Arizona ranked 45 out of 51 states and the District of Columbia in educational achievement according to the American Legislative Exchange Council. Why do we suck, there are many reasons, and yes funding is one of them. Get over yourself Mr & Mrs Tea Party. We are coming close to Ron Paul's idea of doing a way with state funded public education here in Arizona. For examples of why we suck, Arizona received a D- for its ability to identify "High Quality Teachers" and a D+ for "Retaining Effective Teachers." You may access the report here.
Why can't I donate the same amount of money to my son's public school? My wife and I can only receive a $300 tax credit that is not adjusted for inflation as is the case for the private donations. My son's school district just announced a $4 million shortfall for next year's budget. The School District's governing board approved budget cuts Thursday night that will lead to layoffs and less time in art, music and library for elementary students.
Now let's be clear, the budget cuts will not impact my children because we are lucky enough to be able to afford additional learning programs out of our own pocket. But most Arizonans are not so fortunate.
The public school is under attack, which means our American way of life is under attack. And who is to blame? Hello calling all Republicans.
4 comments:
Yes, Virginia, there is a place worse than Texas schools.
What are they hoping to create with a model that guts education? Even business - the most powerful wing of the GOP - wants more effective education. Arizona sounds like a nightmare.
Arizona public schools have been a big let down even three years ago when we moved here. My son's elementary school in west Texas was far superior to the two different schools he has attended here. There really is a push to expand private schools to an extent that threatens the public school system, which includes a growing criticism of teachers, similar to what is going on in Wisconsin.
What do they think will happen if the poor of Arizona have no path to success? Public education is usually the only boot give to the poor to pull themselves up by. This is a mind-blowing reversal of the Horatio Alger myth that they argue exists. I'm watching this play out in my own county (though not to the same extent), next door in Louisiana, and then the mushroom cloud that is Arizona. What do they think the poor are going to do if they can't get a good education ... because I can guarantee it isn't going to be janitor.
You got me. All I can do is keep swimming upstream.
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