MA - Governor Romney??

[Crankyshank]

It's like that around here. In the more affluent areas, they got loads (but always cry for more) money.


Doesn't that make vouchers a more appealing option?

oh goodness no. The retired teachers are all working at the private schools.

 

[AllyandJack]

It's like that around here. In the more affluent areas, they got loads (but always cry for more) money.


Doesn't that make vouchers a more appealing option?

My DH did the schools in a REALLY lousy city - the type of place people don't even want to drive through - and their schools are amazing. High-end brick exterior. Not imported marble, but definitely not that stick-down plastic stuff I had at my school. One school he did had the lowest MCAS scores in the entire state at the time - oh, but when they put on a play, you'll think you're on Broadway. It's become a competetition among cities and towns - who can have the school with the most bling.

In MA, the first thing that needs to happen is we need to get back to neighborhood schools. How much is spent to bus students hours every day to a completely different city when there is a school 3 blocks away? I don't even think vouchers would help anything at this point.

 

[AllyandJack]

It's comparing apples to oranges. Kerry has spent many terms in the Senate representing Massachusetts while Romney has not even served one full term as governor. Kerry also did not travel the country bad-mouthing his state and constituents.

Why would Romney want to serve any more? I don't give Kerry a pass just because he happens to be hanging around longer. It's not a job where you accrue vacation time for years served and take it whenever you please. He was "on the clock" and, much like Romney, should have done his personal business on his own time or quit.

As for badmouthing....some of his constituents considered his rhetoric badmouthing. Kerry doesn't just represent Democrats, he even represents the Republicans of the state. So, anytime he made a comment about the Republican party, he was badmouthing some of his constituents.

 

[Crankyshank]

There are neighborhood schools in SE Mass. The furthest I ever heard of anyone being bussed before I moved to FL was to an elementary school across town instead of the one around the block because of zoning conflicts

Maybe MA should have a more streamlined dept of education instead of things varying so much from town to town?

 

[AllyandJack]

There are neighborhood schools in SE Mass. The furthest I ever heard of anyone being bussed before I moved to FL was to an elementary school across town instead of the one around the block because of zoning conflicts

Maybe MA should have a more streamlined dept of education instead of things varying so much from town to town?

I think the bussing thing is more within the Boston Public Schools. My parents put me in private school for elementary school because they wanted to bus me from Eastie to Jamaica Plan. My father had to work the school's bingo to get a discount on the tuition so they could afford to send me there. In high school, I wanted to go to public school (Catholic school....sooooo not for me). They wanted to bus me to Mattapan. Mercifully, my mother grew up with the headmaster of the high school and he pulled some strings and got me in. I had classmates who got on a bus at 5:30am and didn't get home until 6pm because they had to commute through the tunnel from Roxbury, JP, Mattapan, Dorchester. It's still going on and it's expensive and pointless.

 

[Pigeon]

So, anytime he made a comment about the Republican party, he was badmouthing some of his constituents.

So using this logic, any elected official shouldn't criticize the other party because some of his or her constituents belong to that party? Is Bush expected to lead the Democratic cheerleading squad because I'm one of his constituents?

 

[gallaj0]

Yep, that's exactly how it works. Every day our legislators and judges wake up asking themselves, "how can we stick it to Mitt today"?

Yeah, that and how they can line their own pockets at our expense.

 

[AllyandJack]

So using this logic, any elected official shouldn't criticize the other party because some of his or her constituents belong to that party? Is Bush expected to lead the Democratic cheerleading squad because I'm one of his constituents?

No, but if you're going to accuse ONE person of badmouthing people because he doesn't agree with their politics, you have to accuse everyone. I don't consider it badmouthing. I wasn't the one who brought it up. I just pointed out that he represents everyone, as does John Kerry, so if someone is going to accuse Romney of badmouthing the liberals in MA, the same could also be said for Kerry and conservatives of MA.

 

[arminnie]

I'm the OP and just getting back here to post an update. (I had to put my dog down yesterday and have been dealing with his health problems for the past couple of weeks).

I had seen Mitt in action before. He is an incredible speaker - although my dad (85) thought that he talked too long.

FYI - He did not badmouth MA at all - he referred to it as the bluest of the blue states, but did not say how that was bad - just a fact. I got to talk to him privately for a bit. He is brilliant, charming, and SO smart.

At one point he mentioned that he'd helped education by setting up the Adams scholarships for tuition for the top 25% of high school graduates at public schools in MA.

 

[pat fan]

At one point he mentioned that he'd helped education by setting up the Adams scholarships for tuition for the top 25% of high school graduates at public schools in MA.

And did he mention how Ma. is what, the 48th state when it comes to spending on public education? And how for the last God know's how many years our budget keeps getting cut? You should come out where I live and take a gander at the state of our schools. We sure try hard and I think our kids get a good education, but it's pretty touigh when every year they're cutting teachers & programs. Romney has NOT done anything for education. Please....

 

[Linda/MA]

I'm the OP and just getting back here to post an update. (I had to put my dog down yesterday and have been dealing with his health problems for the past couple of weeks).

I had seen Mitt in action before. He is an incredible speaker - although my dad (85) thought that he talked too long.

FYI - He did not badmouth MA at all - he referred to it as the bluest of the blue states, but did not say how that was bad - just a fact. I got to talk to him privately for a bit. He is brilliant, charming, and SO smart.

At one point he mentioned that he'd helped education by setting up the Adams scholarships for tuition for the top 25% of high school graduates at public schools in MA.

So, what was your opinion of him? Do you think he is Presidential material?

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

He's very charismatic (my Dad calls him the Mormon televangelist), well spoken, and extremely sharp. A little on the slick side if you know what I mean. He kind of balances the line between televangelist and used car salesman.

I am very much not a fan of his politics. I think he gave the citizens of MA the big old shaft but it was pretty obvious from the get go that he was only using his election as a stepping stone for the Presidential election and he's been completely ineffectual. I currently live in RI and I have my own ineffectual governor.
He seems hell bent on making sure he is not a typical MA liberal by doing basically what salmoneous said.
I'm getting tired of crappy Republican governors in MA to be honest. It's time for a change.

I know ....Nothing the illustrious Mr. Dukakis!!

 

[lovingthemouse]

As for Mr. Romney's views on education -because that is what I would speak to him about, given the opportunity - I have been a public school teacher for 29 years and have watched our schools go backward, not move ahead! Yes, I teach in a large, urban school district in the western part of the state - the end of Massachusetts forgotten by politicians .
The city where I teach is under the control of a Financial Control Board set up by the Governor, because of serious financial problems from many previous mayoral administrations. Our teachers have not had a raise, or any step increments in over 4 years - our schools, for the most part, are in need of massive care and the teachers, who have continued to work under extremely difficult conditions, are incredible!!! Mr. Romney has done so little for the public education sector here, and we as a group, feel unsupported.

I give him credit for many things he has accomplished; criticism for all the things he has not provided (The "Big Dig" in Boston took so many millions away from us western MA citizens), and hope that if he chooses to run for President, everyone will look at both sides of this man. Rescuing an Olympics is only one issue - raising educated citizens is quite another!

I am happy you had a chance to speak to him, and that he listened to you. If only we felt he would listen to us!

Wanted to add that we went back to neighborhood schools last fall - yes, less busing, but more problems were created. Until education is a priority in everyone's mind - our problems will not go away!!!

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

As for Mr. Romney's views on education -because that is what I would speak to him about, given the opportunity - I have been a public school teacher for 29 years and have watched our schools go backward, not move ahead! Yes, I teach in a large, urban school district in the western part of the state - the end of Massachusetts forgotten by politicians .
The city where I teach is under the control of a Financial Control Board set up by the Governor, because of serious financial problems from many previous mayoral administrations. Our teachers have not had a raise, or any step increments in over 4 years - our schools, for the most part, are in need of massive care and the teachers, who have continued to work under extremely difficult conditions, are incredible!!! Mr. Romney has done so little for the public education sector here, and we as a group, feel unsupported.

I give him credit for many things he has accomplished; criticism for all the things he has not provided (The "Big Dig" in Boston took so many millions away from us western MA citizens), and hope that if he chooses to run for President, everyone will look at both sides of this man. Rescuing an Olympics is only one issue - raising educated citizens is quite another!

I am happy you had a chance to speak to him, and that he listened to you. If only we felt he would listen to us!

He did start the Adams scholarships for attendance at state schools provided you get advanced on math and/or ela MCAS. HOWEVER, while this is a help it is not all that big a deal...Tuition is like 800.00 + for a state school total cost per sememster is close to 5000 the rest being fees. What he could have done was try and get the state schools to lower their fees and THAT would be an advantage to everyone.
Lots of parents especially those with lower income were under the impressiom that the whole thing was being paid for when in fact our state schools are more fee based not tuition based. Another scam so typical of MA. I would rather have them tell me that my tuition is 5000 not lead me on like a used car salesman.

 

[pat fan]

I would rather have them tell me that my tuition is 5000 not lead me on like a used car salesman.

Exactly! My DS is a senior this coming year and we were looking at UMass and I was like, well, that's not so bad, but then you add the fees and it's ridiculous!

My previous comments were towards elem./ high scholl as that is what I have knowledge of. My DS, the senior, has had to redo his schedule twice since school got out because they keep cutting classes and teachers for next year. Nice

In MA, the first thing that needs to happen is we need to get back to neighborhood schools. How much is spent to bus students hours every day to a completely different city when there is a school 3 blocks away?

Well, where I live, my DS had to endure an hour bus ride to elem. school when the school itself was a 5-10 minute drive away. They had to pick him up, drive all over creation, through town and past the school, through all creation to the town limits and then back to school. Every day. To and from. Stupid.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Exactly! My DS is a senior this coming year and we were looking at UMass and I was like, well, that's not so bad, but then you add the fees and it's ridiculous!




]

My DS is going to U Mass too this year but my older one also went . He went to Amherst and ended up graduating from Boston. The youger one is going to Boston. Since my older son started 5 years ago the cost per semester has DOUBLED !! If I am not mistaken we are one of the states with the highest costs for public higher education. AND you cannot just transfer all credits from U Mass to U Mass no, no so God forbid you want to transfer. Also the cost from state school to state school also varies....Of course when I went to U Mass it was 250 per semester plus books!! Yes it was in the stone ages!

Now if Mitt could have done something to improve this it would be wonderful. IMHO the Adams Scholarships are not even all that worthwhile b/c in the end you still end up paying for the majority of college yourself. It LOOKS good but really that is all it is. AND kids in the higher income areas are more likely to get them and not use them than the low income areas where kids really need them such is the nature of MCAS>
Okay lets think if we kept the old expressway and roads we would have what is it .....15 Billion dollars to spend on higher education AND we would have had one more member of the workforce to contribute to our tax base.

 

[arminnie]

Thanks for the info on how the fees outweigh the tuition. Big difference.

Surely you can't be 48th in spending when you have Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana to compete with.

I truly wish I knew what the answer was with education. I'm a real believer in public education. Although I can understand why people might want a religious education I think it's awful when people have to leave the public schools to get a decent regular education.
My public high school is ranked one of the top 20 in the U.S. (public high schools), but it really has a two track system. The really smart kids are getting a fabulous first rate education, but I worry about how we are serving the just "okay" kids - they need an education even more - as the smart kids usually can just learn on their own if they have to.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Phew, I read the first post & instantly thought....."he's leaving the state for dinner NOW when we have this Big Dig tunnel collapse problem?"

then I realized this thread was from 7/6. I knew it wasn't like him to do that.

Haven't read the whole thread....how was dinner?

 

[pat fan]

Surely you can't be 48th in spending when you have Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana to compete with.

Yup we are. I wish I could link you to an article for it, but it was on the news (tv) so.....no link.