A Usenet persona calling itself BCITORGB wrote:

Scott, sounding strangely... well.... "Canadian":
=================
Strangely, the model I would like to see in the US is the original
Canadian/British model where the police are hired, trained and
supervised by
the federal or state government. Having been a cop in a small town, I
know
precisely how hard it is to do good police work on a limited budget
with
limited training and equipment budgets while being under constant
pressure
to play favorites in enforcement based on who's friends with the town
council and Mayor.

For a long time I've thought that, at least at the state level, all
police
officers should be hired, supervised and trained by the state, so that
they
meet uniform standards for qualification, equipment and supervision, as
well
as pay, and that local communities should have local officers appointed
to
them from the state police pool, and should have to provide a share of
the
funding through taxes.
=================

And you know what, Scott, I've always though that was a good model for
education. All teachers should be hired, supervised and trained by the
state, so that they
meet uniform standards for qualification, equipment and supervision, as
well
as pay, and that local communities should have teachers appointed to
them from the state teacher pool, (and should have to provide a share
of the
funding through taxes).

I don't disagree at all. Moreover, I would like to see monies collected for
schools brought into a central, state-operated distribution center, and
distributed to the individual schools (not districts) based on per-capita
attendance and demonstrable need or sub-standard facilities and/or
equipment. That would eliminate the disparity in facilities, equipment,
supplies and qualified teachers seen between wealthy communities and
inner-city areas.

If the taxpayer funded model is to be retained, then at least the money
should be doled out with absolute equality to ensure that every school is
equally good.


Which, btw, is sort of the way it happens in Germany. Education is a
state responsibility there, hence teachers are hired and paid by the
state.

See, Scott, I acknowledge when you've got some really good ideas. [And,
yes, I agree with you on the police issue.]

Well, there you go. See what happens when you don't take it personally?

--
Regards,
Scott Weiser

"I love the Internet, I no longer have to depend on
friends, family and co-workers, I can annoy people WORLDWIDE!" TM

© 2005 Scott Weiser