Re: The WAR ON SOCIAL SECURITY or the WAR ON SCHOOLS: Which is more effective?

Even though America's current War on Social Security is coming along nicely and the Social Security fund is clearly a candidate for mass destruction, I would have to say that our government's War on Schools is the most effective. We are doing a really good job of eliminating high-quality education in this country. Already our educational system ranks worst among all industrialized nations -- and probably below several Third World countries as well!

Last night was Back-to-School Night at Berkeley High. Good old BHS used to be one of the top-ranking academic high schools in the United States. However, despite Herculean efforts by its administrators and teachers, this is what I learned about its present state:

! Teachers were instructed to hit parents up for money at the event. And most of them did -- albeit with heart-felt apologies

! Teachers have to pay for their own supplies

! Teachers now have to pay for their own substitutes if they want to take their classes on field trips ($130 a pop)

! The e-mail system is broken

! The photocopier doesn't work

! The 90-minute AP science classes have been eliminated

! The school has now gone from seven periods a day to six periods

! The lunch hour has been shortened

! The steps to the portables wibble-wobble dangerously

! There are no textbooks in some classes and they are hopelessly out-dated in others

! Despite this abominable lack of funding for our schools, we can still manage to come up with nine billion dollars a month to illegally invade Iraq.

Good job, America! Even as we speak, you have already won the War on Schools! Please remember, however, that education is cheaper and more effective than war.

Best regards,

Jane Stillwater

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"Imagine a world where EVERY child is wanted, nurtured, protected and loved: World Peace in one generation!" Education is cheaper than war.