Katy ISD students staged a walk-out today... (Austin, Boyd: purchase, schools)

[CRBoyd91]

Don't expect anything to change with Rick Perry in office until he dies. It is so sickening to know that either he's lying straight up or he really does believe that the decisions made at the state level are affecting kids in the classrooms. If it had no effect there would be no problem.

[vtowntom]

Teacher layoffs are happening all over the country due to the federal government cutting education funds to the states. I'm working out of state right now (Kansas) but still maintain my home in Katy. Same thing is happening in the KC area, school districts looking for ways to accommodate the cuts in funding. From what I've read about KISD though, is it true that they have a "rainy day" fund? And couldn't they offset the cuts using that fund? Regardless, I was laid off twice last year. No tears will be shed on my part for any public service employee getting laid off. It happens all the time, just sucks that its happening in Katy. That was the main reason we moved to Katy, the school system. Hopefully, KISD can get a handle on their fiscal situation and not diminish the educational experience for the kids. It's also going to look awkward that KISD is building new schools and laying off teachers at the same time.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by cheryjohns

I don't know what the kids hoped to accomplish - it's not like they are big campaign contributors or anything.

That's the sad reality of our political system, whoever got the biggest wallet is the one that will have the last word.
Not exactly my definition of democracy (definition = rule by the people)

[cheryjohns]

Originally Posted by Dopo

That's the sad reality of our political system, whoever got the biggest wallet is the one that will have the last word.
Not exactly my definition of democracy (definition = rule by the people)

You're right. Politicians and their funders send their kids to private schools. Public education for the lower and middle class is being systematically undermined throughout the country.

An educated public is not a good thing for a plutocracy.

[Zhang Fei]

Originally Posted by cheryjohns

I don't know what the kids hoped to accomplish - it's not like they are big campaign contributors or anything.

The kids are there for agitprop*. The NEA supplies the cash. Apart from being a major electoral force (people in the education sector are perhaps 2% of the population), the NEA is one of the top ten campaign contributors in the country.

* It's pretty amusing that they're essentially asking for tax hikes on their parents.

[cheryjohns]

Originally Posted by Zhang Fei

The kids are there for agitprop*. The NEA supplies the cash. Apart from being a major electoral force (people in the education sector are perhaps 2% of the population), the NEA is one of the top ten campaign contributors in the country.

* It's pretty amusing that they're essentially asking for tax hikes on their parents.

Interesting link.

Looks like the groups leaning towards the Democrats are not getting their moneys' worth.

[Zhang Fei]

Originally Posted by cheryjohns

Interesting link.

Looks like the groups leaning towards the Democrats are not getting their moneys' worth.

Actually, they are. Public sector salaries have increased much faster than private sector salaries. Think about it - home prices have increased faster than inflation for four decades, and property taxes, which are assessed as a % of home prices, are as high as they've ever been. It's just that they can't have both higher wages and higher numbers of employees. (An across the board wage cut would have obviated the need for layoffs).

A Houston teacher earning the median teacher salary pulls down the median household income all by her lonesome. Add a patrol cop's median salary to complete the household, and you're at anywhere from the 75th to the 85th percentile of US household incomes. How badly off can they be?

[crone]

It is contract signing time in Texas. Texas teachers must be given 45 days notice if their contract will not be renewed. The lege does not know how much money they have to allocate to the local districts. They won't be finished until the end of May. Nobody knows how much the districts will get from the state. Hence, the big uncertainty regarding how many teachers to hire for next year.
This is mostly baaaadddd planning and worse theater. IMO, the state could close many departments before they cut school funding. Like the TDHCA. We are full to the gills of tax credit apartments and weatherization scams. Encore and Centerpoint can manage the low income energy assistance

[jfre81]

Go on, youngsters. Fight for your education now so you can haul us out of the toxic mess the last two or three generations have created for us. You're our last hope.

I like the ones who are going "well, pay for your education then" - they are. We are. Everyone is. And then these people want to blame politicians for selling this country down the river? Like hell. You're just as big a part of the problem and no part of the solution.

I find this rather inspiring. These moments really are getting far and few between for me nowadays. I can't be alone there.

[crbcrbrgv]

Originally Posted by Zhang Fei

Actually, they are. Public sector salaries have increased much faster than private sector salaries. Think about it - home prices have increased faster than inflation for four decades, and property taxes, which are assessed as a % of home prices, are as high as they've ever been. It's just that they can't have both higher wages and higher numbers of employees. (An across the board wage cut would have obviated the need for layoffs).

A Houston teacher earning the median teacher salary pulls down the median household income all by her lonesome. Add a patrol cop's median salary to complete the household, and you're at anywhere from the 75th to the 85th percentile of US household incomes. How badly off can they be?

That's what people don't get. It isn't about how badly off teachers are, but rather how little they are paid for what they do.