Education fund, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett and Gov. Rick Perry

How would $830 million in education aid help Texas?

 The federal aid is part of a $10 billion education jobs package approved by Congress in August. It could be used multiple ways to benefit students and teachers.

Is being rejected for education aid good for Texas?

No, if we apply for something, it is never good to be rejected. Recently the federal government rejected Texas’ request for $830 million in education aid.

What happened?

The main reason for rejection is two Texans who claim they are working for Texans. Governor Rick Perry of Texas could not meet the conditions engineered by Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin. One Texan engineered a condition and another Texan did not meet the condition. Still both claim that they are working for Texans.

      

            Rep. Lloyd Doggett added a condition that only applies to Texas. The condition was that the state has to maintain its share of education funding at the same level for three years. Doggett says "It is about ensuring that the federal spending we already have is used for the purpose for which it is intended – in this case strengthening public education." None of the other states had to meet this condition, but Representative of Texas himself added this condition for Texas. 

            The Republican Governor Rick Perry did not take any action to meet the condition put forth. He says, “Complying with the provisions would violate the Texas Constitution.” “The governor cannot appropriate money nor obligate a future Legislature to a certain level of education spending”.

            So one elected official of state, Rep. Doggett says he added the clause to prevent the state officials from diverting the federal aid to other purposes. And another elected official, Governor Perry says complying with the provisions would violate the Texas Constitution. I have two questions. If Governor Perry cannot comply with out violating Constitution, why Rep. Doggett added such a condition? If Doggett can add such a condition, why Governor Perry cannot meet the condition? How two politicians, who think they are smart, bring this to Texas? I guess one of them, or both of them are working for their own hidden agenda (not for people who elected them). I see the only looser in this case are the voters who put them in office.  I am surprised why they were not able to sit together and figure out a way to bring $830 million to Texas. Once the money is in Texas they can compromise so people will benefit. And if they are not able to come to agreement, the money can be saved as reserve. Texas getting some money is better than not getting any. 

References:
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/09/09/2455986/feds-reject-texas-application.html 
http://www.statesman.com/news/texas/feds-reject-texas-request-for-830m-for-schools-905789.html

http://lubbockonline.com/texas/2010-07-03/us-house-democrats-add-caveat-texas-schools-funds

Critique of a blog: Vehicle searches yield few weapons at U.S.-Mexico border

Border cities in Mexico side have faced increase in deadly violence involving high powered weapons.  There is a belief that people involved in various gangs are importing weapons to Mexico from USA. In Texas Fred's Blog, Fred Witzell has written a blog on: Vehicle searches yield few weapons at U.S.-Mexico border. The blogger writes why the search is yielding few weapons and what should be done.

Texas Fred’s Blog is a conservative blog. The direct intended audience for this commentary is right leaning audience. Witzell, according to himself is a Conservative, highly opinionated blogger. My research on him did not bring much information about him. The only reference I found for him is his own blog and his linkedin page. According to his linkedin page he is currently Communications Director at The Rowlett Texas Tea Party. He is also owner, write and editor of The TexasFred Blog. After reading his blog and with my limited knowledge about him, I do not find him much credible on this topic.

The blogger boldly writes that “The U.S. military and ALL of our Intelligence agencies are fully and thoroughly infiltrated.” And he blames Liberals for this.

First he does not refer any documents that point Intelligence agencies being thoroughly infiltrated. Second he blindly blames liberals i.e. the ones who have opposite political view than his. He writes, “Police departments are infiltrated. Governments themselves are also infiltrated and in many case, fully complicit in ALL of these actions, on both sides of the border, drugs and guns.” During my limited research I found several articles about infiltration in Mexican side, but I did not find much that involved US intelligence. The blogger did not point to any solid evidence; his only evidence is search yielding few weapons.

In the original article the director of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Steven Stavinoha says, “Federal authorities have been hampered by staffing limitations, spotty intelligence and gun smugglers who alter their operations to elude capture.”  In another article Mexico says, U.S. Must Stop Gun Trade at border. The blogger did not try to address any of these arguments.

Finally the blogger suggest that if US wants to win war against weapons and drugs, US must give up being politically correct and use any means available.

Based on the facts mentioned above I do agree that US should do more to fight against weapons and drugs. But I do not agree that all of our Intelligence agencies are fully and thoroughly infiltrated.

Reference:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/28/world/main4835694.shtml?tag=topHome;topStories

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-09-30-weapons-mexico-border_N.htm?csp=15

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jun/20/nation/na-arms-smuggling20

http://www.linkedin.com/in/texasfred

Critique : System in Texas has not done enough to support teachers

Behind every successful student there is a teacher and parent. Students spend half of their day in school. So doing enough to support and help teachers stay in school is one of the major tasks in education system. In Austin American Statesman’s commentary section Bill Ratliff and John Fitzpatrick have put together a commentary, System in Texas has not done enough to support teachers. The commentators’ believe the education system has not done enough to support our current and future teacher corps.

The direct intended audience for this commentary is general public. But I think it also wants people in government and education system to listen. Ratliff, a former Texas lieutenant governor, is chairman of the Raise Your Hand Texas advisory board. Fitzpatrick is the executive director of the Texas High School Project. It is clear that both of the authors are associated with organizations directly associated with students’ success. I think since the authors are working to increase student achievement they are credible in this topic.

The authors state that, According to the State Board for Educator Certification, 30 percent of our new teachers leave the profession within their first five years. They also state that, School districts spend thousands of dollars recruiting, hiring and training teachers, many of whom leave within a few years because of lack of preparation and support.

When I researched on teacher retention rate I found that the authors are right. And I agree with authors that it takes several thousands of dollars to train teachers, and if the teachers leave it will be a huge loss of budget as well as resources. Some of the facts that I found are: Texas teachers have lower increases in pay over time compared to other occupations. Around two-dozen school districts in Texas use stipends to pay teachers. One prominent study projects a shortfall of 5,200 secondary math teachers by 2012.

Based on the facts mentioned above I agree with the commentators that we must do more to support teachers so they stay in school for several years. I believe that retaining high quality teacher increases student achievement.

Reference:
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/research/pdfs/prr6.pdf
http://www.tsbvi.edu/course/chapter1/section3.1.html

http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/persprep/qualityteachers/retention.htm
http://amarillo.com/stories/1999/11/13/tex_teachers.shtml