ok our kids are a lil slow, but we got some of the finest providers! ahhaha
by far!
The study doesn't establish a link between public school statistics and intelligence. There may be such a link, however that would have to be established. In any case, intelligence is a pretty fuzzy concept when you try to pin it down.
graduating from the public "fool" system is no indication of intelligence. It simply means they conform to the Marxist indoctrination more readily than others. Massachusetts IS a left wing state....and certainly any people who keep giving us Ted Kennedy year after year cannot by any means be deemed smart.
The last three governors we elected were Republicans. The state isn't the high tax, high spend state it once was.
The reason the Republican party makes no deeper inroads into Massachusetts is the makeup of the party is incompatible with good sense. Every family has the ugly child, and the Republicans have several. They have become largely captive to the religious right, the moral majority, "don't tax, but spend on us" corporations sucking off the public teat, ... We may not be the brightest lights on the block. However, we aren't stupid.
I think people want a state government that taxes fairly and spends carefully. Additionally, they want a government that provides services that promote general welfare. These include good school systems, effective LE, good roads, maintenance of existing spaces, etc. Massachusetts isn't close to perfect, but it isn't terrible. Many in the legislature seem to be getting the message that the state doesn't exist to give public employees continuous raises or fund new social programs. BTY, Kennedy and Kerry are very effective senators for the state. They attract more Federal $$$ into the state then the state sends to Washington. How do your senators do?
-- Modified on 10/8/2003 7:14:11 AM
California - 44th. My people go back to 1850 in California, even earlier if you count my Great-great grandfathers wife, who was from one of the local (Placerville - Sacramento area) Indian tribes. When I was in high school, way back in the 60's, California was always ranked 1st or second in education. That was in the days when Pat Brown, and those that came before and after, spent up to 20% of the state budget on infrastructure; schools, roads, hospitals, etc. Today, barely 1% of California's budget is spent on these projects, and it is, therefore, no wonder we have dropped to 44th. Where is the other 19% spent? Welfare, public transportation that doesn't work, services for undocumented aliens, electricity contracts improperly negotiated, and 1 in 7 people who directly or indirectly work for the State of California. Does anyone wonder why Davis will be recalled today?
Personally from a parents point of view this list stinks.
Having my daughter in 4 different school systems in her lifetime (she is now a freshman in high school) I found the over 2 years she was in school in Las Vegas to be the Best school system bar none.
At the time we lived there they were very big on their arts and music departments. The classrooms were small and there was a very large part of the student body that had B averages or better. Now that she lives in Cali she is having to retake classes in high school that she already completed in the 8th grade in Nevada, because Cali requires that you take said classes in High School. This makes no sense to me.
I think if you took a poll of parents and averaged out how they think their children are fairing in school (i.e. attitudes, grades ect.) The list might be far different.
Are all based on averages for the entire state. With anything that is typically run at the local level (Schools, road maintenance, etc.) there will always be examples that are much better than the average, and examples that are much below the average. I am absolutely sure there are schools in Mass that are much worse than the average school in Nevada, and there are schools in Nevada that are much better than the average in Mass.
My point is that this is an average for the entire state, and nothing more. The only purpose for surveys like these is for the "winning" states to be able to stand up and say "We are better than (fill in the blank)" and nothing more.
The town I live in in Mass for example has an extremely good school system, which has won many awards for many elements of its schooling.
A survey like this one has about as much usefulness as a survey as to which state has the best escorts and then assuming from those results that every escort in the "winning" state were top-notch.
Actually the southwestern states of; California, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico are all in the bottom ten. They also house the greatest amounts of children born by illegal Mexicans. With the exception of Texas, they seem to be dragging down the scores in these fine states.
I feel it best to send children to private schools. less "dumbing down" the classroom.
After my divorce, I deliberately moved to a school system with top test scores so my child would go to a great public school.
Then the district started bringing in by bus the poor immigrant kids from outlying areas to several schools in the district. My child's school got the most.
I'm not saying these kids are stupid, but there may not be good command of the English language, there is signficant absenteeism, and the parents are too busy out in the fields to care about their kids homework or preparing for college.
My child says the teachers have to spend extra time in the classroom with the immigrant kids (?language barrier).
So, guess what, on the next tests, the school's test scores dropped significantly. 
Florida, Califonria, Arizona, Nevada & New Mexico!
One other thing, if the people of Mass are so smart, how come they keep electing Ted Kennedy? Idiot savants?
I don't think that I had ever met an illegal in high school. If you suspect that non-english speaking kids are considered illegals then I may have met some. Although they were some of the hardest working kids in the school.
These kids had to survive through the torments of other kids who picked on them and yes some were even taxed if they wanted to make it through the day. This sort of thing had gone on since jr. high and yes I know all about it and it trully does happen.
This is one of the reasons some kids join and even some create gangs. But most of the times that won't save you but makes the field bigger which involves more people getting hurt.
These families come here to the states looking for a better life and thinking that their children will be receiving a great education. Not knowing that they are dropping off their kids in public school hell.
Just my experience in a California Public School. Doesn't mean that it happens in all schools and of course their are worse schools then the one I had gone to.
Two cites right next to each other, one district (over) filled with "recent" arrivals to the U.S., the other a more stable "been here awhile", also overfilled.
To give the differences in high school graduate percentages and testing results would I'm positive bring on the racist flamers, so I won't bother. But anyone with a modicum of brain power can "assume" which school district has more success! And you would by very right.
Ad to this burden of illegals', the absolute crappola that is taught in the California Public School System and the result is an ever increasing population of dumb motherfuckers who turn eighteen and register as democrats!
And that is California's worst problem. We have become a state of victims and entitlement seekers (and fucking lawyers)!
Man, that felt good!
In fact, more then we send to the Feds. Do your senators do as well? If they don't, which state is full of the idiots? You don't like his politics? Fine. Your senators can spend time arguing how to stop abortions, pass worthless drug laws, snoop people's bedrooms, ... Teddy can give the occasional speech that will leave Republicans foaming at the mouth and spend the rest of the time picking their pockets while they shake and groan.
The reason Fl, Ca, Az, Ne, and NM have lots of "illegals" is because they have large business sectors that exist on the cheap labour. They have to deal with the fall-out. This is a no-wining zone.
I live down here in number 48, Mississippi (hope I spelled it right this time), and agree we sure are some kinda dumb. School was so hard, especially grad school. Never figured I'd really larn functions of a real variable or partial differentials, but my provider helped me with some of the equations.
why is it mostly southern states are the dumbest? is it because everybody wants to live and play in a beautiful climate-whereas in the north-when is has bad weather everybody stays in and studies-or read a book.
As a (proud?) Massachusetts Resident, I am happy to tell you that I enjoy visiting your great state.
If you need more calculus support, we will be happy to send down a high school junior from the advanced class. Even better, send the things up and we can hand them out as homework problems. Since we are politically correct, we try to work only with impartial differentials. Additionally, we only work with Jacobians in the historical context of their struggles in France (math jokes).
Getting this work off your mind will give you more time to do other more interesting things with your provider.
-- Modified on 10/8/2003 7:11:19 AM
As I see the political innuendos start to fly about immigration or finances. I can't help but laugh at us for seeing any value in this study. There is no way Montana should rank 4th inany study except perhaps bigotry. Backward, redneck, maybe but not smart. Move there and watch your kids advance 2 grades!
Montana has huge tracts of federal land (parks mostly). As such, the Feds contribute big bucks to the locals. At one time they were first in federal dollar inflows per capita in the nation (I don't know where they stand now). It makes the school ratings go way up. The state has the funds to maintain a pretty good school system. I don't know how well they implement.
I may live in Florida (# 40) but I'm from Ohio (#22). Just two spots behind Michigan, those blue and yellow bastards to the north. They only scored higher because there are two Michigans. The hand part and the other part. You ask somewhere where in Michigan they live they either point to a spot on their hand, or say, "The upper part." And people give a knowing nod, as if they have a clue to any of the geography north of the lake.
I just can't believe Florida is behind Kentucky, Arkansas AND Oklahoma!! Oklahoma, whose state motto is; "Oklahoma. Oklahoma. There, I said it twice." Where men introduce you to their wife and sister and there is only one girl standing there. Where in any other state you dial 9 to get an outside line. In Oklahoma if you dial 9 you'll get a private residence.
Montana had to score high ... there's only 6 people living there.
Interesting findings.
Jimbo
If they moved the Iowa/Missouri border 50 miles north, it would double the average IQ of both states. Win win situation!
Texas should be ranked much lower. After all, they voted for George W 3 times.
