Glamour's Women of the Year
UD vs. Northern Kentucky
Magic visits with area students
Governor lists ideas to retool education
Among Stricklalnd's proposals is to create a director of education.
> What do you think of the governor's ideas?
Friday, March 28, 2008
COLUMBUS — Gov. Ted Strickland has assembled a list of ideas for overhauling primary and secondary education and distributed it to hundreds of stakeholders for their consideration.
The ideas include Democrat Strickland's own proposal to create a director of education under his control as well as proposals from educators, business leaders and others who have been involved in meetings sponsored by the governor's office.
Extras
"Summary of Education Reform Process" outlines four phases designed to result in a plan to be implemented in March 2009, although it appears many of the ideas would require approval from the Republican-controlled legislature.
Strickland's spokesman, Keith Dailey, cautioned that the document did not constitute a plan or proposal.
"The collection of ideas merged over the past year," he said. "This isn't the governor's plan. This is a process that is geared toward ongoing discussion and through the conversation the governor believes consensus for reform will emerge."
Among the ideas on the discussion list are:
• Junking the Ohio Graduation Test in favor of a "portfolio" approach that would require students to complete a senior project, a community service project and both the ACT college entrance exam and end-of-course exams.
• Requiring the state's education budget to be adopted before the rest of the state operating budget.
• Funding schools using an "evidence-based" model accounting for school size and demographics. A new state commission would review and update the model and a three-fourths vote of the General Assembly would be needed to overturn it.
• Requiring a 22-mill base property tax across all school districts, replacing uneven property tax burdens of different districts, and taking median income of the districts into account when determining the level of state aid for each.
Comments
By Nonteaching degree holder
April 1, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this
I was totally disgusted when I read in some state-released literature that Xenia is among the lowest in the Miami Valley for graduates. I wouldn’t have been surprised if I had read Fairborn as they would have a high rate of student transfers due to WPAFB. I am not getting my money’s worth with the way the system is (not) working. Strickland seems to have a few good points. Maybe teaching and not going “Under One Roof” is the answer for my community. We certainly need help with educating kids!
By Nonteaching degree holder
April 1, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this
I had planned on going into teaching in the 80’s, but changed my mind after getting the degree. I’m glad for that. I do disagree with demanding so many tests, such as the Proficiency tests. Some kids do not test well & decisions about their lives are based on that. In Xenia, we tend to hire teachers who attended Xenia schools and repeat much of what their teachers taught. Not a lot of change there. The Admin. is top-heavy with retired administrators getting plush jobs in the system.
By Concerned Taxpayer
March 28, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this
Speaking of teaching degrees in college… There was a big deal back at Ohio University college of education a number of years ago regarding grade inflation. It was determined that the MEDIAN gpa (not to be confused with the average) of those enrolled in the college was 3.8. I personally worked in the college of education computer labs for a year. My job was to install and maintain ‘learning software’ (aka educational games) on computers education students would use for class lab time. This lab time consisted of using/playing with the learning software for 30 minutes before moving on to do the same with a different program. I wish my college classes would have been more like that & an easy A!
By Hey Weisy I mean Was aka... moran @woh.rr.com
March 28, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this
Weisy I have to agree with Bill. There are plenty of teachers out there. Most of my friends who “couldn’t make it” in college, changed their major to teaching. As I see them today several years after graducation from college they leed “low level lives”. What I mean by that is….. Where is my need contracted staff day off from work, live paycheck to paycheck, take 12 week vacations they cant afford, divorced twice, re-marriade 5 times, 8 kids, and vote democ. all the time! Get a clue!
By bill
March 28, 2008 3:39 PM | Link to this
Wes:
There is no teacher shortage in Ohio, read this article “Newly laid-off Dayton teachers may have to leave Ohio to find jobs” in this very paper on 6/24/2007.
The situation exists in other states, but not in Ohio for the most part.
Sorry if the facts make you uncomfortable.
By Wes
March 28, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this
Bill, At this point I refuse to read any more of your posts, as you are simply uninformed. I was using Best Buy as an example. Teachers spend more on schooling than alot of them make in the first 5 years teaching. Not to mention the continuing education costs. Supply and Demand? You do realize that there is a teacher shortage right? That would be why Colleges are discounting their teaching degrees. They do not give enough room for me to correct all your mistakes Bill…
By bill
March 28, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this
Wes:
$30,000/2080 = $14.42. $60,000/2080 = 28.84. That assumes a 40 hour work week. Plus a sweet retirement plan, plus job security. BTW, $30k is starting.
The job at Best Buy doesn’t have either security or a retirement plan. In addition, I don’t think Best Buy floor employees make $60k. I’m not jealous, but I am unwilling to pay more taxes for teachers to be paid more. As I said before, supply and demand.
By Wes
March 28, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
Bill,
You imply that $30-$60k for nine months a year is something astonishing. You realize that $30k averages at $14/hr over the whole year? You know you can make that at a Best Buy right? Do you have any clue how much school you have to have to become a teacher? Any clue as to how many hours a day a teacher actually works? It is a thankless profession. I am sorry, but your complaints seem to be derived more from jealously than actual common sense.
By Kevin
March 28, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this
Here’s the thing. If there are no jobs in Ohio and no is earning any money, their houses being forclosed upon who going to pay for anything. We need education with out a doubt. However we need jobs for the families to support the children who go to the schools.
By School Supporter
March 28, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
The Governors plan is to continue meeting behind closed doors with all the lobbyist, unions and special interest that All financially benefit from Strickland’s proposed changes. The plan lacks any accountability for teacher performance. Notice how teacher performance is based on a plan where teachers evaluate each other. The public should be outraged that Strickland is allowing the teacher unions OEA, OFT to take over education. Local school boards beware Strickland also wants to eliminate them.
By RB
March 28, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this
My point is that the state has mismanaged education funding for so long now that they don’t even know how to begin to fix it. It is unconstitional, and political games are played at all levels of the system. The state has a responsibility to provide education for our children, and that is paid for with taxpayers’ money. But every time they mismanage the money, they come back to the taxpayer to get more.
By RB
March 28, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
So what about the parents that do take an active interest in their kids’ education? My wife and I are very active in that regard and our kids have always done well. I still see below-average teachers who only care about the standardized test scores. And we spend an average of 2 hours each night helping with homework. Exactly what are they doing while in class? What value do we see out of our education dollars? Remember, we are paying 2 income taxes and a property tax solely for schools.
By teacher
March 28, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
Let’s hire a director for education because the board is not enough! What happened to all the money spent on investigating other funding for schools? Why not do something like Kentucky…use taxes from licenses. More people drive in Ohio than own houses. Or hey…why not use some of the sales tax…I know everyone shops. I just don’t understand why the funding for education hasn’t been completely overhauled. The burden really does need be taken off of the homeowners!!
By Bill
March 28, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
Jack:
Why shouldn’t the retired help pay? The people working now will be paying for the retirement of the baby boomers (social security) as well as paying taxes to educate the young.
It seems like the retired could at least chip in their small part to educate the young who will care for them some day.
By Eric
March 28, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this
Hey Bill, we all chose our life’s work. I’m not complaining. And I am grateful for what I have. But none of my teaching friends now retired are what anyone would could rich. Another thing, the schedule is imposed on teachers/student. Not the other way around. Schools ought to be year round endeavors. Especially since parents think nothing of taking their children out of school for vacation whenever, instead of taking them in summer. Summers off for teachers are forced lay-offs w/o pay.
By Jack
March 28, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this
Strickland’s ideas are abysmal. Let’s just lower the standards so everybody does better. What a great solution!
We have to go to a sliding scale and parents pay for their kids education. It is not fair that a person on Soc. Sec. pays for the education of kids who’s parents make $100k per year. The more you make the more you pay.
Secondly, we have to get the unions out of the schools. The unions are as good for schools as they were for the steel and auto industries. Get them out!
By Eric
March 28, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
In conclusion, one person below said it right. Education should no longer be mandatory. Let those that want to learn and behave in school do just that, go to school and learn. Those that don’t want to follow the rules and apply themselves, after 6th or 8th grade, cut them loose and let them go to work. Present day America does not value education as their forebearers did or as some other present day countries do. (Japan, Germany, even China). YES YOU DID TOUCH A NERVE WITH THIS READER.
By Bill
March 28, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this
Teacher:
I appreciate the work teachers do. I also agree that parents should be involved. That being said, Ohio teachers are well compensated for their efforts.
Many professions (mine included) require professional education. What other professions do not offer is the job security, benefits and time off teachers receive.
By Eric
March 28, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this
To continue, too many schools have difficulty in getting rid of chronic misbehaving students because, 1.) their funding is based on student population (they lose $4 to $5K on each student dismissed), 2.) frivilous lawsuits for misbehaving students by over-zealous parents (this translates into principals being afraid of personal lawsuits for action taken against a misbehaving student),and 3.) DOE evaluations/gradings on number of students permitted to be suspended / expelled.
By teacher
March 28, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this
Teachers only work six months a year absolutely kills me…what other profession mandates university credit?- yes, mandates - new teachers must obtain a master’s degree within seven years of being licensed - and more often than not it’s out of their own pocket — so there’s another $12-20,000 out of pocket (every licensed teacher must continue their ed). We work our tails off providing for our students but are the most unappreciated profession there is out there!
By bill
March 28, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this
Eric:
Most Ohioans don’t have a retirement health plan until they hit 65 (unless they work for the state). Teachers (and other state employees do). Be thankful for what you have.
Bill
By Eric
March 28, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this
Just to clear up a couple things, I am a retired teacher and I pay for my health care or lack of it (out of pocket is pretty substantial). There are people not performing their jobs and picking up a pay check in every walk of society, you aren’t going to stop that. Students will learn, when their parents value education and take a daily interest in what’s going on at school. How often do parents sit and do homework with their children as I did and my Mother did? More to come.
By Bill
March 28, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this
RB:
The property tax repeal you refer to was replaced by the CAT tax (supposedly a revene neutral).
The problem is the taxpayers are overtaxed as it is. Property tax, school district tax, state income tax, and city tax. It’s insane. On top of that the well off districts are getting no money from the state.
By Concerned Taxpayer
March 28, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this
Of high school graduates across the state who then go on to attend college in ohio, 41% of them have to take at least one remedial math or english class their first year of college. (http://regents.ohio.gov/perfrpt/hs_2005/ )This number has increased over the years! Our taxes go up, and the quality of education goes down. Dayton has the highest amount of money spent per student, but the worst performance. Unions have a stranglehold on the public school system and they are slowly killing it. Supply & demand - Why should taxpayers foot the bill to keep highly paid under performing teachers employed when there are other equally qualified teachers waiting in line for a teaching job that would be happy with half the salary?
By RB
March 28, 2008 12:08 PM | Link to this
By the way, our district in Piqua just went through a major battle to get taxpapayers to approve an income tax levy. Why? Because they lost $3 million in funding when the State repealed a tax on inventory for businesses. Not a bad idea to get businesses here, but it failed. So the taxpayer had to step in. I now pay 3 taxes for schools. I think I’m doing my part. The State is failing to do its part, and they always have failed. And yes, my kids are honor roll students, no behavior problems.
By Brenda
March 28, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this
Also, we need to get back to basic education not indoctrination! Teachers should be scrutinized more by being observed and monitored and the good one rewarded by increased pay and the bad ones fired (tenured or not). Run the schools like a business not a failed government institution…..That’s basically what we have is an educational institution for the unmanageable, uneducated, and unemployable. The High Schools of today compare the middle schools of 30 years ago in the level of education.
By Brenda
March 28, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this
Also, we need to get back to basic education not indoctrination! Teachers should be scrutinized more by being observed and monitored and the good one rewarded by increased pay and the bad ones fired (tenured or not). Run the schools like a business not a failed government institution…..That’s basically what we have is an educational institution for the unmanageable, uneducated, and unemployable. The High Schools of today compare the middle schools of 30 years ago in the level of education.
By Brenda
March 28, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this
Also, we need to get back to basic education not indoctrination! Teachers should be scrutinized more by being observed and monitored and the good one rewarded by increased pay and the bad ones fired (tenured or not). Run the schools like a business not a failed government institution…..That’s basically what we have is an educational institution for the unmanageable, uneducated, and unemployable. The High Schools of today compare the middle schools of 30 years ago in the level of education.
By RB
March 28, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this
The problem isn’t necessarily the behavior of the students. I agree parents are responsible for that. But average- or below average- performing teachers are protected by the union. And yes, those teachers do exist. However, the crux of the issue is funding. What they have been doing is insufficient, and this proposal stops well short of what is needed. By the way, even rental properties are taxed. It’s paid by the homeowner, who includes properties in the monthly rent for the renter.
By Brenda
March 28, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this
Let’s look at something that no one has mentioned! We could save taxpayer money by have the parents participate in their child education. Have a mandatory volunteer program. Let the parents Tudor, Work in the lunchroom; Work in the Library; Help in the Office just anything… This would help cut expenses and give the parent involvement in their child’s education. The time could be as little as 3 hours a month or more depending on the need. Having parents around would also possible help behav
By Bill
March 28, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this
Wes:
We are not talking about teachers across the U.S., we are talking about teachers in Ohio. Ohio teachers make a wage of $30 to $60k a year. On top of that, they have job security, a great retirement plan, health care through retirement, and more days off than any other profession.
I would think many Ohioans would love to have those types of jobs. In fact, we have many Ohioans who are qualified to teach and can’t find a teaching position.
By craig fourman
March 28, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this
Dear ?
Its FourMAN, and I’m sorry about your reading problem. Perhaps you should try attending schools, not complaining about them?
Dear?
I apologize for the multiple entries, my computer obviously has a digestive problem, it kept telling me it was a sending error so I repeated! Not trying to yell.
By Hnry
March 28, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this
If your child is not learning at school it is probably because they don’t pay attention, and it is most certianly your responsibility to see to yuor childs education,noone else. The fact that you didn’t take test is the reason most of you can’t preform when the pressure is on and therefore can’t function in society above an 8th grade level.
By Buford
March 28, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
The “new” funding proposal does not seem to solve the unconstitutionality of property taxes being used as a primary source for public education. Don’t understand why this is so hard for the Governor, our elected officials, and the educational community to understand. When a significant percentage of property is rental, when there is significant numbers of people on public assistance (and cannot/will not pay any part of increased property taxes) the funding problems continue.
By Wes
March 28, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
Bill, you have got to be kidding me. That was the rudest and most uneducated comment that I have ever seen. Teachers do not deserve more pay? That is ridiculous. Most of the teachers in this country are underpaid as it is. And to those people saying that teachers are the problem in this country should take a look in the mirror and take some responsibility for their children. Parents raise the kids, not the teachers. You want better behavior in school then start at home!
By Wes
March 28, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
Bill, you have got to be kidding me. That was the rudest and most uneducated comment that I have ever seen. Teachers do not deserve more pay? That is ridiculous. Most of the teachers in this country are underpaid as it is. And to those people saying that teachers are the problem in this country should take a look in the mirror and take some responsibility for their children. Parents raise the kids, not the teachers. You want better behavior in school then start at home!
By Concerned parent
March 28, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this
The OGT is nonsense. All is does is put extra worries on our children. WE DIDN’T HAVE TO TAKE A TEST TO GRADUATE! I’m a parent and I believe that the schools think that the parents should do all the teaching. When my child comes home and doesn’t know something, that’s not my fault, it’s the teachers fault. I work 45-50 hours a week at my own job. Granted, I can HELP my children with their homework, but I shouldn’t be EXPECTED to help teach it.
By Harry Huffman
March 28, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this
First of all, of all the jobs I’ve worked in the last 40 years, teachers are the most dedicated workers I’ve ever been around. However, too many parents have abdicated the responsibility of raising their children. Unfortunately, too many of these kids are disrupting the educations of those who at least, make a modicum of effort in school. The way to relieve this pressure in school is to hold the parent(s) responsible by making them pay fines, serve time, or cut off their government assisstance.
By Harry Huffman
March 28, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this
First of all, of all the jobs I’ve worked in the last 40 years, teachers are the most dedicated workers I’ve ever been around. However, too many parents have abdicated the responsibility of raising their children. Unfortunately, too many of these kids are disrupting the educations of those who at least, make a modicum of effort in school. The way to releave this pressure in school is to hold the parent(s) responsible by making them pay fines, serve time, or cut off their government assisstance.
By Rick
March 28, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
The thing I most object to is getting rid of the Ohio Graduation Test. These tests were implemented in state after state once the public realized the “educracy” had dumbed down our education systems and was fraudulently promoting these dumbed down systems as successful. Getting rid of the OGT will hinder holding schools accountable.
By Rick
March 28, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
The thing I most object to is getting rid of the Ohio Graduation Test. These tests were implemented in state after state once the public realized the “educracy” had dumbed down our education systems and was fraudulently promoting these dumbed down systems as successful. Getting rid of the OGT will hinder holding schools accountable.
By Bill
March 28, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
Ohioan’s are overtaxed as it is. We need to cut taxes not increase them as I suspect Strickland plans to do.
Teachers do not deserve more pay. They work 9 months a year, receive a great retirement (with healthcare) and have job security.
If teachers do not like number 3, we have an oversupply of teachers in this state. I’m sure somebody will take $30 to $60k for 9 months a year.
Schools do not need sports complexes comparable to the bengals and the reds
By Benny D
March 28, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this
Good, Fred E. You’ve got it right. Several others were on target also. Get the government out of our schools. All the governor’s proposals would do, is bring all schools down to the lowest common demoninator — a goal of all socialized systems. Also, get the NEA out of this. Free the parents to choose their schools. Provide vouchers and then let the parents choose. That would put competition into the system. Require the core subjects and the get out of the way.
By Fred E.
March 28, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this
Why not set a state curriculum of academic core courses and allow local school districts the opportunity to implement them. Keep state government control out of the education of students. We all saw how the federal government destroyed our public schools and neighborhoods with “busing” and now you think that state control will solve our education problems with a control board,I think not!
By ONLY HIT THE BUTTON ONCE
March 28, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this
HIT THE BUTTON ONCE FORESKIN MAN
By Hey craig four SKIN @yahoo.com
March 28, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
Get a clue you liberal! Ted S. is killing Ohio. What about his promise to lower taxes in Ohio, huh? What about his campaign promise on gay marriage in Ohio, huh. OOOOO my bad, you want that!
By Larry
March 28, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this
Same old, same old. More money, more money. The state (and federal) governments need to get OUT of education, not in deeper.
Get the schools back in local hands, and, as Judy says, instill discipline. REQUIRE parent involvement. We have the worst of the socialist and communist systems now. Too much junk is being taught.
By mike
March 28, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this
well coming form another state,ohio school funding sucks. in texas we didnt have school funding come out of our property taxes. (went from 300 every 6 months to 1400 every six months here!!!!!) they took it out of our income checks. it was all based on how much you made. just take a trip to texas they all got new schools and books. they never have to worry about money unlike some schools here which some are death traps
By john hunicutt
March 28, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this
0 Who’s going to do all the subjective potfolio evaluation?
0 Who’s paying for the ACT for each student? 0 How do you compare students to each other? 0 22 mills today and how much next year, the next, the next, etc
By Concerned Taxpayer
March 28, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this
Sufficiently vague to keep people thinking it is real change. The world has passed us by in regards to quality and affordable education. Are you aware that the system the US uses largely as a whole is the same system used by the old soviet union? You would think that a capitalist free market society could find a better way! A 22 mill property tax is exactly what we need — yeah right! I know I really don’t want my tax dollars going to pay for non core curriculum classes and extracurriculars such as sports and waste of time classes. Should retired people and those without children be expected to shoulder the burden so little Billy next door can play football and learn how to design a website? My compromise would be to let taxpayers fund the core education ONLY. Anything above and beyond that, i.e. busing, sports, intro to sports marketing, etc etc should come out of the student’s/family’s pocket. Considering the number of high school graduates needing remedial classes is on the rise, are we getting our money’s worth out of the current system? http://regents.ohio.gov/perfrpt/hs_2005/ Government intervention IS the problem, NOT the solution!
By Comrade
March 28, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this
Got Socialism? Public education is not a right, it is a mandatory privilege. Let’s eliminate the mandatory part. As for the privilege aspect, twelve years is far too long. Keep your children at home as long as you possibly can. What is the rush to get them into stranger’s arms? What is so important?
By craig fourman
March 28, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this
Finally a proposal based on common sense. People will (and should) raise concerns over funding, politics, means testing, tenure, unions, etc. and their voicers should be heard. But these are four rock solid principals for future legislation and policy. What we’ve needed all along is visionary leadership, thanks you Governor for keeping a campaign promise!
By craig fourman
March 28, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this
Finally a proposal based on common sense. People will (and should) raise concerns over funding, politics, means testing, tenure, unions, etc. and their voicers should be heard. But these are four rock solid principals for future legislation and policy. What we’ve needed all along is visionary leadership, thanks you Governor for keeping a campaign promise!
By craig fourman
March 28, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this
Finally a proposal based on common sense. People will (and should) raise concerns over funding, politics, means testing, tenure, unions, etc. and their voicers should be heard. But these are four rock solid principals for future legislation and policy. What we’ve needed all along is visionary leadership, thanks you Governor for keeping a campaign promise!
By craig fourman
March 28, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this
Finally a proposal based on common sense. People will (and should) raise concerns over funding, politics, means testing, tenure, unions, etc. and their voicers should be heard. But these are four rock solid principals for future legislation and policy. What we’ve needed all along is visionary leadership, thanks you Governor for keeping a campaign promise!
By craig fourman
March 28, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this
Finally a proposal based on common sense. People will (and should) raise concerns over funding, politics, means testing, tenure, unions, etc. and their voicers should be heard. But these are four rock solid principals for future legislation and policy. What we’ve needed all along is visionary leadership, thanks you Governor for keeping a campaign promise!
By OHIO & TED SUCK
March 28, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this
What a joke! Ohio is dead! Ted S. sucks!
By craig fourman
March 28, 2008 8:20 AM | Link to this
A long awaited approach that derives from common sesne, finally! This will not please everyone, doctrinaires who hate taxes of any kind, who hate teacher’s unions, who hate Federal involvement, who hate means testing, who hate (fill in your own pet peeve here) will all find fault, and maybe they should. Let’s hear their proposals. But as a starting point, these are 4 rock solid principals to guide future policy and legislation and its about time! What’s been missing all along is leadership!
By ar
March 28, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this
In reaction to Judy’s comment below, schools can’t be the sole provider of discipline in a childs life. My wife is a school teacher and she gets TWENTY kids for only 35-40 hours a week. Parents have ONE or TWO children for the other 128. Until we have parents more interested in being parents than their kid’s best friend, the issue of discipline in school will never be solved. And this isn’t just an issue in the center city either, this behavior appears in the suburbs too.
By northerner
March 28, 2008 7:45 AM | Link to this
Here’s a start: Get rid of teacher tenure. I get evaluated on my job performance every year, and if I don’t stack up, I’m out. Teachers should be evaluated similarly.
By J Klarer
March 28, 2008 7:42 AM | Link to this
Each and every child, no matter where they come from, has the right to an education that will allow them every opportunity to become successful adults. The responsibility to educate a communities youth is that of the entire community. Funding of that education is the responsibility of all, not just those who own homes or businesses. Levy tools do not work. Some of the governors suggestions are a step in the right direction, incomplete, but a step in the right direction.
By Judy
March 28, 2008 7:29 AM | Link to this
Let’s throw more money at problem!!! Can’t anyone in power see that kids cannot learn in the school environments that exist now. There is harrassment, threats, and overall choas in schools today. Kids are afraid to look at certain people, for fear they will get beat up or worse. Can anyone spell DISCIPLINE!! Until schools get a handle on that, our schools will continue to go downhill.
By Rick Millward
March 28, 2008 7:19 AM | Link to this
Looks like the Governor is going in the right direction. I’d like to see everyone get educated through college or vocational school without charge so the discrimination could be taken out of higher education.
By daniel
March 28, 2008 6:54 AM | Link to this
everybody should pay the same tax for schools it should not be on the value of the property but divided evenly to every property!!!!! use some of the money for the black teachers to learn to speak proper english before teaching it!!! and get rid of all the spanish crap!!!! this is america!!!!!!!!!!