So here I am, studying for Texas government and other subjects for past 2 weeks straight and I came to realize how much study I do everyday and how much I studied in my high school years. My senior year in high school, I was stressed enough with college applications, but mostly it was due to SAT. Being an Asian and being a picky little student, I wanted to have good GPA and good score on SAT.
Funny thing started here. Out of all the prestigious schools that I got in, I decided to come to UT Austin and study what I really like with lots of opportunities that school offered me. But when I was registering, they asked me to take this test called, TSI. Of course, I didn't take it because I'm from other states. Good thing is that I didn't have to take it, thanks to my good enough score on SAT.
So I realized, in Texas there are many different tests for high school students to keep up with their education and become intelligent ones! But last night, I saw an article regarding new education standards for our own Texas.
Governor Perry is claiming that we don't need to new system called "Race to Top" and that he and board of education knows what's best for our Texas students. Ironically, this would cause Texas to loose about $300 to $700 millions for strictly for education. That's darn good amount money that we might loose. So I started to wonder about this Race to Top program fund.
Apparently, due to coming nomination for the governor, Kay Bailey Hutchison is offering Texas that we need better education system for better opportunities for students. But her opponent nominee, Rick Perry thinks the otherwise.
Hmmmm...if we get more money for our educational system, isn't it better to try it rather than shooting down like that? Also, when I was in high school, the school system was cutting so many classes in order to emphasize the focal academic classes, like math, science, history, and English. But because of that, I had to go through tough time of not being in orchestra class, which was cut outed due to this emphasize on focal classes and that the board of education knows "us" the best. So I'm not sure if I agree with Governor Perry. I'm very disappointed that poor high school students might be "dumber" than other states' students because our governor thinks that he knows them the best and not joining the "Race to Top" program. How unfortunate!!
Well, one thing for sure for coming governor election. Governor Perry might loose many of educators' vote, including mine. :/
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I love how Governor Perry has continued to use the mindset that Texas doesn't need the US Governments help. Even when it comes to accepting money that would help keep our educational standards on par with that of the US. Denying our educational systems financing is in no way going to help us set our own standards. If you keep in mind how exceptional everyone in Texas believes our state to be, you must realize how pertinent education is in keeping this exceptional edge over the rest of the states.
ReplyDeleteHutchinson however realizes that the key to learning is the teacher. I personally can attest to this as I've gotten A's in classes without even learning anything while I've struggled to make a B in a class where I literally learn something new every class. To be honest I'd trade the A for knowledge any day. The fact is, who's teaching our students has a tremendous impact on how much they're learning. In order to get the best teachers we must have incentive for them. But instead of using the money that Perry has inadvertently denied us, Hutchinson proposes a more effective idea of strict accounting for schools, holding them more accountable for the money they're given. Instead, she believes the money received from the National should be invested into technology. Anyone who's taking this class right now can agree, embracing technology is key in advancing our students and thus our workforce. If it wasn't for the internet and personal computers I would have to be taking this class at a campus at a specific time, two things which my schedule does not allow for at the moment.
Perry's response to Hutchinson's ideas? He's done it. His spokesman actually claims Hutchinson is "taking policies from the governor".
Articles like this make me wonder what Perry's true motives are for denying the standards. From what it sounds like Perry's just being controlled by people in "high-profile positions on university boards" who donate in excess of $25,000 to his campaign. After all if they have to impose stricter standards, that's more work for them.
Corruption? No. Let's just call it money well spent.
This is the link I was referring to in regards to Perry's true motives.
ReplyDeleteYour points are well taken. It's disappointing that our state has a chance to finally make some incredible strides in improving all multiple areas of our educational system, but due to our current governor's attitude, public education, once again, could be falling short of true accountability. Federal standards of public education would mean that dismal rankings of low-achieving schools would be front and center, possibly bloodying the nose of the political leadership that espouses serious resolutions to education issues in our state. When one ponders the idea of "Texas exceptionalism", Perry's statement reiterating his opposition to the federal funds for the "Race To The Top " program says it all. It's difficult to see any stellar progress this leadership has made in the area of education and while I appreciate the desire to handle this situation on a state level, it seems entirely appropriate that the time has come to add more accountability to the fixing the problem. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/24/AR2009072402203.html
ReplyDeleteThis has the correct article link Min...the Washington post was other background information. Sorry!
ReplyDeleteYour points are well taken. It's disappointing that our state has a chance to finally make some incredible strides in improving all multiple areas of our educational system, but due to our current governor's attitude, public education, once again, could be falling short of true accountability. Federal standards of public education would mean that dismal rankings of low-achieving schools would be front and center, possibly bloodying the nose of the political leadership that espouses serious resolutions to education issues in our state. When one ponders the idea of "Texas exceptionalism", Perry's statement reiterating his opposition to the federal funds for the "Race To The Top " program says it all. It's difficult to see any stellar progress this leadership has made in the area of education and while I appreciate the desire to handle this situation on a state level, it seems entirely appropriate that the time has come to add more accountability to the fixing the problem. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/education/stories/DN-perryed_25met.ART.State.Edition1.4b932bf.html
It seems Rick Perry's agenda for Texas is to set it fifty years back when we want to jump just 2 years foward to catch up with everyone else. I really question his motives with everything, especially when it comes to 'standard' (I would call it a low, since we're below the national standard). When I first moved here, I was excited because compared to Nevada, everyone spoke well of the quality of education here. I was sorely disappointed and am now very disenchanted with the school system(s) here. Indeed, that Texas exceptionalism was what originally sold me, but I'm wise to that now.
ReplyDeleteAs a high school dropout myself (who has learned the errors of her way of course), I would have liked to see a program like the one Kay Bailey Hutchison is proposing while I was in high school. Who knows where many troubled students would be today if this were already implemented into the Texas education system? Unlike Perry, Hutchison has a vision and plan to get Texas students up to par with other states.