On Sunday the Sentinel endorsed School District 51’s ballot initiative that will ask voters for an override on TABOR limitations for school finances for a period of six years. The editorial pointed out the cuts already made, and described what the expected benefits could be. They even took the time to point out that this is not a run around TABOR, since TABOR specifically provided for voter approval of any tax increases.
But that didn’t stop the local Tea Party from demanding “accountability” and vouchers.
Accountability is a nice buzz word, but I wish these I-don’t-want-no-stinkin’-government GOTPers would explain what they mean. (GOTP is a contraction of GOP and Tea Party, which aptly describes the movement.) The school district publishes a budget every year, which is available to anyone who bothers to look. School Board meetings are open to the public. We know how each and every school is doing when measured by CSAP tests, as dutifully reported to the local press. The only thing I can make of this call for “accountability” is a desire to dictate to the school board all curriculum and financial decisions. If a small group of over the hill protestors can’t tell the school board what to do, there isn’t “accountability.”
Vouchers? For as long as I’ve been around politics the GOP, and now the GOTP has been advocating for vouchers. Vouchers do nothing to help public education. They would take money out of a system that is already bleeding profusely, and give it to those who least need it. Any voucher proposal that I’ve seen provides for a sum of money that falls way short of funding any private school. So, who is going to use vouchers? The wealthy will use vouchers to defray their already existing costs of sending their kids to private schools. The poor and middle class will get stuck in public schools that don’t have enough scientific equipment, or technology or access to teachers with the ability to teach things like Chinese. (I’ve been told that kids in the Cherry Creek school system can learn Chinese, but there is no similar option in School District 51.)
I’m voting for Referred Measure 3B. If you have any common sense, and want any kind of future for the kids of Mesa County, you’ll join me.
Homework
Sentinel Endorses School Override
I haven’t spent much time discussing the report recently issued by the University of Denver on the economic future for Colorado. I’ll get to it, but if you are curious about what the report had to say, go to the link below. Short version of my commentary: TABOR sucks.
University of Denver on the Future of Colorado
But that didn’t stop the local Tea Party from demanding “accountability” and vouchers.
Accountability is a nice buzz word, but I wish these I-don’t-want-no-stinkin’-government GOTPers would explain what they mean. (GOTP is a contraction of GOP and Tea Party, which aptly describes the movement.) The school district publishes a budget every year, which is available to anyone who bothers to look. School Board meetings are open to the public. We know how each and every school is doing when measured by CSAP tests, as dutifully reported to the local press. The only thing I can make of this call for “accountability” is a desire to dictate to the school board all curriculum and financial decisions. If a small group of over the hill protestors can’t tell the school board what to do, there isn’t “accountability.”
Vouchers? For as long as I’ve been around politics the GOP, and now the GOTP has been advocating for vouchers. Vouchers do nothing to help public education. They would take money out of a system that is already bleeding profusely, and give it to those who least need it. Any voucher proposal that I’ve seen provides for a sum of money that falls way short of funding any private school. So, who is going to use vouchers? The wealthy will use vouchers to defray their already existing costs of sending their kids to private schools. The poor and middle class will get stuck in public schools that don’t have enough scientific equipment, or technology or access to teachers with the ability to teach things like Chinese. (I’ve been told that kids in the Cherry Creek school system can learn Chinese, but there is no similar option in School District 51.)
I’m voting for Referred Measure 3B. If you have any common sense, and want any kind of future for the kids of Mesa County, you’ll join me.
Homework
Sentinel Endorses School Override
I haven’t spent much time discussing the report recently issued by the University of Denver on the economic future for Colorado. I’ll get to it, but if you are curious about what the report had to say, go to the link below. Short version of my commentary: TABOR sucks.
University of Denver on the Future of Colorado
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