MALDEF sues to end property tax and go to income tax in Texas

[Winehole23]

(they're really eager for new blood, I've heard. if any more residents leave, they might be in danger of losing their US Rep..)

[Nbadan]

More like money alone is not the answer.

Money alone isn't the answer, but its a good start. Teachers in poorer districts should get a supplement just for all the they have to buy to do their jobs right, like buy paper and pencils. What other business makes you buy your own supplies to do their business....but don't rob from peter to give to paul, all districts deserve to be properly funded..

As far as the kids who don't want to be in a regular school, I also advocate a trade or vocational school. Many trades make way more than someone with a bachelor degree...teach them a trade and if they decide to go to college later at least they will have a skill to earn money...plus it makes teaching much more effective because you have students who actually want to be there..

Step number one....get rid of No child left behind...

[Wild Cobra]

Money is not the answer to achieve better grades in students. It starts in the community and home life. If kids are already disinterested in learning when thy start schooling, why is it the schools responsibility to burn more money on them?

[boutons_deux]

This is one experiment where we'll see if paying middle-school teacher $125K gets better results. But there are of course many other variables, like self-selected parents who emphasize school work and education sending their kids to TEP.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/07/ny...pagewanted=all

http://www.tepcharter.org/philosophy.php

How to improve schools is quite well known, eg the Finnish example, but inertia is extremely hard to overcome. The Repugs attacking schools is part of their strategy to get corps involved in privatizing public education, not to get better educated kids, but to make money, exactly like for-profit jokes like Phoenix, etc.