The Cunning Political Misdirect

The Fox News mantra, "We Report, You Decide," has always generated derision from Progressives. While a noble concept, we all (honest Conservatives, too) know it's simply not true. Every American media outlet has its own unique bias and subscribing to only one severely limits one's view of the world.

So, I had to laugh when a Democratic Senator from Maryland used a version of the line to header his recent attack on Tourism's interest in a post-Labor Day School Start. "Maryland Tourism vs. Students: You Decide" was the inflammatory headline on Senator Paul Pinsky's op-ed piece in the Baltimore Sun.

Let's break it down for what it is (and isn't):

First off, the Senator knows that, despite how much Americans generally despise the work of their political leaders, we tend to take what they say as truth. Yeah, I don't get it either...but we do.

Despite the headline, let's be clear: Tourism is not in a battle with students. Tourism desperately needs a workforce that is literate, innovative and entrepreneurial. We only want the best for students.

And, in the Senator's world, you either support students or you support business. It's one or the other and it can't be both. That makes it easier for him...but worse for his constituents.

He disputes the research that says that 70% of parents want a post-Labor Day School Start because parents aren't "storming the barricades to lobby every local Board of Education to make the change?" Which, of course, sounds damning if one doesn't consider that lobbying School Boards is usually as futile as trying to divide ice from snow. It's why parents and other interests (like Tourism) have been forced to take the issue to the State.

He throws lots of big words around regarding how the State needs to raise the readiness of students to compete and the need to reduce remediation. He doesn't say that adding 15 minutes to the school day can produce what he says is needed.

Does Tourism need students to thrive? Yes.

Does that mean we are taking advantage of students at the risk of their future educational success? Of course not. Especially when it comes to High School age students. Where the hell are they going to make the money they need to attend college if not during the months that employers have the most hours to give.

Hey, Senator Pinsky? If you could find a way to reduce College tuition, you might have a point. But, when Johnny and Julie can't afford college because you've blocked their ability to make hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars by working the lucrative end-of-summer market?

Your argument turns to coastal Maryland sand.

Comments

[Aaron]

What isn't mentioned by the Senator is the tax revenues generated by visitors, too. Adding those dollars to the state budget would enable the state to invest more dollars in quality teachers, quality infrastructure and quality technology.

He also fails to recognize in his rant about the end of school date that other states (MN for instance) start after Labor Day and are done by June. There's no week-plus Spring Break.

You can have it both ways. Tourism can exist and compliment quality education in many, many ways.

[Bill Geist]

True 'dat, my friend. He's quite selective in his talking points...which is part of my point. How do we let people we can't trust govern?

[Lee T]

Your question on letting people we can't trust govern is a good one. Mostly I find political arguments like this one intellectually lacking not to mention insulting, thus making your point. Having read articles in several states it amazes me that not once is the view of the parents considered or considered valid. That speaks volumes.

[Amir]

All valid points Bill! Plus, having just spent the past three years sending my children to school in Maryland, I can tell you that I have never seen so many scheduled days off like they do in Maryland public schools... My kids her in Ohio usually start school around August 22-25th and are usually done around May 31st- June 3rd.... In Maryland, they often started around August 25-27th and went until June 16-18th.. (this included the entire week off for Thanksgiving, multiple in-service days for teachers, and mandated regular half-days on average of once every two weeks). Perhaps the god Senator from Maryland should examine the efficiency of the school calendar as well before casting judgement...

[Bill Geist]

Michigan showed the nation that when you require a minimum number of hours of instruction (rather than days), the calendar (and associated operational costs) can be sensationally maximized for a win-win-win.

[Tim Morrissey]

Plus, the blustering ass does nothing to bring the issue of the confiscatory rates charged by the student loan industry to the floor of Senate - although it would face certain death. Also, you make a great point about what Michigan did with public instruction, changing the metric to hours, not days, of face-to-face instruction.

[Bill Geist]

Michigan was able to save a couple weeks of bus routes, lunch service, custodial, A/C and electrical, etc. by adding a few minutes to each school day. Millions that could be put back into (gasp) teachers! It can be done...but School Boards and Administrators need to start listening to parents.