Schools underfunded and Overtested
The Austin Chronicle posted an article this morning discussing the debate of Texas schools being underfunded and also being overtested. With the small fundings the teachers have to work with and also getting minimal pay to be a teacher, this article intrigued me personally and politically.
The article starts off explaining what has gone on in the past year(s). Written in the story, they included the amount that was cut last session by the state which was $5.4 billion. Donna Howard, an Austin Rep. spoke about the politics side of the Public Education debate, '"Legislators need to hear, particularly from their own constituents, and this really did have an impact. It will continue to have an impact if we don't restore the funds."
If you're like me and didn't know you probably asked yourself 'Where did the funds go?' Well, according to Donna Howard, '"we were told we can't use the Rainy Day Funds because we're going to need those for Medicaid. And here we are, with an 8.8 billion surplus, and we're told that needs to be used for Medicaid, and we still can't access the Rainy Day Fund...one of the reasons we have money in the bank is because we underfunded public education. People should be outraged about that, and demanding that we restore those funds."'
The author's intended audience with this article is mainly the public, what happens if we keep donating and giving money to the schools and yet the money is not being given to them or even if it is, what if it is not the full amount. Personally, I am always trying to give to the teachers and donate to schools, especially because one day I'll be there in their shoes one day. This article really informed me of what I was not seeing before.
The author's claim is that the education system is being robbed! The teachers pay has gone down, the schools can't afford certain items that they need! The school system's are crashing, closing, and the thousands of children and teachers are being pushed else where.
I agree with everything the author wrote, about how we do need to pay more attention to the education systems, though this article was more of an information article, in my opinion the author way making a statement. More than informing us of what was going on. We, as in educators and the public, need to take a stand and demand that the education system be given that "Rainy Day Fund". If we keep going down this road, cutting school funds, closing schools, where will that leave our kids, or the teachers?
Friday, February 22, 2013
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Standarize Testing, good or bad?
http://www.statesman.com/news/news/house-calls-for-sharp-reduction-in-staar-tests/nWHDX/
I read this article by the Austin American Statesmen this morning and could not believe what I was reading! According to the Austin American Statesman, standardize tests for children in school has been cut from fifteen tests to five. As many people think, these tests are "hard" and are "a waste of time". Yes, they're hard...they are meant to be! Why should a child proceed to the next grade when they cannot pass a certain grade level test. I do not have children, but if I did or when I do, I want them to succeed and be higher than the grade level they are in. According to Harvard University's program on Education and Governance found that U.S. students are not progressing to carch up to their foreign peers. I think this is a terrible decision made by Texas.
The Austin American Statesman states that some business leaders and parents who say Texas has gone too far on high-stakes testing. Heres the real question, have we gone far enough? We still are not high enough compared world-wide. The US is falling behind, other countries are higher in the math, science and english departments. '
“This bill gives students more options and educators more flexibility,” Aycock said.' Yes, this is true. It does give the teachers more flexibility and range, but people don't understand is that being a teacher is a job. You're meant to teach the students things they need to know to further their future careers.
The reason everyone should read this article, is not only if you have kids and they go to school or even if you do not have kids, it still includes you! You pay school taxes, it's your community, it's our next generation.
I read this article by the Austin American Statesmen this morning and could not believe what I was reading! According to the Austin American Statesman, standardize tests for children in school has been cut from fifteen tests to five. As many people think, these tests are "hard" and are "a waste of time". Yes, they're hard...they are meant to be! Why should a child proceed to the next grade when they cannot pass a certain grade level test. I do not have children, but if I did or when I do, I want them to succeed and be higher than the grade level they are in. According to Harvard University's program on Education and Governance found that U.S. students are not progressing to carch up to their foreign peers. I think this is a terrible decision made by Texas.
The Austin American Statesman states that some business leaders and parents who say Texas has gone too far on high-stakes testing. Heres the real question, have we gone far enough? We still are not high enough compared world-wide. The US is falling behind, other countries are higher in the math, science and english departments. '
“This bill gives students more options and educators more flexibility,” Aycock said.' Yes, this is true. It does give the teachers more flexibility and range, but people don't understand is that being a teacher is a job. You're meant to teach the students things they need to know to further their future careers.
The reason everyone should read this article, is not only if you have kids and they go to school or even if you do not have kids, it still includes you! You pay school taxes, it's your community, it's our next generation.
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