Parents - Why Not Fully Opt Out Of Half Days

The opt out movement has successfully demonstrated that parents can ultimately control educational policy. While the parents rallied for their children to protest common core testing, they also rallied behind an idea strongly supported by the teacher's union. What would happen if parents rallied behind sound educational policies they themselves consider important?  Instead of relying on teachers, what if they listened to their parental instincts and began to opt out of educational policies that have similar consequences such as common core testing?

For many years now, parents have been complaining about many educational issues that have zero benefit for their children. For example, the half day of teaching has been argued for years to be of no benefit to children. Their is much evidence to support this conclusion by parents.

Here are some local examples of how inconsequential half days are for your children. At a local high school, a half day constitutes 28 minutes of learning per period. Some periods are dropped entirely from the schedule.  PM BOCES students sit in an auditorium or the library because their is no plan for their missing at half day. Elementary students have 15 min periods. Does any of this make sense from a learning perspective.

School districts have half days due to union contracts and technicalities of instruction from the State Education Department. NYS requires 180 days of instruction. School districts have to manipulate the schedule throughout the calendar year to meet SED mandate and negotiated teaching contracts. Local educational leaders understand that 2 hrs. a day of instruction counts as a full day and utilize half days to meet their mandates. How in the 21st century, did we allow this practice to continue? It makes absolutely no sense to continue half days of instruction for the convenience of mandates and teacher contract requirements.

The truth is that parents have been opting out for years of this nonsense. Absenteeism is extremely high on half days. Classrooms sit half empty. So the question begs to be asked, why do we still have them. The reason is that the
 "opt out" message is not being heard loud and clear in Albany. Albany needs to see increased rates of absenteeism in order for this practice to stop. We have learned from the opt-out crowd that civil disobedience works.  It is time for parents to opt out of half days in record numbers to get this practice to stop.

Move To Denmark Damn It!!!!

I was recently engaged in an interesting debate on Facebook regarding the benefits of living in Denmark versus the United States. Full disclosure, I have never lived in Denmark. However, I see a lot of ideas from the Bernie Sanders camp like to cite Denmark. This alone makes Denmark a Socialist/Communist country.

Here is the controversy. In Denmark, and other European countries, public policies have shifted to take care of every citizen in their country by utilizing the following strategies:

Much Higher Minimum Wage
Healthcare For All - Single Payer System
Free College Education
Free Child Care
Shorter Work Week

So this is what Socialism looks like? Hmmmmm. Why are we so scared of such a system? It is due to the fact we think people will become lazy and not work. It is not about that at all. It actually makes people more productive.

Another counter point is the higher income tax (some as high as 40%) and higher sales tax (some as high as 25%) It sounds counterproductive compared to our system. However, let me provide you and example of how we actually pay a lot of taxes comparatively. It is just hidden in our system.

For example:

Student Loans - Those who go to college spend a lifetime paying them back on plans that are 10-15% of their income.

Property Taxes - In NYS some communities pay as high as 12 thousand dollars on personal property taxes.

Federal Income Tax - Can be as high as 28% however middle income families pay a much high burden than the rich.

State Income Tax - In states that have state income tax, another 5-8% of your income can go towards state income tax

Child Care - Ask anyone. At least 10 percent of your income.

Healthcare costs - Can be as much as 10 percent of your income and depending on coverage, it can bankrupt you if there is a catastrophic illness.

We are living in a lottery system in the Untied States. Those that complain about Socialism have the odds in their favor. However, once one of the big five expenses hit their family, they begin to realize that a better system would benefit all Americans.

So, maybe we should go to Denmark. Not to live, but to learn about their system. Knowledge is power and we have the power to make our lives much easier in the United States by providing an effective safety net like the models that are currently successful in Europe.

NYC Is A Shining Example Of Responsible Gun Policy

While the nation grieves yet another gun tragedy, both sides of the gun debate have immediately become immersed in an all too familiar debate. The problem with gun policy is similar to many problems facing our nation, and that is we are too polarized. Right away, Fox News and MSNBC begin to choose sides and rally their base. What is lacking is a sound policy. Do we have one as a nation?

The answer may surprise you. We have a great example of gun policy right here in New York State. In particular, NYC has worked extremely hard to promote social policy that has saved lives. The facts are astounding. 20 years ago, 2250 or more families were victims of violence. Today, the deaths have been reduced to 400.

New York State and New York City has strengthened gun laws. In addition to that, programs were created to extract guns from high risk communities. In 2006, a gun suppression task force targeted hot zones. More importantly, violators were given harsh punishments. The law was enforced no matter who you were including the famous arrest of Plaxico Burress. NYC made sure that carrying a gun without a proper permit would be punished with a harsh sentence. The continued progress will rely on other states enacting similar policy. The guns that are illegal in NYC today are mostly bought out of state. The trend is also true for the rest of New York.

The road to sound policy has not been an easy one. Governor Cuomo and Mayor Bloomberg are under constant attack to their policies. However, they have worked. For other states to see similar results, they will have to rely less on polls and more on sound social policy.