Parman: More Money Alone Won’t Fix Education
OKC attorney: More money alone won’t fix educationBy Larry V. Parman
There are points of agreement regarding education — we want better outcomes for our children and they are not achieving at a high enough level. We have political cat fights about how to best address those two issues. As a matter of principle, I will not be signing the David Boren initiative petition for a proposed 1 percent sales tax increase for education and I urge others not to sign. Here’s why.
According to the National Association of Educational Progress (NAEP), Oklahoma trails 39 other states in fourth-grade reading, with two-thirds below proficiency. In math, it’s worse. We’re 45th of 50 and three-fourths are below proficiency. Only one-third of our students taking the ACT are “college ready.” Almost 40 percent of high school students take remedial courses when entering college. Only 22.8 percent of those pursing a degree in college graduate in four years. Recent reports show increased spending in common education for administration costs rather than teachers. Recently released A-F data reveal more schools with deteriorating rather than improving scores. Similar performance on a football field gets coaches fired.
Money can be part of a reform package in Oklahoma, one that emphasizes accountability and competition. It should not be the entire package unless we want to spend more and get the same result. Isn’t that the definition of insanity?
If we peel the onion and ask “Why?” a few times, the problem begins to emerge. Why is remediation required? Kids can’t handle the work. Why? They lack the skills; or our measurement systems did not inform us (but that’s too late). Why? They have not been taught the skills. Why? Teachers weren’t clear about what to teach; or teachers weren’t prepared to teach. Why?