[tvtimeout]

Where public schools and universities in this country, including Kentucky, fail miserably is teaching students to learn and making learning itself "cool." Too many people look at their final graduation date, whether that comes after 12, 14, or 16 years as the end of their education. Too many teachers reenforce the common American belief that math is "hard."

As LWC said, if you want to discuss class size, then you have to talk about funding. If you want to make the argument that smaller class sizes and larger per pupil expenditures equate to a better quality education, then be prepared to explain how Utah ranks so high in average college entrance scores - and why so many school districts (e.g., the District of Columbia) rank high in per pupil spending and low in virtually everything else

Also, be prepared to explain why a Libertarian believes that the burden for improving education lies with the Commonwealth of Kentucky. What about privatizing schools or at least diverting some additional resources to private schools through a voluntary voucher system.

Would the elimination of the Department of Education fall under the taboo heading of school funding? I would like to see concrete evidence that the quality of public education has improved since the creation of the Department of Education. If not, then I want to know why anybody believes that it should continue to drain resources away from local school districts.

Why class size is so important... well is it easier to control 16 of anything or is it easier to control 23+ of anything.

I never said spending money was part of the equation.

Personal story here you can tune me out now...

When working on my Rank I had take a research class. I had the priviledge to go and see the best school elementary school in Kentucky. I was surprised when I got to this place, I thought they would have all the new technology, new buildings, so on and so forth. Wrong, it had regular chalk boards, money was no where to be found. This school was also appealing to me because it had the highest Free and Reduced Lunch in the Commonwealth. So, it had the highest CATS scores and the highest Free and Reduced Lunch rate. It was located in the Mts. Nowhere, close to civilization, but it did have one thing. Teacher to Student Ratio: 12 to 1. The very next year the school consolidated with another and no longer exist today. The best elementary school in the Commonwealth, closed down to save MONEY... brilliant!