, but it seems like their respiratory systems may now be in danger.

I've seen carbon monoxide detectors made in China.

Shouldn't be a problem to locate one.

Probably not much worse than the air outside in some parts of China though.

You weren't just born in the USA, but obviously have never left it either.

Have you ever seen their schools? They aren't sealed in any way, shape, or form. They are nothing BUT ventilation. Even IF they had no ventilation, it's a simple choice, really. Die of freezing cold now, or die of smoke inhalation or similar, much later in life. Would you like to die now, or later?

Their homes are the same way if not worse. Most don't have heat. Parents layer clothes on their children to keep them warm in the winter.

"and I can assure you, the kids in those pictures have at least five layers of clothes on" ?????

The one little girl is not even wearing a hat or gloves.

Ann107, thanks for the "in the street" comments from our next door neighbor in China. We can only make friends with each other after walking a mile in each others shoes. Keep up the comments.

Wo shi Meiguoern zhu zai New York. (sorry no accent marks on this PC)

Xiexie.

it would never happen in this country. Americans would stay at home and wait for the government to bail them out and even though all of our American teachers chose their occupation because they love the kids (lol) I think they would fall out of love quickly.

"flues"???

Steve: Are you a teacher? If not, how do you know why teachers teach?

I am a teacher, and while I don't really "love" the kids, I do like them and I do like my public service job despite the fact that I've taken a pay CUT the last two years and will probably take another one next year. And for the record, I don't make 100K and live on Long Island. I make less than 45K with 12 years experience and a master's degree.

Nothing like yet another sweeping generalization to once again make the bile rise.

Keep it up, Steve. You look like a total ignoramus.

Thank you for putting things into perspective.

I make less than 45K with 12 years experience and a master's degree.

I would like to welcome you to the middle class, animal lover.

I'm in IT, make a bit more than you, hold numerous industry certificates (which I must keep active and cost $100-$125 per test not to mention that it takes 4-5 tests for one certification), work minimum 10 hours days, 7 DAYS per WEEK (I do get 40 hours of vacation per year). And, yes, I had to take a 20% pay cut. Guess what I did? I went looking for another IT position at a different company. May I ask you how many vacation days you get? How often (if ever) do you have to re-certify?

It's called life. You chose teaching as your career, as I chose IT as mine. I love what I do, sounds like you don't?

Now back on subject. Thank you Ann for your perspective. It's very informative to heard from one "in the trenches" and I wish you well.

I appreciate the comment from one who directly knows the conditions. Your last comment was most interesting. Thank you and good luck. Keep up the good work.

"and I can assure you, the kids in those pictures have at least five layers of clothes on" ?????

The one little girl is not even wearing a hat or gloves.

Because it's not that cold out? Look at the ground, it's wet, that means at worst the air temp is a little below freezing but the surface temp on the ground is above freezing. My personal guess from the picture is it is above freezing outside, the article dosen't say. It says "freezing temperatures" but so do news outlets here in the states when it's 40 outside in the afternoon, but 30 at night.

There is also such a thing as too much clothes in winter. If you put too much on and start to sweat you can actually make it much worse when you stop moving.

May I ask you how many vacation days you get? How often (if ever) do you have to re-certify?

They don't get any more than most people, and usually it's just sick pay, not vacation. I'm sure you're thinking "But you get around 3 months off during the summer!" and while true, that also means for 3 months of the year they have no paychecks coming in. They either have to save up 3 months worth of money to pay expenses every year or get a summer job.

And yes, teacher's do you have to get re-certified (I'm sure the specifics of this depend on each state's laws).

Most states require renewal of teaching licenses every few years. One of the requirements is usually continuing education credits, usually earned at a college level (one to several hundred dollars per course) or above.

School districts (the taxpayers) typically pay for those courses.

Wryview - Not all school districts pay for those courses! They make you take them on your own dime, on your own time, etc...just like everyone else, (especially during the current economic crisis!) You also have to pay for the piece of paper they send you in the mail to give to your bosses that shows proof of your recertification. (I just had my recertification finalized!) People need to be careful as to what they assume and say! You don't know until you have actually been there and done that!

I've been a teacher in 7 different states and was never paid a dime for masters or any other courses.

I lived in Alaska and there had to be four feet of snow, a whiteout, and icy roads to cause a snow day. In Indiana, six inches and they make us stay home. Six inches.

Come to Virginia CollaredCrow - school is closed for the "threat" of snow. Nary a flake in the sky and school is closed for the next day.

Taylor:

Where are you? I'm in Chesterfield (outside Richmond) and we're out and we just got a little bit of sleet.

Oh you're close! I'm in Henrico- we got freezing rain for a few minutes but its fine. And I have to say I love your user name

I believe you. I live in Rochester, NY and not one school has canceled school so far-not even a delay. In fact we had a snowstorm today and we ALL went to school.

Taylor, I use to teach in Henrico Co. when I lived in Richmond in the 90's . I taught at Gayton Elementary and loved it. Virginia is a great place to live. Great people!

+1 Thanks dcrat.

I couldn't agree with you more. We, as Americans, are beginning to become a bunch of cry babies. Sometimes you just have to bite your tongue and push through the BS. Too much crying and bickering instead of just going out and DO.

I just emailed it to my 12 years old son, and ask him to email it to his friends so they know what they are up and against. Strong work ethics and premium a society put on education is essential for us to compete and win.

dcrat - AMEN TO THAT - We've become a nation of whinners - no wonder that so many other nations are out performing us. And the radical change in our mind set to get us back to the time when we were the planets financial engine, will probably never come. I have friends who say we are on the path to third world status. THIRD WORLD. I hope I am six feet under when that happens, then maybe I can console our founding fathers and those brave and couragous souls who risked life and limb for a better life.

I'm surprised people aren't getting the point of the article. It's to shame the Chinese education system into raising standards for their children. Those children are being endangered by breathing in the toxic byproducts of burning coal. Yet they have no choice.

The fact that we don't put our children in those type of dire situations is a testament to the way we care for our children.

Nothing to do with entitlement or whining. Seems you can easily tell who does and doesn't have small children going to school. And if you do and think it's alright for them to breathe in coal fumes, then shame on you.

You can bet that the military gets more than the local school systems when it comes to money. I have no doubt that the Chinese stealth will be as capable as ours it.

You got that right....This country better watch out....Be careful, just when you think something can never happen, it does...China is growing in leaps and bounds socially and economically. I predict it will be the next great world power.....The question is when...

We need to get back to basics such as the difference between "are" and "our" ....

CBR, technology didn't make us weak; its the parenting. Americans would rather go out and buy their kids something to occupy their time, rather than actually spend time with their kids. Spend time with your kids, take them outside and play; let them be exposed to the elements for a while before you rush to the store for your barrel of hand sanitizer.

yeah, when I was a kid we had to walk 5 miles to school up hill both ways after we milked the cow and cut down the wheat for breakfast. During school, our recess consisted of getting wood for the stove in the back of the classroom. After school, we came home and then we had to kill and defeather the chicken for our dinner and then study by candlelight, all the while wearing 5 layers of potato sacks to keep out the cold.

We have to go back to that because times were so good then.

Yes, that was sarcasm.

You forgot doing our homework with a piece of coal on the back of a shovel!

wow, you guys had shovels?

What are you talking about? I grew up in rural Illinos, and I never had to strap barbed wire to my feet in the winter. And without shoes? Come on...Even my Grandma, who used to tell me stories of hardships "way back when," had boots. They might have been stuffed with rags, but she had boots.

I agree. Dress appropriately and give us a freakin window we can open!

Same in my community

Madison, Alabama. They have power to burn and they're burning it, for now.

Mr. Morcan, you're absolutely correct.. If the U.S. becomes the plutocracy as the right wing would like our children will be living just like these Chinese children.

Protodan-

Typical lies. There is no one on the right that wants a plutocracy. I think you are making an assumption that with freedom only the wealthy will rule. Guess what. Right now only the wealthy rule!!!!

Wikipedia-Before the equal voting rights movement managed to end it in the early 20th century, many countries used a system where rich persons had more votes than poor. A factory owner may for instance have had 2000 votes while a worker had one, or if they were very poor no right to vote at all. Even artificial persons such as companies had voting rights.