This is long but it is important to read.
In Texas, our state legislature is hotly debating the issue of issuing school vouchers to families who wish to send their children to private schools. This issue goes well beyond a political red or blue stance, rather, it is an issue of how the state is proposing to use taxpayer money to use in the private sector.
I have been wanting to speak about this issue for quite some time. I taught in the public school sector starting back in the late 1980's. The topic of standardized testing was just making its debut at that time. Over the years, these tests have changed named, scoring criteria, the number of subjects being tested, and, of course, the millions upon millions of dollars being spent to create, implement, and monitor these tests.
Being a science teacher of a very hands-on subject and standardized testing was not always the best method to assess understanding. Also, not all students test well using these types of tests. I've known many brilliant minds who just don't test well with these types of testing methods. And, when funding is tied to the almighty score, administrators are stressed, teachers are stressed, and ultimately, the students are stressed.
I have watched over the years how much weight has been placed on the outcome of these tests. As a former school board trustee, I knew firsthand the impact these scores held for our entire school district. The companies who profit from creating and implementing the tests are certainly interested in keeping them on the front burner.
Is it right to have taxpayers foot the bill for private schools? These private schools do not have to have any sort of checks and balances that public schools have. Their teachers do not have to be certified. Their graduation requirements are not regulated.
If this passes, Texas schools will be faced with a defunding of public education that will have devastating effects on our students. Ultimately, our public schools will have to figure out how to continue to pay their staff, teachers, cafeteria workers, maintenance, and transportation departments.
Here are some important questions to consider:
1. How would a child or family be "chosen" or "qualify" for a voucher?
2. If one child in a family received a voucher, would the other school-age children in that household also qualify?
3. Once a child is granted a voucher, do those funds qualify them year after year until they graduate? Otherwise, the child may be in a private school with voucher funds for one year and not the next.
4. What happens if the "voucher" funds are reversed at some point? Now, those students who were in the private school system may not be able to remain.
5. If a private school receives state funds, will those institutions be held to the same standards as the public schools? Or, will the state finally do away with the required standardized tests and use the money saved to put back into the public education system? By the way, the last dollar amount I could find of what it costs Texas to implement these tests is to the tune upwards of almost four hundred thousand dollars!
Do I believe that public education is perfect? Absolutely not. Do I think private shools are perfect? Absolutley not. What I do believe is that parents already have "school choice". Each family can choose if they want their children to attend public or private schools.
As a REALTOR® and small business owner, one aspect that is not being discussed is the impact on our communities if our public schools in Texas lose a significant amount of funding. Texas is large and we have a tremendous number of rural communities whose heartbeat is found within the public schools.
You can better believe if these communities are faced with losing the funding that is being discussed, the effect will be devastating. Many of these communities will experience budget cuts that will no doubt, affect the teachers, the curriculum, supplies, equipment, and so much more.
TEXAS, we CAN and MUST do better. Please contact your state representatives and let them hear you on this subject. Our children and our communities deserve better. And sadly here in Texas, many of our leaders are being bought by the billionaires in West Texas who desire to fund their own, private schools they run and own.
If you've made it this far, thank you! And, if you are in Texas, your voice must be heard. The majority of children in Texas are worth a few minutes of your time to let our leaders know your thoughts and to answer the questions that many have on this issue.
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