After Reading http://educationfrontblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/02/100-billion-in-education-spend.html from the Dallas Morning News, I couldn't agree more. As you can tell I love talking about education, seeing how I am an inspiring teacher. It's no secret that many districts in Texas are suffering from major debts and cut backs, it's amazing though that it's also happening outside "The Great State" of Texas. Just recently I saw that a district in Detroit was going to start closing many campuses due to the fact that the school's performance scores were extremely low.
The editor makes a great point about how $100 billion was giving towards many projects including a heavy chuck towards education. I agree how some of the projects that received money were a bad decision, like the program that eliminated the weaker teachers whose effectiveness on students was lower than the stronger teachers. I think there could have been other ways on how to distinguish if teachers were not doing their required job, for example- look and compare the students test grades on the TAKS test. It's like my coach in High School football once told me about competition, "there is always going to be someone faster, and stronger than you, so always make sure you're working hard in case you ever meet that son of a bitch"-RIP coach.
Also mentioned is how some of the money went to repair weaker districts. I covered this topic in my previous post, about how many schools have half of the school doing what they are suppose to do; you know go to school, pass your classes and graduate. Then you have your other half who really don't give a crap about school or anything related. In my opinion if the kid does not want an education, it's time to get out and get a job. There are plenty of others, who want a successful life, and they should have the opportunity to transfer to somewhere else, there is no need to breathe live back into a dead district. And buying items like ipads for teachers in useless, use it for better supplies for students!!!
I really hope this budget cut and laying off teachers gets resolved soon. Not only will the students suffer but also future teachers like myself might find ourselves teaching somewhere in a rainforest, or the Bahamas- I’m willing to relocate for that!!!
_Ben
Hey Ben-I enjoyed reading your post especially since I care about this topic deeply. I think that above all the many, many problems our country faces, education should be at the top of our priorities. Yes, we need to focus on our fiscal crisis, our defense, and the border issues, but if we don't get our butts in gear with the abomination our education system has become, all the other issues will no longer matter because the United Sates will just be the country that used to be a major power. Developing countries are not just booming economically and technologically, but they put such an emphasis on education. Education is what will allow us to make the correct decisions for economics, defense, and foreign policies. If we allow all the other issues that are seemingly to be the top priority, then we are totally loosing sight on what truly matters. A student at a New York high school wrote the editor of the New York Times in response to an article that was published regarding the cuts school districts would be facing. They stated that a few weeks ago the principal announced that they would not be able to offer AP classes because they did not have the money. The student was understandably disappointed and felt betrayed by the system. They were a senior in high school and the year before they entered college, they wanted to take the challenging AP classes. The student wrote, “A year before college, I would love to pack in as many AP courses as possible. But come senior year, the opportunity just won’t be there. It seems ridiculous. We can spend billions on corporate bailouts, defense, you name it. Nothing, though, is a better investment than education. Give me the best possible education today — more AP classes, better teachers — and I will work to solve any conceivable problem tomorrow. I promise. We just need some cash, please.” This is an excellent example of what this issue of education is doing to those who want it and also shows the ramifications of this problem. If we cut education we are putting our country to a death sentence.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that we need to give these schools the money they need but I also think that we need to get the teachers out that are not doing their jobs. We need to make this profession one of higher pay and more prestige. Teachers are just as curtail to life as doctors. ALSO, schools need competition among each other. The strict school districts are allowing poor schools to stay around because they are guaranteed students. Make them compete and I am certain that we will see better results.