Yes I live in frankfort but I do not work for the state. i did however spend most of last spring reading the articles in the herald leader attacking the state's economic development plan and the comments from Maced - out of Berea - about how little Economic develoment money was going to the mountain regions.

 

i understand though that economic development money cannot go to EKY b/c of the level of education of the workforce. More money, however, needs to go for education. As for the 600 million, some of it is going for the ALLTEC games in Lexington, some of it is restoring items that were vetoed by the former governor, some of it is going to areas that will be cut out b/c of the budget.

 

There also HAS to be a willing recipient on the other end of the equation. Throwing money at education for SOME that don't want to put the work in to make themselves employable is not the answer.

 

Absolutely, it is needed, but education is not the end all answer.

 

There has to be a heart and mind change that education is the answer to their worldly problems.

There also HAS to be a willing recipient on the other end of the equation. Throwing money at education for SOME that don't want to put the work in to make themselves employable is not the answer.

Exactly. :thumb:

There also HAS to be a willing recipient on the other end of the equation. Throwing money at education for SOME that don't want to put the work in to make themselves employable is not the answer.

 

Absolutely, it is needed, but education is not the end all answer.

 

There has to be a heart and mind change that education is the answer to their worldly problems.

 

See that is a bias from someone who has not lived there or hasn't been around in a long time.

 

The highest math that was offered to me in high school (1985 remember) was pre-calculus, there were no AP classes

 

How do you change minds without showing them the possibilities? Sometimes you have to drag people kicking and screaming but ultimately they come. Others, however, I would venture to say most, of the students in EKY want the opportunity to succeed in school and they are just now getting the support to have that succcess at the same rate as the more urban areas.

 

Once you get the students educated you then have to provide jobs to keep them in the community - otherwise you get the brain drain.

Back in July I was going to address this very issue and discuss some thoughts I had on creating a tourism destination from Eastern Kentucky along with an idea on how to pay for it (without help from Louisville or NKY). However, I made the mistake of opening with a statement about how EKY got in the shape they are in and we never got past that.

http://www.bluegrasspreps.com/showthread.php?t=125424&highlight=Pepper+eastern+kentucky

 

 

Thank God! Someone who is willing to discuss the idea rationally without being offended that I asked! :lol:

 

I meant no disrespect. I remember the conversation, and that we never got "there". That's what brought up the question in my mind again. Frankly, I've thought about it a lot over the last while.

 

Let me say...I have NO, NONE, ZERO problem with the Louisville area helping to fund the rest of the state. I bear no ill will, nor hold any prejudices against those areas where the money goes. All I ask is that it be a worthwhile expenditure. That being said, I think it makes sense for some of that money to be used to develop areas in whatever means necessary to create jobs, income for the residents & the state, and growth.

See that is a bias from someone who has not lived there or hasn't been around in a long time.

 

The highest math that was offered to me in high school (1985 remember) was pre-calculus, there were no AP classes

 

How do you change minds without showing them the possibilities? Sometimes you have to drag people kicking and screaming but ultimately they come. Others, however, I would venture to say most, of the students in EKY want the opportunity to succeed in school and they are just now getting the support to have that succcess at the same rate as the more urban areas.

 

Once you get the students educated you then have to provide jobs to keep them in the community - otherwise you get the brain drain.

 

Question, was there a demand for AP classes in your school? And if so, were they not offered because of a lack of faculty?

 

The unfortunate thing about public education is that it cannot POSSIBLY provide all things to all students, especially when the interest does not dictate funding.

 

Does that make any sense? Sometimes I ramble and it comes out convoluted.

See that is a bias from someone who has not lived there or hasn't been around in a long time.

 

The highest math that was offered to me in high school (1985 remember) was pre-calculus, there were no AP classes

 

How do you change minds without showing them the possibilities? Sometimes you have to drag people kicking and screaming but ultimately they come. Others, however, I would venture to say most, of the students in EKY want the opportunity to succeed in school and they are just now getting the support to have that succcess at the same rate as the more urban areas.

 

Once you get the students educated you then have to provide jobs to keep them in the community - otherwise you get the brain drain.

 

I never took a math class above Geometry in HS. What does that have to do with anything?

 

Ace, trust me when I say I have tons of experience in dealing with individuals that have no desire to learn. It is those individuals that I have now dedicated my life to. They see drug dealing as a better life than education. They see no point of an education cause their momma and daddy didn't need any. They see no hope. Pick an excuse that they have and I have dealt with it.

 

You cannot take them kicking and screaming.

 

They have to go willingly. Everyday I fight this battle of trying to get them to possibly see that education is not the battle they are fighting, it is what may help them solve problems.

 

So, there is no bias there. It is simply the fight that goes on at the front lines (where I am stationed) every single day.

 

On the last sentence I agree. But here is the things about jobs. You have to have a good transportation system for businesses to easily get in and out of before they will locate their business there.

I never took a math class above Geometry in HS. What does that have to do with anything?

 

Ace, trust me when I say I have tons of experience in dealing with individuals that have no desire to learn. It is those individuals that I have now dedicated my life to. They see drug dealing as a better life than education. They see no point of an education cause their momma and daddy didn't need any. They see no hope. Pick an excuse that they have and I have dealt with it.

 

You cannot take them kicking and screaming.

 

They have to go willingly. Everyday I fight this battle of trying to get them to possibly see that education is not the battle they are fighting, it is what may help them solve problems.

 

So, there is no bias there. It is simply the fight that goes on at the front lines (where I am stationed) every single day.

 

On the last sentence I agree. But here is the things about jobs. You have to have a good transportation system for businesses to easily get in and out of before they will locate their business there.

 

 

LBBC, Ace has "some" experience in this category, too.

Exactly. :thumb:

 

O my, I agreed with Rockmom and Birdsfan all in one day.:scared:

LBBC, Ace has "some" experience in this category, too.

 

Then Ace should well know that we can do all in our power but if they don't give an effort they are not going to learn.

 

Yes, we should do all in our effort, absolutely but that does not guarantee a kid will learn.

Then Ace should well know that we can do all in our power but if they don't give an effort they are not going to learn.

 

Yes, we should do all in our effort, absolutely but that does not guarantee a kid will learn.

 

I doubt that you will get an argument from him. I know that you won't from me!

O my, I agreed with Rockmom and Birdsfan all in one day.:scared:

Must be Freaky Friday. :eek:

Come on guys, we aren't bashing EKY are we?

I'd prefer to bash Frankfort.

When I started this thread, I had no thought of bashing EKy at all. I was upset at our Governor, as I remembered him saying, "that he wouldn't forget about NKy". Well he seems to have forgotten us pretty quickly!

 

I will say that I did get upset with some of the comments, but them PepperII posted a old thread he started. I have read and reread that thread four times now, and all I can say is that I truly feel so sorry for many in EKy. I truly feel so sorry for those who choose to take handouts when they could work, I feel sorry for those who could get a good education but choose not to, and I feel so sorry for those who based on some comments in that thread, choose not to help themselves, for those who refuse to help themselves, can never be helped by society no matter how much help they receive, and that is really a shame.

 

I would like to thank acemona for telling me where some of the money is going and I like Rockmom have no problem with helping those who need help, I just wanted to know where it was going.

I think the state wastes a lot of money and I don't think there is enough money to address everything the way we'd like, nor keep everyone happy.

 

I suspect that various areas in the state have all been shortchanged at various times...whether it's EKY, NKY, WKY, Louisville, etc...

 

I really feel like it would benefit the state as a whole to increase accessibility to EKY and attract more industry...it can't hurt the state's economy to help the poorest area. It's not just because I live in the area. It just seems logical to me. Right now, a lot of the area is isolated...it would be easier to change the culture and increase education, IMO, if you increased the opportunities and money in the area. I agree with lbbc that you need willing recepients also...I think one way to create that is to show them that there is more out there.

 

I'm not arguing that other areas have been "shorted" by the state. The biggest problem is the state's wasting of money.

 

One example is the needless road projects...like the Hazard Bypass. The road was in good shape, and yet when I worked for the state, we had a project for around 2 million originally, and ended up between 2.5 and 3 million by the end after change orders initiated by the contractor. They placed somewhere between 8 to 12 inches of asphalt pavement on a road that didn't need anything. That's just one example...I'm sure there are hundreds more.

 

If they'd spend the money where it's most needed and where it could do the most good instead of handing out favors/money to their favorite contractors who are often the largest campaign donors, it would help significantly.

 

What about retired state workers who draw a full retirement check, and then return to work for the state...so basically they're drawing two checks, and they're sometimes in created jobs that aren't even necessary.

 

Cut out the waste and shady business and I suspect you'd find a lot of your money...but don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen.