but today I am feeling compelled.
I am going to get on my soap box for a minute.
I also don't usually disrespect people that have been elected for public office, because I think they deserve my respect whether I agree with their policy or principles or not. Because, like me, they are just a person who has the right to think what they want and deserve respect for being willing to be public about it.
So, however, today, that might all go out the window. It will be back tomorrow, but I will still feel the same way.
As my mother will attest, I don't really enjoy confrontation. I know that may surprise some of you, but believe it, because its true. I don't enjoy it. But at times, when I feel led I will confront what needs confronting.
I wouldn't recommend being the one that is confronted because I tend to yell.
So here we go.
I have had it.
I am fed up.
I am about ready to explode.
Public schools are getting the short end of the stick. The state government is not doing what it is constitutionally bound to do.And you can't get around it.
Its the Constitution. Well, not the Constitution, but it is a legally binding document. I would assume. And isn't that the job of legislators and the judicial system and the executive branch to support and uphold the constitution?
SO perhaps they should consider a few facts:
1. The base state aid per pupil is set at $4,492. It is a law.
However, currently, the state is paying out $4,012 per student. Now I am not so good at math, but I am pretty sure I can tell that those aren't the same. If its a law, and the legislature and the governor aren't following it, then why can't I go 85 mph on I-135? If they can pick and choose, I can too, right?
2. According to the audit conducted in 2006, a strong association was found between the amounts districts spend and the outcomes they achieve.
"A 1.0% increase in district performance outcomes was associated with an 0.83% increase in spending." To me that means every dollar I invest in education is well-spent. So why are we continually taking money out?
3. Kansas as a whole is ranked in the top 10 in state testing scores. But it also ranks 38th in average salary.
So, I would deduct that we do a whole lot of good with not a whole lot of mullah. Anyone in the business world would say that we are certainly doing something right. Top 10 results with bottom 12 in expenditures, that means we are getting some bang for our buck. How much more can we cut before our results suffer?
(I'm almost done. Stay with me.)
4. According the budget recommendations for the State Dept. of Education from the House Committee, they would like to cut the base state aid per pupil to $3,881 totaling $85,949,000 and cut the supplemental general state aid by $85,949,000.
To me (and keep in mind I am not a math whiz) that seems like another $171,898,000 in cuts to education for FY2011. That is just nuts. Absolutely outrageous. Where else do they expect school districts to cut?
You can only fire so many folks before the class size is so large that chaos will reign.
You can only cut so many programs before kids begin dropping out at alarming rates. (How many kids do you know go to school only for the football or art classes? Obviously not the best reason to stay in school, but hey, they are there right?)
You can only do so much before schools start loosing their accreditation because they aren't meeting the standards set by the government that is pulling the funding.
So those are the facts. If you are interested, I can give you some resources to check out. Just leave me a comment.
My message is this: People in Topeka, start thinking straight. We need people in leadership positions to do what is best for all the kids.
Please quit doing what you think will get you re-elected and do what is right.
Do you need me to clarify what is right? Oh, ok. No problem.
Fund Education. It will save you billions (literally) down the road in social services alone.
Do you need another reason? Ok. Easy as pie.
Every child is important.
Every child deserves the same opportunity you had growing up. You know that thing that got you where you are today...its called an education.
Without it, you would certainly not have been elected to a public office.
Without it, perhaps you would be reliant on the decisions of your government so your kids could have a better life than you.
Perhaps that's a legacy you might like to leave behind. We could call it the "I don't really care what happens to anyone else's kids" legacy.
Is that something you would like to be known for?
I would guess not.
So leave this legacy. FUND EDUCATION. Its the right thing to do.