I now realize I received an education tailored to my needs. I’m guessing at least some of my classmates didn’t. They got lumped together with everyone else. I was lucky. Tom is right.
Tom, how much of this could be attributed to political considerations being higher priority than educational outcomes? By that I mean to what degree does electoral politics affect the ways in which education is delivered? This applies to everything from school boards to the White House. How can we possibly expect different outcomes when the decisions around funding, curriculum, testing, standards, content, hours, transportation, and almost everything else are being made by people who seek to be elected as opposed to people with professional training and experience in education?
Sadly, politics is a huge influence on education policy. And that is true for both the left and the right. Education has become one more battleground on which to fight for votes in ideological battles and policies that favor one constituency or another.
Mr. Horner...retired teacher here; 40 years in classrooms and out mentoring other staff and working on curriculum. Big question - how would you structure the amount of funding a school district gets using your idea of funding quality rather butts in seats?
Good question, and I don't have the entire answer. I eoukd be interested in what thoughts you have gained from your experience. In my ooinion, the first step is to acknowledge that the current per-pupil allocation (even with some state additions and local taxes) isn't working. There are smart, innovative people throughout Minnesota who can design a new system. Part of that system would assure that the best teachers are paid well; that every district has money for technology; that all districts can offer a full range of classes (including AP, STEM and others) either in person or virtually; etc.
I now realize I received an education tailored to my needs. I’m guessing at least some of my classmates didn’t. They got lumped together with everyone else. I was lucky. Tom is right.
Tom, how much of this could be attributed to political considerations being higher priority than educational outcomes? By that I mean to what degree does electoral politics affect the ways in which education is delivered? This applies to everything from school boards to the White House. How can we possibly expect different outcomes when the decisions around funding, curriculum, testing, standards, content, hours, transportation, and almost everything else are being made by people who seek to be elected as opposed to people with professional training and experience in education?
Sadly, politics is a huge influence on education policy. And that is true for both the left and the right. Education has become one more battleground on which to fight for votes in ideological battles and policies that favor one constituency or another.
Mr. Horner...retired teacher here; 40 years in classrooms and out mentoring other staff and working on curriculum. Big question - how would you structure the amount of funding a school district gets using your idea of funding quality rather butts in seats?
Good question, and I don't have the entire answer. I eoukd be interested in what thoughts you have gained from your experience. In my ooinion, the first step is to acknowledge that the current per-pupil allocation (even with some state additions and local taxes) isn't working. There are smart, innovative people throughout Minnesota who can design a new system. Part of that system would assure that the best teachers are paid well; that every district has money for technology; that all districts can offer a full range of classes (including AP, STEM and others) either in person or virtually; etc.
I’d love to talk more. I’m a snowbird but have FaceTime and Zoom. Available most afternoons
Lonni Skrentner
952-994-7804
Thanks. I don’t have another education column in mind right now, but will call next time I am working on a the topic.