PK O’Neill vs.the facts on EDUCATION
PK O’Neill vs.the facts on EDUCATION
(excepts from his newsletters)
In the 2015 session, the Legislature considered no fewer than 15 new or expanded programs intended to increase student achievement.
But... None of the proposals have anything to do with improving education in the only place where education takes place -- and can be improved -- IN THE CLASSROOM.
PK: Detractors of the program say research shows smaller class sizes have a mixed impact on student performance, and having a quality teacher in the room is more important than having fewer students.
But... It is teachers and researchers who say that.
PK: [One of these programs] requires the Department to monitor school district plans for class-size reduction and related quarterly reports; review and verify the accuracy of program variance requests; and provide documentation relating to the distribution and use of program funds.
But... High quality education requires TEACHERS -- NOT “policy,” programs, consortia, public-private partnerships, professional associations, lobbyists, administrators, statisticians, "educators" who never teach; NOT an army of professional, research, support and office staff -- local, state and federal...
Maria Montessori and Jaime Escalante taught ghetto kids to the highest standards WITHOUT federal “aid” or quarterly reports.
If the politicians ever wanted improve education, they would:
Eliminate the overhead due to all the federal mandates,
Hire only teachers who were subject matter majors, not “education” majors;
Pay them competitively with other jobs for which their degree qualifies them. We would still save 1/2 to 2/3 over current spending on “education.”
In AD40, vote for someone who does understand that it takes anything but throwing money at the school bureaucracies to educate our children.