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Matt Damon Defends Teachers From Vexing Libertarians

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Posted on Aug 2, 2011

The actor, standing next to his educator mother, does away with a camera crew from Reason.tv and it retaliates with amusing editing.

(via Feministing)

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By weindeb, August 4, 2011 at 2:06 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

There was a time in the not so long ago when, as I recall, teachers polled either at
the very top or next to the top in public respect for several reasons, such as
honesty, dedication, simple hard work, and a desire to make the world a better
place. Now we see a steady, even rapid erosion of that, largely enabled through
right-wing and often fundamentalist groups funded from various shadowy
sources, and some not so shadowy. These malevolent fools detest and fear secular
humanism and intend to destroy - literally destroy - the public school system so
that children can be taught in charter schools to be better citizens as defined by
the corporate and right-wing religious world, and might even be taught that the
Tyrannosaurus rex was a herbivore romping happily about with Adam and Eve a
mere 6,000 years ago. Thank you, Matt Damon, for your intelligence and
willingness to speak out..

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By upgradeyourlife, August 4, 2011 at 5:43 am Link to this comment

It’s difficult to change education when the priorities of the country are to meddle and plunder, and get unthinking dimwits elected president; the culture goes a long way to destroying public education.

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By Johndot, August 4, 2011 at 3:34 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

MBAs.  Masters of Bringing Apocalypse.

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By Barbara, August 3, 2011 at 3:47 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

If Matt ever runs, he most def has my vote! I love this man.

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By dnewfeld, August 3, 2011 at 3:07 pm Link to this comment

When Matt Damon decides to run for office, god willing, he’s got my vote already!

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RayLan's avatar

By RayLan, August 3, 2011 at 3:29 am Link to this comment

Another one for anti-intellectual sports-worshipping America

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By Looking For A Leader, August 3, 2011 at 12:00 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Education is as important as national defense (if not more), nationalize the system and have committees of the 2 best teachers from every state decide curriculum,
books and methodologies. Take the decisions out of boards, bureaucrats and
people with political agendas hands!

Have a few charter/experimentation schools in each state to tests and refine
methodologies.

As the system developed and processes were put in place, I don’t think you would
have to hold teachers accountable in the manner I think people mean.

Due to the changes in how they would be required to teach, I think some would
just leave and those that would stay would eventually get it through repeated
coaching and observation.

In theory due to a larger purchase pool, economies of scale would come into play
and we could see dramatic cost savings.

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blogdog's avatar

By blogdog, August 2, 2011 at 10:41 pm Link to this comment

RE: “MBAs…They rule our country…”

correction: they carry water for oligarchs and are made to feel important for doing
so - something to get straight: top-tier of the global finance oligarchs would
dismiss upstarts like The Donald from their table for farting with out permission

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D.R. Zing's avatar

By D.R. Zing, August 2, 2011 at 10:06 pm Link to this comment

I’ve only known a couple MBAs.

They were shallow, semi-literate, educated idiots.

They rule our country, too, which, you know, is a big reason why we’re in the situation we’re in.

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blogdog's avatar

By blogdog, August 2, 2011 at 5:23 pm Link to this comment

if the premise is about ‘market discipline’, by all means, apply it to those
responsible for the greatest financial meltdown of all time: hedge fund managers,
rating agencies, pension fund managers, et al. - investigate, indict, prosecute -
time for crony capitalism to stand and deliver - maybe 90% of that lot should
think of doing something else

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By lexicon, August 2, 2011 at 4:01 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Who’s conducting the poll?

If the poll is biased - then yes, you will have 10% bad teachers.

So, lets go with that 10% anyway just as an argument.

Does that mean then we should skimp on teachers - in turn shortchange the
education of children ?

Obviously not.

Teachers should be protected, and monitored, in the classroom.

Children should be protected, and monitored, in the classroom.

If you want crime in your cities to decrease, concentrate on education.

Support teachers in their attempts to educate your child.

All of us cannot afford private schools or home schooling.

Vote for teachers, they are attempting to educate your children.

With hope and education, we can make a more empathetic world.

One that cares about its elderly.

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