It seems that in this time of state budget crises and financial woes, schools are always made to bear the brunt of budget cuts and economic hardship. Education Voters wants to change that pattern. Schools are the driving force behind economic prosperity and we must confront these challenging times by investing in students and better preparing them for the world. What’s one step we could take in Congress, in our state legislatures, or in our communities to safeguard the right of every child to receive an excellent education? How do we “recession-proof” our kids and our schools? Please share your thoughts below.
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It’s simple. We need to stop treating high income people and corporations as royalty, and make them pay the price for their decades of tax evasion, greed and profligacy in their own self interest. A high end property tax hike would work wonders (say on all property above the national or state average gets hit with a surcharge, along with all second and third homes–the higher the value, the higher the surcharge). Taxing incomes over $250,000 as Obama promised would go a long way as well. And finally, getting rid of the loopholes that allow 2/3 of all U.S. Corporations to avoid income taxes must be eliminated.
Uniforms. Parents would save so much money getting their children the necessary uniforms, which would take the focus out of fashion, gang insignia, team affinities, and cost of school clothes.
Here is a suggestion although I’m quite positive it won’t be even considered. Take a look at the school system in The Netherlands. They have a very innovative structure to their schools, very humane and kind. I wouldn’t put such extreme emphasis on “preparing them for the world” as I would teaching themselves about who they are first.
There is no way to “recession-proof” our kids. Whoever thought of that one needs to remember these are human beings we’re concerned about, not machines.
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD RAISE THE PRICE ON BOOZE AND SMOKES.
Nevada by raising the tax on casino operations to the national average of about 13% from less than 7% the state could resolve its budgetary problems and insure the citizens of better than just competent police, fire and education facilities.
I am a former professor & father of 3 children in their early 20s, either in or just finishing college. I am concerned that colleges & universitie are spending extreme amounts of money on construction & other projects to make themselves ‘look more attractive’ to students.
Such actions require them to raise tuition & these needs are then passed on to the states. These tuition increases are truly unnecessary. Besides making higher education affordable only to those w/money or who are willing to gamble on private bank ‘loans’ (thefts), this results in the elimination of faculty, transferring or keeping fully qualified faculty in ‘part time’ positions (no benifits or job guarantees) and the virtual elimination of graduate sudent teaching & research assistantships-a vital link between their educations and future careers, especially in science.
Change the law so that Federal and State aid to colleges (2-yr colleges as well) & universities is: 1) mandatory; & 2) dependant on progressive correction of this imbalance of priorities. It is the Faculty & teaching & research facilities that are their reason for existence–not the frills. Reward those that increase the # of full-time positions w/benefits (I was always part-time & w/out benifits-yet I worked 20 hr/day-until I landed in permanent disability), & maitain the largest possible graduate student assistantship programs.
With regard to elementary & (especially) secondary schools. Most teenagers Hate school for the simple reason that they are not: 1) treated as adults (unless they behave otherwise); 2) afforded the Same respect & Civil Rights as adults (for they are Young Adults); & 3) are not Challenged; & 4) are Not seen & treated as people to be feared & Controlled. Given this approach, self-discipline & a desire to learn for It’s Own Sake (Not for Jobs) will naturally emerge from the majority of students.
Because most teachers and administrators are not taught this (they’ve forgotten what it’s like to have been young), but are taught or naturally feel it’s opposite, most high schools are a complete turn-off to students-especially those who would perform exceptionally well if treated as adults & challenged.
My answer to this is to throw the Republicans under the bus. They feel that education is an expense not an investment so any chance they get to dismantle it – is they way they operate.
I also agree that high earners should be taxed more than they are and loopholes closed. Another suggestion I have is for every major sports star and/or movie star to adopt a school in their area or another area and use some of their exorbitant salaries to share with those in need. It’s time the big shots help pay for kids – after all the kids need a voice.
Slash the pentagon budget by 50%.
I taught a history class in Detroit back in 1958; I wonder now what history texts have been saying about the past 50 years…are they truthful, or do they emphasize the corporate mentality that has taken over? For finances, pentagon cuts and uniforms (mentioned above) are good ideas; look at Cuba too. I noticed there all the kids with books, uniforms, and glasses if they needed them. Pretty good for a poor country!
we must build trust with the voters. That will only come when we in education evaluate all teachers in a serious manner and commit to layoff the bottom 10% in each school for each of the next 3 years.
When the public sees that we do understand the tragedy for children that poor teachers represent and that we will commit to excellence only then we can again ask for their money–and not until then.
Until we get our greenhouse gases under control, the United States being by far the biggest per capita contributer to Global Warming (China just took the overall title) we need to increase fuel taxes heavily to discourage our massive contribution to Global Warming. While we diminish our Carbon emissions we could do worse than use fuel revenues for education.
The federal and state tax codes need to be reworked so that they provide adequate funds for important programs like education and are fair in their assessment. The annual income of the richest 1% of our citizens now amounts to over 20% of the annual national income. It hasn’t been that high since prior to the last depression and is largely due to tax cuts given to the wealthiest people.
As a retired educator and taught in public schools and in higher education for 32 years, I believe that education needs to be possibly at the top of of the list in terms of importance. One only has to travel in other countries and see what the lack of education causes so we need to beware of decimating our educational systems. The costs need to be considered as one of the most important and every citizen especially those who have extensive resources should pay their share as their ability to earn that kind of income has a direct connection to having an educated populace. Support for education is necessary if we are to survive as the leading nation of the world.
We need to find better ways to teach. The arts can be used to teach literacy, and through arts integration, almost every other subject as well. Children learn better when they’re having fun; so do adults. And there is something in the arts to reach every child. In tough economic time, arts residencies and programs are especally vital and should be increased instead of cut.
I would support a sales tax, especially a tax on non-essentials.
The benefit of having an educated population accrues to ALL citizens, not just to those with school-age children. It is such a great benefit that it is well worth paying for.
States which have a sales tax get revenue not just from their own citizens, but from visitors as well. Oregon is an attractive state to visitors, and is wasting a great opportunity.
Education and health are interconnected and we all bear responsibility. Education and health care can be done better for up to 50% less than we spend on each of these now or get at least 100% better results for the same amount of money and time. Objective, honest information is needed.
Production is in the system. We are in the electronic information age but teaching in the paper book age in most schools and universities far behind most students’ motivation and ability because people managing the system have stopped learning. We just now have our first computer literate president and management team. It is not fancy buildings that should be the focus but building well adjusted individuals who know the method and have a life long desire to keep learning.
We have a societal management problem in our system of representation starting at the national level. A very small number of subjective special interests control most legislation. If they do not get their way they have the money to market their subjective message. If that does not work they fall back on legal maneuvers to delay implementation of legislation until they can get a majority in office to change the legislation.
Think about this. Are 80% or 70% or even 60% of the people around you incapable of working for reasonable compromise for the common good? If the majority are good people, which you and I believe, then we need to change the human management.
Work for term limits. The most efficient and effective way to evolve our government to a government of the people, by the people and for the people. Even the super wealthy “powers that be” will be better off.
You, your family, your friends, your countrymen will be better off with one term representation.