The Brief: Top Texas News for Feb. 11, 2013
The Big Conversation
Hoping to flex what little muscle they have in the Legislature, Democrats this week plan to take aim at Republicans over public education.
Though still relatively powerless, Democrats have devised a strategy that they say may force Republicans to take tough votes on education that could hurt them in 2014.
Today, according to The Associated Press, state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, will push to make school finance a so-called emergency item on the Legislature's agenda. The designation allows lawmakers to consider legislation within the session's first 60 days.
Democrats also plan to introduce ...
Comments (10)
hans5162@ix.netcom.com hans
The Republicans created this problem. Every one of them voted for the cuts. They could restore the cuts to education and address the problem now. Instead, they want to argue with one another over who can give the biggest tax cut. Susan Combs, the Comptroller either intentionally lied about the revenue projections or she is spectacularly incompetent. I say go for it. The Republicans have created a primary system that leaves them incapable of governing. They have gutted the public ed. system. They have underfunded transportation for years and they cannot address water infrastructure, which is a recurring expense, except by taking money out of the rainy day fund. Someone needs to start governing and addressing the state's problems, because our current government isn't doing it.
Dinah Miller via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Our kids can't wait.
Dormand Long
I do not understand why the Democrats are unhappy with the State of Texas public school system.
It is among the most scalable; albeit dysfunctional, in the world.
After going from room to room for twelve years after kindergarten, our graduates are presented beautiful diplomas to the oohs and ahs of adoring and supportive relatives in crowded stuffy auditoria where the capitive audience hears an inane presentation unrelated to their goals and ambitions.
Our enlightened secondary school graduates then take their beautifully inscribed certificate which proclaims to the world that the holder is a certified high school graduate who should be accorded all the respect and honor such a certification bestows.
The so honored graduate then takes his/her beautiful certificate to the institution of higher learning of his/her choice and proclaims: I am here, ready for the best four years of my life.
The college admissions officer advises that there is one small detail: the college has to evaluate what you have learned so that you can be placed in the correct level of classes.
The fully entitled graduate then takes a test which is far beyond anything s/he experienced in high school, as it required him to think, as opposed to just filling in boxes.
Alas, the results show that this illustrious high school graduate will have to take developmental classes to learn the basics before he can actually enroll in college level classes.
But he did get good grades in high school and he did play football!!!
Every certificed graduate of a Texas public school would be fully qualified to be a Rhodes Scholar, if the qualifying test was based upon his ability to recite the Pledge to the Flag of the State of Texas, which he had done every single day that he was in high school. It is a law, after all.
Aren't you employers just champing at the bit awaiting the chance to offer a signing bonus and put this person on your payroll? He is highly qualified at reciting the Pledge to the Flag of the State of Texas, after all. Your customers do like to see that in the contact persons that they deal with.
These are the people who will be burdened with paying off the $15 Trillion in debt that our generation has burdened them with.
Not fair, is it?
Martha Dunkelberger via Texas Tribune on Facebook
GO TMF!!
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Is this really an emergency issue? The judicial process has not even finished yet.
Mac Mcclure via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The only emergency in education is how to reign in administrative costs. Plenty of money is available for schools as long as it is spent on the classroom. Too much bureaucracy and top heavy administration is sucking up all the money.
Karen Mendoza via Texas Tribune on Facebook
In my school district....over 60% of our budget is spent on classroom instruction. Which is more than what the State of Texas percentage is currently reflecting.
Neil Moyer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
education is daily emergency for kids not getting a good one...
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Neil, that may be true but is that because the system does not get enough money from the state? The money for the students are being misspent by the district? Are the teachers and the system failing the students? Or do the students really care if they get an education or not?
Michael Hull
Matthew, you going to spew your same crap in every story?
Everybody's seen it. You probably aren't changing any minds--you're just annoying....