Peoples Attitudes, Depression, Roadkill Recipes and Other Thoughts

[Michael T]

Originally posted by SteelMaiden
I never have figured out how an area with such abysmal k-12 systems could support as many colleges as we have.

Unfortunately, we have the same level of abysmal education here. I'm trying to figure out how to send my son to private school and not have to work 3 jobs to do it.

Seems like the last 20 years, K-12 education has gone to the dogs. It really is sad when you get down to it. These children are our future - and yet - they cannot get a decent education.

 

[M Greenaway]

Funny you should say that Mike.

I visited a private school today with my wife and my eldest, looking to buy him a good education. Looks like we have the same problems over here.

I'm thinking of finding a more lucrative profession

 

[Michael T]

Sheeezzz...

Martin,

I can't say that I'm any too comforted in the knowledge that an education in the UK isn't much better than an education in the US. Although I will say that there are certain areas that have a better education system than others. The disheartening part is, if you move to that school district - you end up paying higher property taxes. If you live where the property taxes are semi-reasonable, the school system is lame. So... it's a Catch 22. The worst part is that the ones who pay are really the children.

Any ideas on that "more lucrative" profession? I didn't go to the right schools to get into the corporate fast track, (besides, I heard a lobotomy was a prerequisite) so I have to rely on my intelligence and charm and rapier wit...



I gotta stop before I get myself in trouble...

Later!

 

[Jim Webb]

Originally posted by Kevin Mader
The next a.m. I looked at the front of my car and found a large dent in the lower fairing below the bumper. No hair, no blood visible. I stamped out the rest of the dent in my floorboard and went to visit the impact site. Again, no hair, no blood, no raccoon!! I figured the raccoon must have dragged itself to the woods and rolled over. Nothing could be found. For the next couple of weeks, I drove by the area with the windows down to catch a whiff of rotting flesh. Again to my amazement, nothing! No red eye pot roast or gravy! Nothing but dents in my car.

Kevin, you might be sharing a cell with me because it sounds like you may have gotten an auditor also. Try to recall the size and weight.

 

[M Greenaway]

Well i dont really know how the UK compares to the States - particularly with regard to primary education.

All i know is that you always want what is best for your kids. Mine is in a good school, but I would like to send him to a better school. Mainly I believe he will thrive better in a class of twelve pupils instead of the current 35, where the teacher basically teaches to the average pupils intelligence. The kids that struggle continue to do so, and the ones that could excel are held back.

I do believe that mine could excel so i believe it my duty to do all I can to make that happen.

Fortunately we dont have to move to do this, good schools are within geographical reach, if not (quite) financial reach.

As for more lucrative professions there are plenty, unfortunately a career change normally means starting at the bottom again, and taking the wage that goes with it - which I cant do.

 

[SteelMaiden]

I wish that I could say the private schools were better here, but they really aren't. Your kids just get to hang out with kids that have more money to get into trouble with. The classes are smaller, but the teachers aren't any better. I researched several when we moved, and I found that the number of kids using drugs at the private schools was actually a higher percentage. There were not as many sports, academic clubs etc., so the kids have that much more free time to get into trouble.

So, the kids go to public school with the po' folk, but all in all they have a lot of things to do and it keeps them off the streets. I just do what I can to supplement their education with family field trips and other activities where they can learn without realizing that they are being educated.

I guess it is doubly hard when you have lived in an area where education was pretty much top of the line plus we were enrolled in a very academic minded private school. Our old school actually placed more value on education and the arts than it did sports. The kids were encouraged to go out for sports, but it wasn't a big deal like a lot of schools.

Oh well, I guess each generation has its problems to overcome, mine had the Viet Nam War (when I was very young) and the free love and drugs thing in the seventies. I turned out OK. :thedeal:

 

[Kevin Mader]

Jim,

I recall that when I was just easing off the highway I was just turning on my high beams. There it was, big as far as raccoons go, perhaps 40+ pounds. Needless to say, it was surprised to see me!! Rumble, rumble under the car. I can vividly recall my foot being thrown in the air involuntarily. Weird!!

About how many would a critter like that feed anyway???

Kev

 

[Bruce Epstein]

One thing that the French do well

The relatively high quality of public school education (state school for our UK readers) is one of the main reasons we have stayed in France.

Oh, did I mention 7 weeks paid vacation per year?

Downside: very high cost of living compared to salaries.

 

[Al Dyer]

Kevin,

Cmon, you can tell us, it wasn't a racoon was it? It was an auditor looking for clients!

Fess up!

 

[Ken K]

Interesting story Kevin. You wouldn't happen to have a mounted auditor in your home, would you? One with a real surprised expression on his face before you sucked him under your bumper?
Just wondering.

It's funny you should mention crows, or ravens as they are called in the northern part of our state. We have a newly established crow season in Wisconsin. Something the hunters really wanted. Very liberal daily bag limit also. The only catch is that you need to utilize the bagged birds. Eat them, mount them, etc.

There are probably more crows in the state now than before the season was established.