Comments on: Until we get rid of funding inequities, real education reform can’t happen http://www.eschoolnews.com/2012/09/07/column-until-we-get-rid-of-funding-inequities-true-education-reform-cant-happen/ Just another eSchool Media site Thu, 10 Jan 2013 16:37:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: jeanla23 http://www.eschoolnews.com/2012/09/07/column-until-we-get-rid-of-funding-inequities-true-education-reform-cant-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-165374 jeanla23 Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:32:02 +0000 http://www.eschoolnews.com/?p=108462#comment-165374 Am I missing something? Where in this column was it proposed that we apply "more indiscriminate funding from non-accountable sources" to fix the problems of U.S. education? This column quite convincingly makes the case that funding inequities lie at the heart of these problems. As long as the local tax base accounts for the vast majority of school funding, kids in poorer neighborhoods don't have a level playing field to compete. Tom, you propose that the "one-to-many" system must be replaced by student-centric learning, and I think you're right. But how are schools in poorer neighborhoods going to pay for the software that enables this type of learning, without a more equitable distribution of funding for education? And please don't spout the tired old line about how we spend more on education than most developed countries but aren't getting our money's worth. You're comparing apples and oranges. Most other developed countries don't have the same socio-economic challenges we have: high poverty, ethnic diversity, a high percentage of students who don't speak English as their first language. Most other countries that do face similar challenges haven't made educating ALL students a priority, including those with severe disabilities. If we're going to have a serious debate about true education reform, then we need to get beyond the oversimplifications found in movies like "Waiting for 'Superman'" and take a hard, realistic look at the factors that are holding back achievement. Looking to socio-economic factors isn't making excuses; it's practicing sound, responsible policy making. Am I missing something? Where in this column was it proposed that we apply “more indiscriminate funding from non-accountable sources” to fix the problems of U.S. education?

This column quite convincingly makes the case that funding inequities lie at the heart of these problems. As long as the local tax base accounts for the vast majority of school funding, kids in poorer neighborhoods don’t have a level playing field to compete.

Tom, you propose that the “one-to-many” system must be replaced by student-centric learning, and I think you’re right. But how are schools in poorer neighborhoods going to pay for the software that enables this type of learning, without a more equitable distribution of funding for education?

And please don’t spout the tired old line about how we spend more on education than most developed countries but aren’t getting our money’s worth. You’re comparing apples and oranges. Most other developed countries don’t have the same socio-economic challenges we have: high poverty, ethnic diversity, a high percentage of students who don’t speak English as their first language. Most other countries that do face similar challenges haven’t made educating ALL students a priority, including those with severe disabilities.

If we’re going to have a serious debate about true education reform, then we need to get beyond the oversimplifications found in movies like “Waiting for ‘Superman’” and take a hard, realistic look at the factors that are holding back achievement. Looking to socio-economic factors isn’t making excuses; it’s practicing sound, responsible policy making.

]]> By: Tomsmcdonald http://www.eschoolnews.com/2012/09/07/column-until-we-get-rid-of-funding-inequities-true-education-reform-cant-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-165351 Tomsmcdonald Mon, 10 Sep 2012 20:46:23 +0000 http://www.eschoolnews.com/?p=108462#comment-165351 I think the overwhelming concensus is that more indescriminate funding from non accountable sources is not the solution for education There is a collective calling for a revolution in education on how things are done The one to many teaching system needs to be replaced with a student centric learning system If we spend more than most developed countries on education and get less from our investment all is not well in education. Your statistics may be accurate for your specific survey, but from all that I read, the satisfaction with education is diminishing, not advancing If WI graduates 90% of their HS students and NV graduates just over 50% of their HS students all is not well in education and a dramatic change needs to be made towards individual learning, transfer and application (30% nationwide don't graduate from HS...this figure has advanced) I think the overwhelming concensus is that more indescriminate funding from non accountable sources is not the solution for education

There is a collective calling for a revolution in education on how things are done

The one to many teaching system needs to be replaced with a student centric learning system

If we spend more than most developed countries on education and get less from our investment all is not well in education.

Your statistics may be accurate for your specific survey, but from all that I read, the satisfaction with education is diminishing, not advancing

If WI graduates 90% of their HS students and NV graduates just over 50% of their HS students all is not well in education and a dramatic change needs to be made towards individual learning, transfer and application (30% nationwide don’t graduate from HS…this figure has advanced)

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