Anybody else think that more money does not equal more education?
Anyone else notice that school district budgets don't focus so much on actual teaching? Ever notice that administrative titles garner 130% or more of actual teacher costs?
Around here in CA, each voting cycle brings yet another bond or other form of tax increase... "It's for the children". Seems there is never enough money for school education. Yet, student test score averages never improve and often decline.
The pay for performance ethic is completely avoided, certainly at the administrative level. And performance benchmarks are carefully circumvented. Rather, the rallying cry is far more akin to "education at all costs", as long as someone else is paying for it. Education is forwarded as "investing in the future". But, it is being run as a business where administrators reap the lion's share of the benefits. Actual education or improvements in training effectiveness are promised, but never delivered. Many are "experimental".
My recent favorite is the group studies program. Ostensibly, to make students fit better into job work force groups. While it sounds plausible in principle, and makes a good sound bite. It similarly punishes some hard working individuals for a group's failure...like a business venture's failing. The grading evaluation is shared among students within the group, regardless of study achieved on an individual level. If Johnny daydreams, and James provides the work group goal results, they both get the same grade. Team effort is required, kinda like a chain gang, suppose.
In the real world, if you don't believe in your workplace work group personnel. You can at least attempt to switch to another company or business venture. In school you can get a failing or mediocre grade, because someone else didn't contribute. Or, you can learn that you don't need to do much of anything, because someone else will do it for you.
"Skilled progressive educators" came up with this experimental education project. I have no choice but to pay for it. In effect, they are applying "social engineering" behavior modification to the young at large, in place of basic skills to meet test score improvements. The achievers are punished, the slackers are rewarded for abusing the system. No one can be blamed, as that might harm the little individual's self esteem. We are all equal, regardless of our contribution.
...Yet "the answer" for improving student test scores is to tax the populace more. ...While funding the gamble with children's learning potential, applying experimental programs.
Maybe the teachers and administrators are smart...at manipulating the system and public into providing a more comfortable livelihood. I'll bet there are achievers and loafers within the school system, too. Both getting paid to do-what-they-do...whatever that is.
Any wonder why some people would rather opt out of a broken system they can't influence?
