Posted on 04/03/2005 9:15:33 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - California's public schools, once among the best in the nation, now lag behind almost every other state in student achievement, funding, teacher quality and facilities. The state's urban high schools have become "dropout factories," saddled with some of the lowest graduation rates in the United States. And the pay disparity among California teachers means that the best-paid teachers in 42 of the 50 largest districts work in schools that serve the fewest number of black and Hispanic students.
Those are just a few of the findings outlined in several recent reports which together paint a grim picture of the sorry state of California schools. The conclusions by organizations including the Rand Corporation, Education Trust-West and the Harvard University Civil Rights Project suggest that a combination of factors - from budget cuts to rapidly changing demographics to lack of political will - have contributed to an alarming degradation of the state's schools over time. The problems have disproportionately affected low-income and minority students, who make up a majority of the state's public school students.
As Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger travels the state to promote several initiatives to reform state government, only one - a proposal to pay teachers according to merit, rather than seniority - even touches on the state's exploding education crisis. Meanwhile, Schwarzenegger's engaged in a pitched battle with teachers who are still steamed over his decision to withhold about $2 billion they say is owed to them under Proposition 98, a voter-approved initiative that guarantees a funding formula for public schools.
All of this has left some to question why the celebrity governor, whose power of persuasion and ability to use the bully pulpit are virtually unparalleled, has devoted so much of his political energies to a reform agenda that seems to have little bearing on public education - arguably the state's most vexing challenge.
"This governor has so much popularity, he could have been bold. He could have said, 'This is what a first-class K-12 education system looks like, and here's how we're going to fund it,'" said Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, who chairs the Education Committee. "He has more political capital than should be allowed legally in the world, and he chose not to use it."
As lawmakers and advocates argue over the value of the merit-pay proposal, even some Schwarzenegger advisers say it only scratches the surface of the problem. Both sides agree that dealing with the state's most intractable challenges, such as its burgeoning population of nonnative English speakers, will require new ways of thinking about an education system that has remained stubbornly resistant to change.
"We need merit pay, and it's a great step in the right direction. But it's only a step," said Richard Riordan, Schwarzenegger's education secretary. "The major piece is doing some very, very systematic changes in the way schools are governed."
Among other things, Riordan supports the work of Eli Broad, the southern California philanthropist whose Broad Foundation helps to fund innovative programs in public school systems around the country. Broad has advocated improving local management in education and reducing the control of unions. He also believes big city mayors should wrest control of urban school districts from seemingly unaccountable school boards.
"I would hope that the Legislature and the governor would frankly look at the problem and decide who's in charge here," Broad said.
But with California ranking about 42nd out of 50 states in public education spending, Goldberg, a former teacher, said the state needs to double its spending on schools to even hope to bring them to par. She has proposed directing some $2 billion in federal tax cuts received by the state's wealthiest taxpayers toward education, and wants lawmakers to consider raising taxes on commercial property, which, like residential property, is protected from steep tax increases under Proposition 13.
Without a boost in basic funding, Goldberg argues, any other debate over how to implement reform or change in the classroom is virtually irrelevant.
"Here's the deal, boys and girls, you are getting exactly what you are paying for," Goldberg said. "I'm not defending the status quo and saying nothing needs to be changed. But unless we insist that there is more money, it isn't going to get better."
Former Democratic Rep. Leon Panetta of the Monterey-based Panetta Institute for Public Policy said that while a range of changes to California's education system is needed, the only way it can happen is for Schwarzenegger and the education community to sit down together and work out some agreements. The current war of words between Schwarzenegger and teachers' unions is counterproductive, Panetta said.
"We govern by leadership, or we govern by crisis, and if leadership takes risks and finds consensus, that's the way it should work," Panetta said. "But if that doesn't happen, crisis will drive this, and right now we are heading to an Armageddon of crisis."
But with California ranking about 42nd out of 50 states in public education spending, Goldberg, a former teacher, said the state needs to double its spending on schools to even hope to bring them to par. She has proposed directing some $2 billion in federal tax cuts received by the state's wealthiest taxpayers toward education, and wants lawmakers to consider raising taxes on commercial property, which, like residential property, is protected from steep tax increases under Proposition 13.
Without a boost in basic funding, Goldberg argues, any other debate over how to implement reform or change in the classroom is virtually irrelevant.
"Here's the deal, boys and girls, you are getting exactly what you are paying for," Goldberg said. "I'm not defending the status quo and saying nothing needs to be changed. But unless we insist that there is more money, it isn't going to get better."
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Jackie Goldberg of Open Mic notoriety.. more more more.. more diversity,, more money,, more of the same old crap.
Schools could spend $100,000.00 per student per year and that still wouldn't be enough. Because money is not the problem.
The biggest problem with secondary education is that it is mandatory. Get rid of mandatory education and you will be left with students who only want to learn.
There are actually grammar schools in L.A. County that house 80% non-English speakers. Throwing more money at this situation will not solve it. Border control will help, but of course no one wants to talk about that.
I don't know what the relative spending levels are. But, somehow, I doubt that North Dakota is spending twice as much per student than California.
More money isn't the answer, they get plenty of extra money for non citizens, more $ per student than US born, , and they just take in more non citizens and train more of the same....they need a better crop of students and parents who want to learn and not people who do not wish to assimilate to American culture which is never talked about in the equation.
Another reason the schools system is doing so poorly is because children who want to learn, like mine have been pulled out. This problem is representative of many other mothers who were shocked to see what was gong on, and found it appalling for anybody to have to send their kids to these institutions !
The key to restoring educational excellence is putting the parents back in charge of the family and getting government out.
I'm sure the Kali teachers union would like to give it a go anyway, just in case. (For the children, etc...)
The problems of California (bad public schools, crime, gangs, high taxes, hospital closings) are inexorably linked to the border situation.
And, if our party doesn't do something to secure the border and enforce the law, the voters will find somebody who will. And not just in California, but also in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Florida, and Texas.
I hope our party is listening, or we may be crying our eyes out watching Hillary's inauguration in 2008.
Imagine!! The places with the richest residents are the ones with the most funding for schools, which means rich white kids get better-paid teachers!! Oh, the humanity!!
What was the objection to private schools, again? That richer people would get better schooling, that poor people couldn't afford? And this is why we absolutely have to have government schooling?
California has the finest public education system in all of Mexico. What's the problem?
Schools could spend $100,000.00 per student per year and that still wouldn't be enough. Because money is not the problem.
I'm sure the Kali teachers union would like to give it a go anyway, just in case. (For the children, etc...)
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With a lifetime of familarity with this travesty in California, it is not about money at all -- it is gross incompetence of education management, incompetent teaching PROTECTED BY THE UNIONS AND PANDERED TO BY OUR LIBERAL SOCIALIST STATE GOVERNMENT. That IS THE CORE of the problem. The liberal touch has damaged this state's education system to the hilt -- which now generates some of the worst student achievement in the country. Until California cleans up its act, demographically as well with the tide of unqualified students (foreign Mexican) flooding into our system, along with all the other problems of managerial and teaching PROTECTED incompetence, the system will just die under the weight of its own failure.
My children, as I have noted many times, WOULD NEVER SET FOOT IN A GOVERNMENT SCHOOL IN CALIFORNIA AGAIN.
The answer seems to be to spend more and more millions on Rand Corp. think tank reports that come up with the same old conclusions, referring to "the education community" (what's that?) while simultaneously excluding the mere mention of the influence of parenting and uncontrolled immigration. Only in this way can the uselessness of such discussions and outrageous salaries of non-functional bureaucracies be preserved. What these folks want is job security for themselves. Period.
They are insolent and uncooperative. Those standardized tests they do so badly on? A lot of them simply won't take the test. They sit stubbornly at their desk with the booklet in front of them and doodle on the back till time's up. Then their scores will tell the world that this poor child didn't get the education that society "owes" them. And that brat will sit back and smirk, watching adults gather around, oh so concerned, to ask him what more they can do to coax him into learning.
Most of the kids I've met so far, those born in this country of Armenian or Mexican parents, are insolent little brats who don't think anyone anywhere is authorized to tell them anything. They care about nothing but hip-hop music and getting laid. At 12. They live on sugar and candy and think nothing of spitting on the floor and throwing trash everywhere. They don't respect anything or anyone, including themselves. They fully expect society to take care of them all their lives... and they aren't far wrong. They'll end up on welfare or in prison, and we'll be trying to educate their equally spoiled children 15-20 years from now.
Sorry to sound so bitter. I don't actually hate the kids as individuals, I can look at several of them and see hope that by the time they are 40 they might have developed some character. And all their parents are very polite to me, a joy to talk to. But I hate California culture. I'm sorry. I just do.
The only ones who don't make me livid with rage on a daily basis are the Asians and the newly arrived South Americans.
More class warfare by socialist union thugs serving in the California legislature. Her approach is a sure way to encourage more businesses and high income earners to relocate. When the whole taxation scheme punishes a small number of prolific earners, you can't afford to drive them away.
The problem is the burgeoning load of illegals. They are filling the classrooms beyond capacity while their parents contribute little or nothing to the school budgets.
There would be plenty of resources available to the state if they stopped diverting money to pay for social services delivered to illegals.
With merit pay, those same students will determine how much money you earn. That's also not a cherished thought.
I've had to study merit pay for one of the schools I was at. It's been around a while, at least since the 20's, and has never been successful. Sounds good, but under the wrappers are more possibilities for abuse than the seniority system. I became very wary of it, although I would probably do well with it because of the number of things I am able to do.
You're job is a thankless one. Days spent with intractable kids are unbearable for me, so I don't know how you are able to do it.
longjack
That should be:
Your job is a thankless one.
It's getting late here.
longjack
Hum... I guess I know who is going to replace SC at the bottom of the state rankings.... oh wait I just checked were already above california
http://www.morganquitno.com/edrank.htm
This List ranked Mass and many other Northeastern States as some of the Smartest States in America. However, the old saying comes to mind you may be book smart but lack the common sense to be productive in the world.
P.S I found an interesting thing on teacher Salary's
http://www.nea.org/edstats/images/04rankings-update.pdf
It says that CA has the highest salarys in the nation... somebody in CA is obviously smoking something....
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