Matt Damon (woof) Tells Off Some Wacky Reporter

[laikaNYC]

Wow.

Data that is not only irrelevant to the topic, but is only a decade old.

But.

Good.

For.

You.

For going all the way back to a secondary source.

Thanks for addressing whats in the link

 

[Kulindahr]

While I certainly love Matt Damon and agree with what he says in the clip, I don't actually see the connection between it and the rest of what you say here. Could you unpack it some? I'm reasonably sure reason.tv is a "Libertarian" (i.e. right-wing) organization, but otherwise...

Reason TV is an offshoot of Reason magazine, and yes, they're libertarian.

The mag has truly professional staff and writers. The .tv outfit started with totally inexperienced but ideologically fervent people. As Damon says, they have a simplistic approach to things quite complex.

My problems with the content of what he said have been mentioned already, so I'll pass on those. What I truly like is his attitude: don't let the reporter define the question. That's something that should be taught in school, and not just with reference to reporters, rather to anyone in any sort of authority position. It's what's needed for a democratic republic to work: all authorities being constantly challenged, so they remember who they serve and don't take their power for granted.



edit: Damon should consider that just because someone loves to do something doesn't make them good at it.

 

[JayHawk]

Kuli that is true it does not make them could but adequate. The ten percent are that ten percent in any field that are not working out.

The problem with our school kids and education system is not enough stimulus for the child to do well. If you have everything and nobody holds you accountable then why work hard at anything at all?

 

[chrisrobin]

Kuli that is true it does not make them could but adequate. The ten percent are that ten percent in any field that are not working out.

The problem with our school kids and education system is not enough stimulus for the child to do well. If you have everything and nobody holds you accountable then why work hard at anything at all?

Not only that, "No Child Left Behind" blows!

 

[chance1]

I don't think anyone is arguing that teaching isn't a difficult position - and that there are many many good ones - I had my share

A great teacher surely can change one's life

That said - their salaries are not "shitty" to use Matt's term

Their benefit packages need not exceed those in private sectors
Tenure need not be an anchor around the necks of municipalities, parents and students

that's it

it's not

"teachers are bad"

that's what teachers unions would have you believe
that's what matt would have you believe

liked his work in good will hunting - the damaged southie thing worked for me

 

[BostonPirate]

tens of thousands of educators have lost their jobs directly due to cutbacks in local and Gov't spending without raising revenue in any way.

Its time we realize that we pay for shit as taxpayers for a fucking reason, and when we have a nation of idiots, it will be of our own doing.

This benefits package bullshit is just a diversion the GOP uses to pump up the unemployment rate during Obama's election.

At least theres no republican in the white house. This is about the time they start a war to win re election.

 

[Kulindahr]

I don't think anyone is arguing that teaching isn't a difficult position - and that there are many many good ones - I had my share

A great teacher surely can change one's life

That said - their salaries are not "shitty" to use Matt's term

If you compare education cost to salary, in most places teachers are at the bottom of the list. Here in Oregon, a teacher with a Master's degree earns less than an engineer with a bachelor's.

Though the biggest problem with our schools, I'd say, is the "corporate" mentality that likes big schools with big faculties and big classes. I couldn't get certified as a teacher in Oregon because I couldn't handle a class size of thirty -- but in smaller groups, like a dozen, my observers and advisors said I was "superb". There were a few others like me in that, and I suspect that there are a lot of superb teachers out there who aren't doing us any good, because they can't handle the huge classes.

 

[chance1]

If you compare education cost to salary, in most places teachers are at the bottom of the list. Here in Oregon, a teacher with a Master's degree earns less than an engineer with a bachelor's.

Though the biggest problem with our schools, I'd say, is the "corporate" mentality that likes big schools with big faculties and big classes. I couldn't get certified as a teacher in Oregon because I couldn't handle a class size of thirty -- but in smaller groups, like a dozen, my observers and advisors said I was "superb". There were a few others like me in that, and I suspect that there are a lot of superb teachers out there who aren't doing us any good, because they can't handle the huge classes.

agreed on education required (which is time consuming and expensive) vs. salary

but

teachers - and I'm thinking public schools work 9 mos. a year - the work day is shorter

interesting about big vs. small - my bf just got his teachers degree - at a time when jobs in nyc are .......... non existent - layoffs are happening

he did training and found that bigger class sizes he struggled with as well

i think there has to be a way of reviewing teacher's effectiveness - placing them in positions to succeed - not one size fits all

i believe in effective teachers being paid MORE - some kind of incentive

teachers who teach better should be paid more - not just 40 yr olds vs. 30 yr olds

its about results

i don't think that's a corp mentality so much as a logical mentality

 

[chance1]

tens of thousands of educators have lost their jobs directly due to cutbacks in local and Gov't spending without raising revenue in any way.

Its time we realize that we pay for shit as taxpayers for a fucking reason, and when we have a nation of idiots, it will be of our own doing.

This benefits package bullshit is just a diversion the GOP uses to pump up the unemployment rate during Obama's election.

At least theres no republican in the white house. This is about the time they start a war to win re election.

wouldn't reducing oversized benefits save jobs?

benefit pkgs that were negotiated at a time when the economy was booming - benefit pkgs that don't reflect real life now

tradeoff

lower benefits which are by all reasonable standards overdone
for more jobs

which keeps class sizes reasonable and helps kids

everyone wins

 

[BostonPirate]

wouldn't reducing oversized benefits save jobs?

benefit pkgs that were negotiated at a time when the economy was booming - benefit pkgs that don't reflect real life now

tradeoff

lower benefits which are by all reasonable standards overdone
for more jobs

which keeps class sizes reasonable and helps kids

everyone wins

there are no teachers I know of who have not offered to give up their benefits. You can't cut one thousand a year expense for insurance and matter in any way.

They are firing them because they are cutting education budgets, and at 20 to 30 thousand a pop, it's the most cost effective way of living within the cut budgets. We are going to return to the days of forty to fifty students in each class, and when people ask how it came to pass that a student can graduate without learning to read, as we all had to do in the eighties, we will return to funding education.
.

 

[Kulindahr]

agreed on education required (which is time consuming and expensive) vs. salary

but

teachers - and I'm thinking public schools work 9 mos. a year - the work day is shorter

interesting about big vs. small - my bf just got his teachers degree - at a time when jobs in nyc are .......... non existent - layoffs are happening

he did training and found that bigger class sizes he struggled with as well

i think there has to be a way of reviewing teacher's effectiveness - placing them in positions to succeed - not one size fits all

i believe in effective teachers being paid MORE - some kind of incentive

teachers who teach better should be paid more - not just 40 yr olds vs. 30 yr olds

its about results

i don't think that's a corp mentality so much as a logical mentality

Work day is shorter? Since when?

All the schools I've ever been at or involved with had teachers in the building on the job nine or ten hours a day -- and then usually they took two or three hours worth of work home with them. Most of those teachers worked ten months a year, because they had to show up two weeks or more before the kids did, and stick around a week or two after.

As a student teacher I was in the building nine hours a day, and had four teaching-related hours of work every evening.


As for class sizes, it's been shown that kids do better not just in smaller classes but in smaller schools. Every time two schools are consolidated into a mega-school, the kids suffer. So it isn't "logical" at all to make big schools and big classes -- it's utterly irrational, because it's contrary to the purpose of having schools.

BTW, the only incentive system for pay I've ever seen work was in some of the private schools in Miami, and I'm not certain how it worked -- had a lot of parent input, and involved evaluating student improvement.

The most direct ever was in ancient times at the University of Paris: professors got paid according to how many students showed up for their classes.

 

[JayQueer]

Okay, for a brief respite from all of this political talk...........I must say that Matt Damon is SOOOOOOO HOTTTT

I love how he looks with the shaved head! My first crush was on Keanu Reeves in the movie "Speed" (1994)........I loved how he looked with his shaved, buzz cut.

Since then, I've had a thing for clean-cut White guys.........lol

 

[Zu-Mendel]

A great teacher surely can change one's life

That said - their salaries are not "shitty" to use Matt's term

Their benefit packages need not exceed those in private sectors
Tenure need not be an anchor around the necks of municipalities, parents and students

In my county a teacher starts off at extremely low 30k with a BA. I will be working a management job with the food service that handles my university within a year starting at 40+k with benefits.

I work with food, they shape the minds of your children. Tell me why anybody would get an education degree, and make 75% of what they could with a business degree if they didn't have the benefits to perk it up.

Do you really want government workers, especially teachers, to be the ones who are the worst and the dimmest?

 

[JayHawk]

They are cutting cost everywhere. In my local area there is a public school system cut so hard they are charging a participation and activities fee along with a book fee.

And no that is not for anything special. It is not for athletics or any other program except attending school.

SMSD Parents Not Happy with New Activity Fee

 

[Tengilethos]

In my county a teacher starts off at extremely low 30k with a BA. I will be working a management job with the food service that handles my university within a year starting at 40+k with benefits.

I work with food, they shape the minds of your children. Tell me why anybody would get an education degree, and make 75% of what they could with a business degree if they didn't have the benefits to perk it up.

Do you really want government workers, especially teachers, to be the ones who are the worst and the dimmest?

Exactly. Look where the brightest people went after college. Finance. That did a whole lot of good.

If you eliminate tenure you will likely need to give other incentives to teachers. While it can be a relaxing job when you have small classes and smart pupils which were well raised by their parents, these conditions are not the norm. If you have low pay, low job security and work many long and stressful hours, 2 months "off" won't be attractive enough.

 

[Jack Springer]

Wonder if Matt and his other high stakes poker buddies will pay taxes on their earnings?

I doubt it.

 

[Jack Springer]

They are cutting cost everywhere. In my local area there is a public school system cut so hard they are charging a participation and activities fee along with a book fee.

And no that is not for anything special. It is not for athletics or any other program except attending school.

SMSD Parents Not Happy with New Activity Fee

It's nothing new in Kansas JayHawk. Many Kansas school districts charge kids to ride the bus. Some schools offer family plans.

 

[JayHawk]

That is crazy for a public school. Busing has been a issue in other parts of the country. Most times transportation falls onto the parents to accomplish via fees or however else they can do it.

 

[Jack Springer]

That is crazy for a public school. Busing has been a issue in other parts of the country. Most times transportation falls onto the parents to accomplish via fees or however else they can do it.

I live on the other side of the state line -- when I heard of parents paying for the buses that was new to me. Doesn't happen in Missouri as far as I know.