Oklahoma: BECAUSE TEACHERS ARE JUST GLORIFIED BABY-SITTERS
GOP Reform
Deregulate the schools
By World's Editorial Writers
Published: 4/21/2009 2:20 AM
Last Modified: 4/21/2009 3:35 AM
The state House has approved Senate Bill 834, the public school deregulation measure that has been the subject of a great deal of anxiety and misinformation.
The bill would gradually release every school district in the state from many of the laws, regulations and administrative rules imposed by the state. Tulsa's school district would be one of the first to be freed from the regulations.
Certain mandates would remain - including federal regulations, civil rights protections, minimum teacher salaries and insurance and retirement plans for school employees.
The big losers in the change would be teachers unions. Mandatory collective bargaining protections and laws that make it expensive and time-consuming to get rid of unproductive teachers would be eliminated.
The big winner would be school boards, which would have new authority to shape curriculum and policy locally.
The measure is the first attempt at major education reform since Republicans took control of the Oklahoma Legislature, and it represents a new direction for schools.
The Senate, which has already approved an earlier version of the bill, will likely take it up soon. We hope the Senate accepts House changes to the proposal and sends it on to Gov. Brad Henry for his signature.
SOURCE
Deregulate the schools
By World's Editorial Writers
Published: 4/21/2009 2:20 AM
Last Modified: 4/21/2009 3:35 AM
The state House has approved Senate Bill 834, the public school deregulation measure that has been the subject of a great deal of anxiety and misinformation.
The bill would gradually release every school district in the state from many of the laws, regulations and administrative rules imposed by the state. Tulsa's school district would be one of the first to be freed from the regulations.
Certain mandates would remain - including federal regulations, civil rights protections, minimum teacher salaries and insurance and retirement plans for school employees.
The big losers in the change would be teachers unions. Mandatory collective bargaining protections and laws that make it expensive and time-consuming to get rid of unproductive teachers would be eliminated.
The big winner would be school boards, which would have new authority to shape curriculum and policy locally.
The measure is the first attempt at major education reform since Republicans took control of the Oklahoma Legislature, and it represents a new direction for schools.
The Senate, which has already approved an earlier version of the bill, will likely take it up soon. We hope the Senate accepts House changes to the proposal and sends it on to Gov. Brad Henry for his signature.
SOURCE