The Brief: Top Texas News for Feb. 5, 2013
The Big Conversation
A major ruling on Monday marked the latest turn in a case likely to profoundly impact the future of Texas' public school system.
After three months of testimony, district Judge John Dietz ruled yesterday in favor of more than 600 school districts that had sued the state over how it funds public education.
Dietz ruled in favor of the districts on all of their major claims against the school finance system, saying the state has violated its constitution by failing to fairly or sufficiently fund public schools. In shifting the funding burden to the local level, he ...
Comments (17)
Texas RMS
For those who keep saying that public schools can make do with the money they have, let me ask a few questions of you personally. Do you see any need for you yourself to get a pay raise every few years? Why do you need one? Why can't you just adjust your spending to deal with cost-of-living increases? After all, do you have any proof that you can't survive on your current salary?
And do you find you need more money to provide for your family now that you have three children? Can't you just adjust your spending to cover those kids? Why would you need more money for a family of five than for a family of one? Just because everyone wants new clothes every now and then doesn't mean you need to buy them. And after all, who really needs to go to the doctor when they are sick? If you just were better with a budget, you wouldn't need any more money at all.
Does your house need repairs? Is that really such a problem that you would need money to fix it?
How about that pesky car? Surely you can drive it another 100,000 miles without needing repairs. And hopefully you aren't bothered by the current high price at the pump. After all, if you just budgeted better that wouldn't be a problem.
Now, let's talk about schools. Sure, they can survive with almost nothing, just like your family can. You can eat beans and wear old clothes and struggle to pay your bills. You can put a bucket under your leaky roof and get your medical care at the ER.
I assume you are willing to do that without complaint.
That is exactly want you are asking public schools to do.
hans5162@ix.netcom.com hans
Just waiting for the Peggy Venable troll, aka Matthew Cowan to weigh in with the AFP lies/"talking points.". Texas RMS, you are exactly right. The only thing you left out was doing all those things with no increase in funding and increases in population etc, while expecting better results from higher standards imposed. You forgot about state imposed restrictions on how you can operate, as well as huge volumes of reporting data required. Budgets were cut. Perry and the rest of them lied about it. Now the courts have called them on the lies.
Kevin Williams via Texas Tribune on Facebook
"Never ask your barber if you need a haircut", and "Never ask a Democrat Judge (like Austin's John Dietz) if schools need more money".
Thank you, Democrat S. Davis, for agreeing with your Democrat judge. Now go back to sleep and let Texans live our lives, here in our state!
Bambi Clark via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Article 7 says fund education..... Austin cuts....regardless of party this ruling was a no-brainier. The question is what will the 6 of 9 appointed TEAxas Supreme Court justices do? Watching to see if they have the spine to do what their brains tell them.
Phillip Sanders
Article 7 of the Texas Constitution. Nothing else needs to be said.
Gilly Harris via Texas Tribune on Facebook
So Kevin, do your kids go to public school? Don't you think they need help? Why defund one of the greatest, and constitutionally mandated rights that will help our children, and our state. This is a bipartisan issue. And, there are more dems than you think in this 'red' state. Can't wait to turn it purple.
annie S via Texas Tribune on Facebook
This is my state, also. In fact it was all of my g-g-g grandparents state. Personally the attitude that Texas should not have a better education system is offensive. Something we haven't had since I began school in 1960. We have a state revenue larger then all other states combined, as large as the nation of Russia, yet we have people who would rather spend that revenue on junk then education, health care, and programs to help people pull themselves out of poverty.
We rank 47th of 50 in education and have for years.
So to all those 1980's turn coats (when we went from a blue state to red) need to go back to bed and stay out of our politics.
Luisa Inez Newton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Texas: the state that has failed to educate.
Neil Moyer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Ain't gonna happen with Perry, Dewy, and GOP Lege still warring on public education...
gypsy314 ne
Folks here we have another fine example of a liberal idiot ruling for his party and unions. I say send the illegal aliens home and get them off the backs of the tax payers and we will have plenty of funds for our children for vouchers for parents to decide were to send children. It is a fact public schools and teachers have failed our children and I say enough let parents decide were to send children to be educated. Right now teachers unions and food service is short changing our children. our children going to school and luches are being down size since the beginning of school check it out for your self.
Phillip Sanders
Gypsy, private schools don't want to abide by the same rules as public schools. Vouchers wil never be successful in Texas. Private schools do not want to educate special education students, be held accountable by standardized tests (STARR), or accept low socio-economic students. They don't / will not play by the same rules as public schools. These things will have to occur in order for vouchers to be legal.
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Bambi, Annie and Gilly, the state of Texas spends nearly half of its budget on education. We keep putting money towards education. What do we have for all the money that is put towards education? Nothing. So what makes you think that spending more will get you more?
FYI Annie, Texas revenue for 2012 was 94 billion. Revenue for Russia was 6 Trillion. Texas revenue is no where near as large.
Phillip Sanders via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Matthew, can you cite your source? Because the lawyers for the state of Texas could not prove what you stated.
Bambi Clark via Texas Tribune on Facebook
22% is not half but maybe to righties it is? I usually look up stuff before I spout what I am fed. <http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/Texas_state_spending_pie_chart>
Sharon Richard via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I say again....Wendy for governor.
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Yes Philip Sanders, I can give you the source. The numbers come from the Legislative Budget Board of the State of Texas.
Bambi Clark is peddling a falsehood of education being 22% of the state budget. Bond money raised in local elections are not counted. Why because the State budget only counts revenues it actually receives (not local money) and expenditures it actually makes. While she says she looks up what she posts, she did not actually check the soucre for accuracy.
Linda of Texas LandOwner
It is a fact that there is plenty of waste in our education system. However, some parents are poorly educated and cannot teach or do not want to teach their children the basics needed to survive. The needs of schooling are different in different locations (one size does not fit all) - schooling should be State run and held accountable for this reason. After elementary education (reading, writing, arithmetic, history, ect.), students should be introduced to industrial arts or trade schools. As far as College and University's, they should be self sufficient - if the students really want to further their education, they will find a way. That will stop the fraud and parties and will produce a higher quality of professional. We have too many papered professionals and not enough knowledgeable hands on professionals with common sense. Tell me if I am wrong!