[Rustie]

Originally Posted by Grant Miller

Answer to question 1: An educated electorate is the key to a democratic government. Our founding fathers thought so anyway.

Answer to question 2: It takes an open mind on the part of the student as well as a good teacher. I don't believe that an open mind is something you would understand very well, so I won't be offended by your comments.

No truer words were spoken. So, what do we have now that we are country with a large percentage of UNeducated electorates?

I have a Certificate in Secondary Education. I got it while in College in case Med School, Vet School or working in the Industry did not work out for me. But my Senior year, when I had to do my Practicals (Student teaching) rounds ruined me. I went to college in an area with a high number of poor and failing public High Schools. Lower Price Hill, mainly, and I did a student teaching semester at William Howard Taft High School. 50 % drop out rate. Met a lot of the teachers who truly cared but with no budget, classrooms 50% fullof kids who didn't want to be there or had already spent time in some sort of juvenile detention setting, the teachers had largely given up.

Can you blame them?

I walked doen the halls and watched kids being assaulted, thrown against lockers, and curse words were the main part of teh conversations. Metal detectors and police officers at the school doors and two that patroled the hallway. I watched 8 kids in one month get arrested on school grounds. I wouldn't have been able to teach in that environment and it would take a very special person who could. MHO.