[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Drawing the Line on K-12

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Drawing the Line on K-12
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1240715415.shtml


   I'm sometimes accused of being too supportive of public education,
   that it's a failed system beyond repair. I think I've explained myself
   before, but now is a good time to restate and reflect.
   I've spent about 18 months studying, and yes, working with my home
   District 281. I have participated in some efforts, most notably the
   2008 Strategic Plan. Frankly, I'd do more if they'd let me. For I see
   with people dedicated to their work, who within their sheltered
   paradigm try to do the best they can for our students.
   That said, I recently received another email from my home district's
   "Legislative Action Coalition" (LAC), urging we contact our
   Legislators. Quoting the letter, "Ask [your Legislators] to move
   forward with the New Minnesota Miracle." I'll do no such thing. Why
   not? Am I being inconsistent here? I don't think so.
   ***
   When I started this involvement following the defeat of the November
   2007 Referendum, I brought with me my seemingly well-founded
   assumptions. First among these was that the Public Schools operate to
   serve themselves first. That's a fair judgment of most teachers'
   unions. Remember Education Minnesota's "Schools First!" campaign? But
   the schools themselves, District 281 in particular, no, I see people
   that would be the first to celebrate closing the achievement gaps.
   What really opened my eyes was to find out how Public School funding
   works as directed by the Legislature. You may remember a five part
   post I did called "[1]I Had No Idea." I quickly began to realize just
   who the real enemy was, the Legislature, and us if we keep electing
   these incompetent micro-managers. Over and over, I saw decisions made
   whose reasoning process started with "What's allowed?" and "What's the
   revenue effect?" and often ended there.
   I'll further point out that while this is largely a DFL show, there is
   plenty of blame for the Republicans as well. These ridiculous property
   tax caps sound great, but on the whole are foolish and I think
   adversely impact students. Q-Comp is a joke. Meanwhile, we let perhaps
   the best Education Commissioner in Minnesota get sandbagged by a
   DFL-led Senate out for political revenge against the Governor. And
   when the final votes are taken, there are plenty of GOP ayes on most
   of the education bills passed.
   ***
   So that's why I'll generally support my District at the local level
   and generally accuse the Legislature as the source of most of our K-12
   troubles. Square one is competition, as in real school choice, be it
   vouchers, tuition tax credits, or whatever is equivalent. Any
   organization, including the Robbinsdale Area Schools, will not reach
   their full potential while a protected de facto monopoly.
   Part of that choice is giving schools full freedom to hire, promote,
   and fire, without the union favorable licensing and other regulations
   written into law. Until then, the Legislature deserves virtually all
   the blame if public schools don't perform.
   That line is crossed when Districts directly and indirectly lobby the
   Legislature for more money and special favors. I consider this a very
   clear conflict of interest when taxpayer money and facilities are so
   used.
   I don't have a problem with these groups presenting data and research.
   But all to often, as here, they're telling the Legislators which bills
   to write, amend, and support, such as the so-called Minnesota Miracle
   tax increase. That's between the us constituents and our Legislators.
   The District, directly or indirectly, has no standing to speak for me
   any other constituent, not if you're using my tax money to do it.
   That's why I cannot support the Legislative Action Coalition.
   ***
   So am I OK with the Legislature "starving" the schools? Yes,
   reluctantly to some extent, but yes. It's starving the students that
   I'm not OK with, with is an entirely separate question. Throwing good
   money after the bad system the Legislature has created is one way of
   starving those students - our kids. Count me out.
   So what are the public schools to do? Do what you can, within the
   myriad of regulations. And one other thing, which I'll save for a post
   later this week.

References

   1. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1197255945.shtml