Why the 'Texas Economic Miracle' is a Bunch of BS

[Nbadan]

What do I have on education?

like I said....pompous ...

[pgardn]

You are right in that I don't know the specifics. However, every time I have seen a state attempt to add merit pay to teachers, it was the unions that caused it to never happen. You see the same thing in other industries.

Is merit pay available now, or just the grandfathered teachers?

Why did it stop? I'll bet if you research the facts, you find the unions stopped it...

There are NO unions. Unions can strike.
No the State took it away because they got tired of paying for it. The teachers associations battled it and finally suc bed to just allowing teachers already exemplary to keep the extra pay IF they continued to remain exemplary. The incentive was scraped BUT the rating system REMAINED.

I think you are the one that needs to research.

The State of Texas at one time payed over 50% of teachers salaries. It has steadily decreased and now it's under 30%. Yet the State still has all the control over how the districts use property tax to fund education. And the fast growing districts are at a huge disadvantage.

You really are out of your league here. Mainly because you thought California was run like Texas.

[pgardn]

....the part that starts with not blaming the teachers and unions

No kidding.
Preconceived facts have just altered reality.

[Nbadan]

No kidding.
Preconceived facts have just altered reality.

the way WC hates Unions...you would think that a union ran off with his wife or something...

[Nbadan]

Yet the State still has all the control over how the districts use property tax to fund education. And the fast growing districts are at a huge disadvantage.

..charter school don't have to follow state policy and they get better quality students, but unless they are highly specialized schools like a math and science academy that only accepts 'pre-qualified students' (i.e...students who can make the grade), they don't do much better at educating kids than a quality public school..

[Wild Cobra]

the way WC hates Unions...you would think that a union ran off with his wife or something...

I don't hate unions as much as I dislike how they have evolved. They were once important and di good for this nation. Now they protect workers that should be fired, and enforce that everyone... good and bad as employees... be treated equally.

I prefer individual bargaining, where I can get 50% more than the average person in my field.

[Nbadan]

I prefer individual bargaining, where I can get 50% more than the average person in my field.

I'm not gonna disagree with you there...if you want quality teachers you have to pay them more than average teachers, but there has to be some base-line for all teacher pay and in a way, there is..it's set by the market..that's why more experienced teachers work for better districts in SA...they pay more...trouble is, poorer students in poorer districts need those experienced teachers the most...but they typically get the 5 years or less teachers....

[TSA]

Based solely on race. Are there no other factors you think need to be considered?

Not to answer his question, which was based solely on race.

[boutons_deux]

so where is the Texas Economic Miracle? TX is like a bunch of Arabs profiting from oil and gas. CA has/had a bunch of oil, but CA has actually created $Ts in wealth beyond oil. Texas? nah

Repugs love to hate LBJ, but he was the ONLY reason NASA setup in Houston rather than FL.

[TeyshaBlue]

so where is the Texas Economic Miracle? TX is like a bunch of Arabs profiting from oil and gas. CA has/had a bunch of oil, but CA has actually created $Ts in wealth beyond oil. Texas? nah

Repugs love to hate LBJ, but he was the ONLY reason NASA setup in Houston rather than FL.

lol. Tx ranks #1 in cattle and #2 in total agriculture. Leading producer of cotton in the nation. Now #2 and climbing in manufacturing.
But keep trying. Your irrational cluelessness is amusing.

[Dirk Oneanddoneski]

Great article boutons please share it with as many s, be@ners, n¡ggers, lib s, and s you can

[pgardn]

Great article boutons please share it with as many s, be@ners, n¡ggers, lib s, and s you can

So the KKK is not interested...

[boutons_deux]

lol. Tx ranks #1 in cattle and #2 in total agriculture. Leading producer of cotton in the nation. Now #2 and climbing in manufacturing.
But keep trying. Your irrational cluelessness is amusing.

all low-tech ag, threatened by climate change, water scarcity, esp the coastal cotton

a petro-state and a bunch of ing farmers and ranchers, big ing deal

[boutons_deux]

The Bigger-est thing about TX is all the wannabe pot-bellied Macho Men piling their self-glorifying bull high and wide.

[TeyshaBlue]

The Bigger-est thing about TX is all the wannabe pot-bellied Macho Men piling their self-glorifying bull high and wide.

Which is exactly what you're doing.

[TeyshaBlue]

all low-tech ag, threatened by climate change, water scarcity, esp the coastal cotton

a petro-state and a bunch of ing farmers and ranchers, big ing deal

lol simpleton.

[baseline bum]

Your absolutely right Bum...I've been making this same argument to school districts for years...but for some reason, school districts think that Ipads are the ...

I mean what are they seeing out of ipads? I mean they're great pieces of hardware for what they do well, but so far the only logical explanation I could even think up is that they're getting bribed by Apple and don't think they could squeeze enough money out of taxpayers for Macbook Airs instead.

[TSA]

I mean what are they seeing out of ipads? I mean they're great pieces of hardware for what they do well, but so far the only logical explanation I could even think up is that they're getting bribed by Apple and don't think they could squeeze enough money out of taxpayers for Macbook Airs instead.

Yeah it's a ing joke.

http://appleinsider.com/articles/14/...itiional-ipads

According to a report from the Los Angeles Times, the decision lifts a cap on the number of iPads L.A. Unified can procure as part of standardized testing scheduled for this spring.

In voting for the $115 million proposal, the board sided with schools Superintendent John Deasy, who has championed the iPad effort since its inception in July 2013. An oversight panel advised against the large tablet buy, recommending 38,500 units would be more than enough for the district's purposes. School staff requested 67,500 iPads, but the final number will be somewhere in between, the board said.

"The whole point of this program is to revolutionize instruction," said board member Marcia Garcia said. She added that students from low-income households may not have access "to what is a part of all our worlds today. I don't understand how cutting back what's good is good for kids."

L.A. Unified is in the midst of a $1 billion push to upgrade its curriculum from books to digital media. An integral part of the plan is to equip 640,000 students with iPads, each priced at $768 including support infrastructure. The high-tech rollout will account for all technology funds allotted through school construction bonds.

The program has seen a fair share of problems over the past months, however. In September, students founds a way to bypass school-installed security restrictions, allowing them access to websites like YouTube and Facebook. The incident prompted the repossession of iPads from at least two area schools.

Later in October, confusion over Apple's bulk purchase discount led to reports that the project was over budget. LAUSD first pegged each tablet as costing $678, but it was later confirmed the actual price was closer to $770. As per Apple's arrangement, the quoted $678 kicks in only after the district spends $400 million, worth 520,000 iPads.

As for the future of L.A. Unified's tech initiative, Deasy said Apple has agreed to supply the latest iPad hardware at no extra charge. Previously, contract terms had the district paying a premium price for legacy tablets.

In addition, LAUSD is attempting to negotiate a deal for iPads used specifically for testing. The tablets would come without the usual built-in digital curriculum developed by Pearson in exchange for a $200 to $300 price cut. Testing packages would also not include Apple TV units, which are now supplied to each classroom as part of the original contract.

[baseline bum]

Yeah it's a ing joke.

http://appleinsider.com/articles/14/...itiional-ipads

According to a report from the Los Angeles Times, the decision lifts a cap on the number of iPads L.A. Unified can procure as part of standardized testing scheduled for this spring.

In voting for the $115 million proposal, the board sided with schools Superintendent John Deasy, who has championed the iPad effort since its inception in July 2013. An oversight panel advised against the large tablet buy, recommending 38,500 units would be more than enough for the district's purposes. School staff requested 67,500 iPads, but the final number will be somewhere in between, the board said.

"The whole point of this program is to revolutionize instruction," said board member Marcia Garcia said. She added that students from low-income households may not have access "to what is a part of all our worlds today. I don't understand how cutting back what's good is good for kids."

L.A. Unified is in the midst of a $1 billion push to upgrade its curriculum from books to digital media. An integral part of the plan is to equip 640,000 students with iPads, each priced at $768 including support infrastructure. The high-tech rollout will account for all technology funds allotted through school construction bonds.

The program has seen a fair share of problems over the past months, however. In September, students founds a way to bypass school-installed security restrictions, allowing them access to websites like YouTube and Facebook. The incident prompted the repossession of iPads from at least two area schools.

Later in October, confusion over Apple's bulk purchase discount led to reports that the project was over budget. LAUSD first pegged each tablet as costing $678, but it was later confirmed the actual price was closer to $770. As per Apple's arrangement, the quoted $678 kicks in only after the district spends $400 million, worth 520,000 iPads.

As for the future of L.A. Unified's tech initiative, Deasy said Apple has agreed to supply the latest iPad hardware at no extra charge. Previously, contract terms had the district paying a premium price for legacy tablets.

In addition, LAUSD is attempting to negotiate a deal for iPads used specifically for testing. The tablets would come without the usual built-in digital curriculum developed by Pearson in exchange for a $200 to $300 price cut. Testing packages would also not include Apple TV units, which are now supplied to each classroom as part of the original contract.

Makes no mother ing sense since parasites like Pearson and McGraw-Hill aren't going to charge them much less for their ty texts in ebook format. I don't see what is revolutionary at all about reading your book on a tablet. Teacher, my book isn't charged so I can't do my work in class. And why buy the ing top of the line 10" ipads? You can read an ebook great on a Google Nexus 7 for less than 1/3 of the price if you're absolutely committed to tablets for whatever stupid reason.

[leemajors]

Makes no mother ing sense since parasites like Pearson and McGraw-Hill aren't going to charge them much less for their ty texts in ebook format. I don't see what is revolutionary at all about reading your book on a tablet. Teacher, my book isn't charged so I can't do my work in class. And why buy the ing top of the line 10" ipads? You can read an ebook great on a Google Nexus 7 for less than 1/3 of the price if you're absolutely committed to tablets for whatever stupid reason.

I would be shocked if they were actually billed anywhere near $700 per iPad by Apple with the volume discount they get - from what I remember a large Apple Service Provider LAUSD contracts with makes all their purchases and sets up their repairs for them (can't remember the name). LAUSD rarely had new equipment when they called in/emailed for repairs, and I think they got 4 years no questions asked service contracts and a 48 hour turn around time. Easiest calls I ever took tbh, the only thing that sucked was logging the repairs in their ancient creaky database by school.

edit: TAT

[RandomGuy]

Finland is ethnically genous, try again.

Evidence/simplification fail.

If you really ask them, and they study their education system more than anyone else, they will tell you it is the talent they attract and keep.

If you like I can recommend some rather good books on the subject.

http://www.amazon.com/Finnish-Lesson.../dp/1470826151

Finnish Lessons is a firsthand, comprehensive account of how Finland built a world-class education system over the past three decades. The author traces the evolution of education policies in Finland and highlights how they differ from those in the United States and other industrialized countries. Rather than relying on compe ion, school choice, and external testing of students, education reforms in Finland focus on professionalizing teachers' work, developing instructional leadership in schools, and enhancing trust in teachers and schools. This book details the complexity of educational change and encourages educators and policy makers to develop effective solutions for their own districts and schools.

[TeyshaBlue]

Evidence/simplification fail.

If you really ask them, and they study their education system more than anyone else, they will tell you it is the talent they attract and keep.

If you like I can recommend some rather good books on the subject.

http://www.amazon.com/Finnish-Lesson.../dp/1470826151

That looks like a good read, RG. Thanks dude.

[DarrinS]

Finnish Lessons is a firsthand, comprehensive account of how Finland built a world-class education system over the past three decades. The author traces the evolution of education policies in Finland and highlights how they differ from those in the United States and other industrialized countries. Rather than relying on compe ion, school choice, and external testing of students, education reforms in Finland focus on professionalizing teachers' work, developing instructional leadership in schools, and enhancing trust in teachers and schools. This book details the complexity of educational change and encourages educators and policy makers to develop effective solutions for their own districts and schools.

as opposed to

[Nbadan]

Private voucher funded school runs away with taxpayer money.

"A small private school participating in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program abruptly closed in the middle of December, but not before collecting more than $200,000 from taxpayers this academic year to educate students who now attend other schools, state officials confirmed.

LifeSkills Academy, a K-8 school that had dwindled to 66 students, appears to have closed around Dec. 12, according to a letter sent to the school from the Department of Public Instruction.

All Saints Catholic Church owns the building that LifeSkills rented at 3434 N. 38th St.

"They moved out, as people say, in the dead of the night," Father Carl Diederichs of All Saints said."

http://www.jsonline.com/news/educati...240125681.html

[boutons_deux]

from 2011:

But instead of speculating, let's look at the data. The Lookout used jobs data compiled by the Department of Labor to determine which industries have gained jobs in Texas since June 2009. Here's what we found:

• Roughly 39,000 out of the 302,000 new jobs created in Texas since the recovery began -- or 13 percent -- were in government. And 82 percent of those new government jobs were in local government. Texas's public sector has expanded by more than 2 percent in the past two years -- very nearly as fast as its private sector.

• Another 39,500 -- just over 13 percent -- were in oil and gas extraction, or in support activities for mining, a category that includes oil-field services companies.

• Even more -- 78,000, or 26 percent -- were in home health-care services or "ambulatory health-care services," while an additional 64,000, or 21 percent, were in "administrative and support services". Another 43,000, or 14 percent, were in "employment services."

• And 24,000, or 7.9 percent, were in "food services and drinking places" -- restaurants and bars, essentially.

Together, those categories account for nearly 95 percent of the new jobs created in Texas.

The manufacturing sector, which nationwide has seen renewed growth in recent years, has lost 1,800 jobs in Texas over the same period.

These numbers complicate Perry's story of a free-market paradise in the Lone Star State.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/...174054077.html

govt employment is GROWING in TX ?

Has anybody told the small-govt Texian Tea Baggers?