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EDITORIAL
Our view: Amendment wrong way to help schools
Friday, January 26, 2007
It's dangerous to talk just to yourself. That's the trap that a bunch of groups that want more money for public schools have fallen into.
The coalition — which calls itself Getting It Right for Ohio's Future — announced recently that it'll try to get a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would guarantee Ohio children a "fundamental right" to a "high quality public education."
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How can something that sounds so sensible be so wrong?
The madness is in the fine print.
The measure — if backers can collect the 402,000 signatures to put it on the ballot — would require state lawmakers to spend what the 19-member state school board says is necessary for a "high quality" education, never mind any of the state's other priorities. Essentially schools would get all their advocates say they need, and everyone else would have to make do with the money that's left over.
There is one out. State lawmakers — if they voted by a three-fifths majority — could allot less than the school board recommended. But if they did, their decision then could be appealed directly to the Ohio Supreme Court.
In evaluating whether schools were getting their due, the justices would have to decide whether the money was adequate to assure a "fundamental right." That phrase means different things to different people, but, in law, it's equated with guarantees as important as free speech and the right to vote.
Judges should not be deciding whether the state is appropriating precisely the money it takes to provide a good education. Everyone know that's a judgment call.
All the leaders of this campaign are associated with schools. They believe that schools always are hurting for money to one degree or another. They want that problem fixed, and getting protection in the Constitution seems a sure-fire way.
But their strategy is myopic — and, arrogant. As much as people want their children to be well-educated, they also want safe streets, clean water and myriad other things.
For a time, the people behind Getting It Right for Ohio's Future had some mayors involved in their discussions. Mayors are among the elected officials who worry that voters' ability — and willingness — to increase their property taxes is running short. Ideally, the mayors would like to see the state kick in more money.
But now even they — and many other critics of the current funding system — think a constitutional amendment would make schools too big a priority without saying where the money for them would come from.
Either state taxes would have to go up in unspecified ways, or state spending on other services would have to be cut in unspecified ways. Voters wouldn't know precisely what they're voting for — and against — under this proposal.
The Getting It Right for Ohio's Future campaign is about taking the responsibility for funding schools away from the politicians. While there's much to criticize them for, they still are the right people to be making this call. Voters can hold them accountable.
The amendment's backers need to get out more. They'll find that informed people are sure this idea does not get it right.
