Budget Cuts Don't offset Tax Cuts

[Nbadan]

Specialization is a critical element of markets and the entry-exit process. Since buyers are usually quite diverse, sellers must specialize to capture a share of the market. Specialization increases productivity because then each educator concentrates on what they do best. Educators will specialize in different subject matters, ap ude levels, and teaching styles, including use of technology. Contrast that to the status quo. We stifle specialization by assigning the diverse children of each attendance area to neighborhood 'public' schools. In the absence of free entry and specialization, educators must struggle to be "all things to all people." That means one size fits all for required classes, and lots of elective courses and extra-curricular programs. Within the severe constraints of the current system, specialization is already a common denominator of success. Principals in high-performing, high poverty schools "design their curriculum around the unique strengths and expertise of their staff."

There are already magnet schools for specialization in health, business and other fields for those who choose to go. The health-careers high school in SA, for example, is a wonderful school. What if great American writers or mathmeticians who rose from nothing had been instructed by a voucher school system as Merriman proposes that thought only plumbing or business? Teachers try to be 'all things to all kids' because a good education opens doors that previously may have been unknown to students. Not all kids blossom at the same pace, some may take till college to start showing their true academic potential.

[xrayzebra]

Yes, I've read through Mr Merrifield's website and the meat of the matter seems to be that he thinks that school districts are inefficient monopolies, here is a telling sentence...



Yes, I'm just wondering how many years Mr. Merrifield spent teaching in a K-12 class-room in Texas testing these hypothesis of his, or did he draw his conclusions with strictly empherical evidence and heresay? Just from what is on the site, he sure seems to base many of his conclusions on hypothetical theory.

There are, as Merrifield terms,'insufficient improvement' in our state's schools, but I don't believe it's from a lack of trying to find the funding by the schools districts boards, I believe it has more to do with Texas voters neglecting to properly fund education for too long, and forcing schools to work longer with obsolete teaching methodologies and materials. Texas schools continue to grow at a enormous rate, so when school districts manage to get a bond package passed, (and must spend millions in lobbying to do so by the way) they still must budget between improving the schools that they have and building newer schools in booming areas that will not be obsolete before taxpayers finish paying to them.

Still, given the funding challenges in TX, most schools in SA are technologically well-connected. The internet, a updated TV system that teachers can actively utilize in their lesson-plans, grade-speed - a school intranet where teachers and parents can keep up with student grades and performance are standard in most districts. There are even computer rooms for the students, mostly filled with corporate donated computers, and yes there are technological inequalities in our city schools, but even the poorer districts have most of these features. What else does Mr. Merrifield expect? How does he honestly believe that private enterprise can do better?

Gee, Dan what we do without you telling us what people are saying in their
little columns. Thanks. Didn't you used to be on ABC/NBC/CBS news.
Telling us what the pols are meant when they said something. Thought
so.

[boutons_]

[gtownspur]

town, isn't that the pickup line u used on men on New Years? If you can take a u can take a joke.

No, silly got, s are for chicks! not to get you all excited but i dont swing your way.

I'm not gay like you'd wish, ask your mom about the big gapin butthole i tore in her on New years and she'll tell you wether i'm gay or not.

But that's cool anyway, you're the one with the oiled up picture of sylester stallone in your avatar. If anyone has orientation issues it's you.

[SA210]

town,

[gtownspur]

i thought you love s sa210, theres nothing wrong with being gay. If i have to be gay so you don't feel guilty of chuggin preist in catholic school, then go right ahead.

[SA210]

i thought you love s sa210, theres nothing wrong with being gay. If i have to be gay so you don't feel guilty of chuggin preist in catholic school, then go right ahead.

I refuse to be part of your fantasy Gaytown. Dream away now little gay one ,dream away.