Jackson Jambalaya

The group should dump David Landrum before certain information comes out.

Please . . . just a little teaser on what that "certain information" may be? Curious minds out here. ;)

First thing I notice right out of the chute is these are men that cannot be told what to think and cannot be told to shut up by superiors at their work place. In that regard, they're going to be able to speak their mind without political interference or without cowtowing to the puppet strings of others (one hopes). None of them are political office holders and none of them are junior officers of banks or other institutions. Maybe I'm the only one who thinks this is important.

Not thinkers listed here. They are the establishment which got us stuck in the mud of social dysfunction, private schools, and political failure. Now they want to redeem themselves. That is admirable to a degree as noblesse oblige, but basically they have a four-wheeler with a winch...

Not thinkers here?? Other than Landrum, you are as idiotic as the rest of your statement. These are the "establishment that got us stuck"? Hell no. haven't seen any of these people in the Governor's office or the legislature the last ten or last 100 years. The only thing I've seen them doing is trying to figure out ways to better their community and their state. Are they successful in their ventures? Hell yeah! That's what I would like to see putting their time, efforts and money working to bring forth some positive change within the state. Rather than those that want to continue to do what we've always done, with hope against hope that it will come about with changed results.

It's about damn time!!! We can not let Nancy and her establishment types continue to dominate the messaging.

The type of thinkers needed in the re-tooling of education is not the business establishment who set up the urban sprawl, social divisions, and private schools. Speed's dad was mayor in this place and he served in various city & state high offices. He did foster a political round table for black intellectuals to his credit. His kids went to Wash & Lee tho he gave tons to MC? Wells dad was a founder of private schools here. Their educational expertise is questionable to me.

Everyone makes a mistake once in a while. Like those on this list who have chosen to associate with Landrum.

9:58 - so you think the private schools haven't contributed to improving the education in the area? Looks to me like many of them are producing some very well educated students. (BTW, without them, there would be 50% more students in JPS with the same total dollar amount available to spend.)

Your argument seems to be that the only "good" education is a public provided education. That theory would eliminate the benefits that Millsaps, Belhaven, MC bring to the higher education field.

Re-tooling education is obviously the responsibility of something others than we have had controlling our public education systems so far - and their approach is to keep on doing what we have been doing despite the results.

And - Speed's dad being an elected official (Mayor) doesn't answer the question I posed earlier. And what is wrong with his kids having gone to W&L? Or his giving money to MC despite where his kids went? Sounds like he wanted to foster a good education system here at his home. You think that is a bad thing?

Frankly, I'm glad your not the "thinker" that is involved in the long-needed re-tooling of education. Education for all the kids of the state.

11:35's comment re private schools is sorta parenthetical but very interesting to say the least. Imagine what we'd have had there been no opportunities to opt for privately funded education over the past 50 years.

What would Jackson's population demographics look like? Or, if those demographics remained unchanged, what would the average product of the schools look like?

Imagine all of the successful graduates of private schools having been 'forced' to attend JPS over the past 50 years. Not a single one of them would be where he/she is today. And isn't that what this whole discussion is about, to a degree, anyway?

mo muney I say! mo muney is the answer..heck, mo muney is the answer to EVERYTHING! just ax borrack!

Coming to the issue late is a problem. If Speed had invented the half-day school, the charter, arts schools, science school, or some other non-industrial program he would be the thinker needed. Ask Wells what was the "North West Jackson Education Foundation, Inc"? Jackson's establishment invested in the suburbs, security systems, automated traffic systems, mortgage, etc. without city loyalty. Who built their suburb office towers outside the city? Delta planters had more loyalty to their communities than this bunch.

Hey 8:43, this is not a CITY issue. Developing an educational system that will provide a quality product for our children is for the whole state. You think that Speed and Wells created the urban sprawl and the suburb office developments? You're a dumbass - must be a product of our public school system.

Two different issues - Speed, more than most anybody else, has been responsible for most of the downtown Jackson development of office properties and trying against all odds to keep Jackson viable. Suburban sprawl is a natural growth product everywhere - Jackson's is not much different than say Memphis, Atlanta, B'ham, or other cities.

But the intent to help develop an educational system that will actually do something about teaching our kids rather than just maintaining the status quo for some individuals should be lauded, not condemned. I'm still looking for you to post something that says why the 'idea' is bad, rather than your just trying to slam the individuals associated with it with whatever it is that you think they should have been doing. (BTW, what did you do during the time period that you claim these few individuals led to the destruction of Jackson?)

Finally. Somebody besides Tater with the guts to take on the Education establishment.

The idea of improving our public schools is, of course, a good idea. The city fathers are culpable for its social decline which is all I am saying. I was involved in education in the city library for the period. Speed has done good work with the redevelopment of the University area. Speed nor the others have an inclination toward public education which is problematic in their new roles.

3:20; Now that you've assessed their lack of commitment, can you take time to address their motives? I agree with you that fathers are culpable for educational failure; however, I think it's absent fathers, not city fathers, as you suggest. Meanwhile, what were you doing at the library that Mr. Speed should have emulated?

Landrum definitely takes away some of the credibility of the group. Otherwise these are all very civic minded people who will command attention.

Looking at the "quality" of education found in JPS and the Delta schools one would say that those who paid double with their tax dollars and after tax monies to educate their children care more for education than credit is being given here.

The question to ask this PAC is what type of charter school system are they supporting - (1) one for the low performing districts or (2) one for all districts. MS's plan needs to start with low performing districts first. We do not need a charter school plan that is for all districts. Otherwise, you will end up with charter schools primarily in districts that are already performing well. The children that need the charter school opportunity the most will be left out.

7:35,

Thanks, Nancy and/or Milty

Nancy (7:35) I am sure that they will give details about what they are supporting - and I truly hope it is an absolute ability to have charter schools - anywhere. This facade that "only in low performing districts" covers up a lot of failures within the public school system. Charter schools will not go where there is not a need and a demand (you know, kinda like private business operates- no demand, no services, but I don't expect the Loomes of the world to understand that concept.)

Interesting conversation. Just wondering why no one has mentioned MEC obviously isn't representing the business community with it's blinders-on position on education.

Interesting conversation. Just wondering why no one has mentioned that MEC's "blinders-on" agenda obviously doesn't reflect the position of the State's business community.

@9:05 & 8:50, I'm thinking Jim won't let them.

I say let them be state wide. Why be afraid of what may happen. ALL parents should have choices for their children.

I'm not at all sure politicians in this state are capable of crafting laws of this scope when it comes to something new and different. Look what the hell they did with so-called 'Riverboat Gambling'.

We had visions of luxurious ocean liners or large yachts four miles out from Biloxi or an evening of poker and a nice meal on a Natchez-based Paddle-Wheeler for an anniversary celebration.

Were we duped or were they simply dunder-heads? Does the legislature even have enough sense to craft something workable? I think they should back-burner this whole thing and work first on consolidation of Districts and elimination of administrative redundancy. Instead, we're not worried about slick tires. We just want to paint the car. First things first. What a concept.

Shadow, I like your idea about the administrative redundancy and consolidation. The county faction in the statehouse rules the municipal crowd. City jurisdictions over 20K in population should combine with their respective county. Counties with less than 20K in population should combine with an adjoining county. Federal taxes are going up to pay down the debt and the state must insure local government efficiency.