Posts
Just received an e-mail from the folks behind the May 10 Dallas school bond election, which, of course, encourages me to vote "yes," get a campaign sign and to generally show my love for DISD.
Now, I gotta tell ya, I'm a big supporter of public schools. I am a product of public schools, yet I'm still a supporter of them. But in this e-mail, which makes no mention whatsoever of the total amount of the bond proposal (it's a whopping $1.2 billion), it says by voting to sell these bonds I will "help give Dallas the best urban school system in America."
What a load of crap!
Spending $1.2 billion on construction, which includes funds for new cafeterias and athletic facilities, is not going to give Dallas the best urban school system in America. A complete overhaul of the way in which Dallas schools specifically and Texas public schools generally approach education might help. But the money shouldn't be poured into buildings, it should be poured into the salaries of our educators. I find it almost criminal that the highest paid educator at any high school is usually the head football coach.
If we as a city, a state and a nation really believe in investing in our future, then we should raise the minimum starting salaries of public school educators to $65,000 for those in elementary education and $80,000 for those in secondary schools. Then we might attract those who can make a difference in a young person's life but can't afford to because of what teachers are paid right now.
We also need the cooperation of businesses to incentivize students to stay in school. One of the problems, I think, we are facing as an urban school district is the feeling inherent in many students "Why should I put any effort into education. I could never afford to go to college anyway." A mayor in Kalamazoo, Michigan, started a program called the Kalamazoo Promise. I won't go into all the details, but basically it guarantees that a graduate of city's public school system will have his or her college tuition paid for. You can also click on the link to see how this program has raised the test scores of Kalamazoo public school students.
It's programs like this that are needed if we truly want "best urban school system in America." If, however, you think the recipe for success is simply more buildings, then go ahead and support the bond program.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Great job with your letter -- I hope you can get it posted to as many places as possible for people to read.
This is in response to the DMN's article today, Sunday, April 20, 2008 regarding Jack Lowe.
Jack Lowe needs to go.
1. Who moves into Dallas from Highland Park to run for the DISD School Board? Jack Lowe did. Why - to line his pockets. Who else in their right mind would do this. He is not doing it for his children or grandchildren. You think he would let them attend the DISD?
2. Who runs for school board and then gets a brand new school named for his pappy. I have never heard of such a thing. If it would have happened at another time, who cares, but not while he is serving on the school board.
3. Lowe has appointed Craig Reynolds not once, but now twice to lead this who ha. This is a shame as Mr. Reynolds is benefiting off it also. Why else are these men involved and why are they pushing the bond package that does not benefit the entire district. They don't give a dam. They just want a bond package and a way to line their pockets and all they see is $$$, they don't see the students and they sure don't give a dam about the teachers and their thoughts or concerns. Why does Reynolds get the job twice. Is there no other person in Dallas that would not have a conflict of interest to run the DISD Bond Program.
4. Why is no one running against Jack Lowe - it is not because people respect the job he had done or is doing. It is because of one thing $$$. That is no one had the money out there to beat Jack Lowe and his political machine for a job that does not pay the average citizen a cent -- but for Jack Lowe that is not the case - he will walk away with millions.
Something to think about when voting for the next bond election. VOTE NO and by the way if you live in Jack Lowe's district - just don't vote for the Trustee because even though you can't vote against him, you don't have to give him a vote.
It sucks that this bond issue will pass and we will saddle our children with even more debt than they owe already to the city, state, and federal governments.
I would love to see this pipedream go down but it won't happen.
People are too ingrained with the cry of "won't somebody think of the children" to consider thinking of being fiscally responsible first.
Perhaps we could think of our children by not handing them a giant money pit . . . .
Nah, that'd make too much sense.
Thanks for speaking out on this.
Post a Comment