Commentary, continued.outofreality23May 24 2005, 23:41:19 UTC
5) PRIVATE SCHOOLS: Actually, private school teachers aren't paid more (not enough to really make a difference) unless they're at some really hoity-toity school like Ursuline Academy, or Ft. Worth Country-Day (where voucher students couldn't afford to go even with the help). The main draw of private school jobs is the lack of TAKS testing, and the lack of control by/accountability to the State Board of Education. This can be either a very good thing, or a very bad thing, but again: if my tax dollars are going to a private school, I want assurance that they're being required to maintain the same levels of educational standards. Perhaps it would allow private schools to hire more teachers and increase demand, but why not apply those funds to public schools and let them hire more teachers?
So yeah. That's my free-flow of ideas, too. I just think that so many problems in schools could be solved by giving control back to the districts and campuses and not trying to run the whole public education system from an office in Austin *coughTAKStestcough*.
Maybe I'm just sentimental or something. I'm a product of public education in a very middle-class, middle-of-the-road district. We had several schools that were Title I, and the high school I graduated from was the "poor stepsister" high school of the district. But it worked. I had good teachers who cared about what they were doing, and I truly feel like the education I got prepared me well for college and life beyond RHS. This whole voucher thing just seems like we're giving up on public education, and there's no reason to do so. It can work, has worked, DOES work... I just don't believe this voucher plan is going to be the fix-all that so many lobbyists are making it out to be.
Anyway, yeah. My opinions, worth roughly the cost of the paper they're printed on. Take it for what you will. :-)
So yeah. That's my free-flow of ideas, too. I just think that so many problems in schools could be solved by giving control back to the districts and campuses and not trying to run the whole public education system from an office in Austin *coughTAKStestcough*.
Maybe I'm just sentimental or something. I'm a product of public education in a very middle-class, middle-of-the-road district. We had several schools that were Title I, and the high school I graduated from was the "poor stepsister" high school of the district. But it worked. I had good teachers who cared about what they were doing, and I truly feel like the education I got prepared me well for college and life beyond RHS. This whole voucher thing just seems like we're giving up on public education, and there's no reason to do so. It can work, has worked, DOES work... I just don't believe this voucher plan is going to be the fix-all that so many lobbyists are making it out to be.
Anyway, yeah. My opinions, worth roughly the cost of the paper they're printed on. Take it for what you will. :-)
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