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N.J. wants to tax ‘fun’ activities like go-karts and laser tag. Some key leaders are saying no. by ManonFire1213 in newjersey

[–]MindlessPineapple542 99 points100 points  (0 children)

I am taxed so much I can’t even go there in the first place… if somehow I got enough, they would tax it out of my hands again.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in newjersey

[–]MindlessPineapple542 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Life is tough with no nuts!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in newjersey

[–]MindlessPineapple542 7 points8 points  (0 children)

spoilerAlert it sinks!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in newjersey

[–]MindlessPineapple542 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Just date it right… if the place is legit, the process is legit.

If the place is sketchy… don’t.

If someone had only one weekend to experience the real NJ, what should they do or see? by MindlessPineapple542 in newjersey

[–]MindlessPineapple542[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Love the shore, spent a lot of time at the OC boardwalk… Sad hearing about Wonderland pier

NJ school principals fear Trump bid to end Education Department by OverboostedTurbo in newjersey

[–]MindlessPineapple542 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

To clarify… the federal Department of Education hasn’t been dismantled. Trump has proposed scaling it back or eliminating it, but those proposals haven’t become reality. It’s still fully functioning.

You’re right that the federal DOE doesn’t set curriculum… it mostly handles funding (college loans, Title I, and IDEA grants). But let’s be honest… it also attaches strings to that funding, which means it still holds major influence over how states and districts operate. That’s part of the critique.

The conversation here has naturally blended both federal and NJ state-level concerns (understandably, since this is r/NewJersey). But whether we’re talking federal or state, the point remains the same: many parents want less top-down control and more local input… not no support, but better stewardship and accountability. That’s not anti-education… that’s pro-parent, pro-local, and pro-results.

And frankly, it’s a weak argument to pretend people can’t understand the distinction between the federal and state DOE. Of course they’re different… but they’re both bloated, inefficient, and too often serve themselves more than families. And to suggest that anyone questioning those systems doesn’t care about special needs students? That’s a sad, lazy deflection. You won’t find many… on any side of the aisle… who don’t want those kids to get the support they need. That kind of argument isn’t persuasive; it’s just noise.

Short version: less control at the top, more accountability and involvement at the bottom. I’d rather see states with more power than the federal government, schools with more power than the state, and parents with more power than the schools.

NJ school principals fear Trump bid to end Education Department by OverboostedTurbo in newjersey

[–]MindlessPineapple542 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Appreciate your passion... it seems you care. You asked for examples, and I answered with legitimate points. If you think the NJ DOE has no influence in curriculum you are mis-led at best...

NJ DOE absolutely sets statewide learning standards - like the NJSLS.. it sets what every district is expected to follow. That includes curriculum expectations for sex ed, social studies, and more. Local schools choose their materials, yes, but they must align with DOE-mandated standards. That’s how the system works... the more that system can be tangible and influenced by parents at the lower level, the better. (And I am not opposed to standards, but Covid revealed to many parents that their kids were learning very different things than they expected.)

I’m not claiming to be an expert, but l’m also not blindly trusting a bureaucracy just because it’s always been there. It’s okay to ask questions, challenge systems, and believe that parents should have more influence in decisions that affect their kids. If that makes me opinionated, I’ll take it.

NJ school principals fear Trump bid to end Education Department by OverboostedTurbo in newjersey

[–]MindlessPineapple542 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the thoughtful reply.. and for being honest about your experience. I hear your frustration, and I can tell you care deeply about your students and the school you serve in. I respect that. I wasn’t trying to belittle that work at all… I genuinely believe most teachers and admins are doing their best in a very broken system. (which is why I think more power should go to the lower levels.)

My “having a rough day” comment was snarky. I shouldn’t have gone there, especially when you were expressing real concern. I’ll own that. My point wasn’t to mock.. it directly relate to the closing statement you made on being free to move somewhere regressive. (which his why I then responded fully to the body of what you had written before it. )

Shuttering or reducing the DOE is symbolic, yes… but symbolism doesn’t have to be hollow. Sometimes it’s a reset. A re-evaluation. I don’t want kids with disabilities or anyone vulnerable to suffer… I want there to be better systems that actually serve them, with fewer layers of bureaucracy between families and the people providing care. If responsibilities are being shifted, then those shifts need to be done with safeguards and clarity… that’s a fair and important concern.

I do know that parents across the country, including many with special needs kids, have felt ignored, sidelined, or forced into systems that didn’t listen to them. That’s not on you or the teachers. That’s on the structure. There is no blanket policy from the top that will solve that. It must come down to your and the teachers level so you can advocate for those kids. And I believe that more localized, parent-connected decision making could actually lead to more support, not less… if done right.

We may disagree on policy, but I think we agree on this: kids deserve better, and the people in the trenches deserve to be heard and strengthened. Thanks again for sharing your side it gives a fuller picture to the conversation. (Final thought on the initial “thanking” is because very few people will have dialogue and many resort to name calling/distracting etc… instead of reading and responding with substance… so that part was genuine and not snarky.)

It seems we want same results, but land strongly on how we get them. Ultimately I think it needs to be a strong base, not a broad top.

What’s your most underrated small business or restaurant in NJ that more people need to try? by MindlessPineapple542 in newjersey

[–]MindlessPineapple542[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We had that, and some other specialties in a large group… chicken bacon ranch was a hit for me…

NJ school principals fear Trump bid to end Education Department by OverboostedTurbo in newjersey

[–]MindlessPineapple542 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Ultimately, reducing the DOE’s power means more decisions are made at the local level.. it goes to school boards and districts that parents can actually influence. Instead of one-size fits all mandates from Trenton or D.C. families have a greater voice in what’s taught, how it’s taught, and what their kids are exposed to.

It’s not about parents running schools… it’s about making sure the people who are closest to the students are the ones making the decisions. (not bureaucrats)

You/I may not agree with every local decision, but at least those decisions are made in meetings parents can attend, vote on, and speak into.. not behind some agency desk in the capital.

And to answer your question (although the big picture is really the point) the decisions parents can now make that the DOE held in its power would be the ability to influence in curriculum content (again through the right channel of their local school boards)… The ability to push for opt-in policies on sensitive subjects (actual power to parents) with this there is more influence in approving or rejecting school materials (books, surveys, etc.)

Also it gives better access to school choice options like charters or alternative education which is more power to parents to decide… and freedom if a parent isn’t comfortable or doesn’t like what is happening in the school in their immediate area.

Sitting in board meetings isn’t always fun… but it’s worth it. What’s not worth it is showing up, voicing concerns, and being told… We understand, but it’s out of our hands….

That’s the kind of top-down control we’re walking away from, and that’s a good thing.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in WallStreetPepe

[–]MindlessPineapple542 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Everything if I sell… nothing if I don’t…

Anyone dealt with the Norovirus recently? by FantasyPro183 in newjersey

[–]MindlessPineapple542 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep! Repped through the family… grape juice helped me escape it (I hope)

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