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 Education
Budget woes sends education backwards By Ben Dawson web posted February 4, 2010 EDUCATION – I spent a lot of time this week researching the biggest concerns of local educators. And yes, we admit we are anxious about furlough days and money being taken away from our yearly salaries when we already give so much of our time and finances toward our classrooms; but even this atrocity is not our greatest concern. Our consternation arises from the fact we are “going backwards!” The momentum we have worked so hard to gain is slipping away---all because of our state’s budget. And yet, Gov. Mark Sanford prepared a budget to make further cuts in South Carolina’s educational funding: A $131 million cut from college programs, and another $33.6 million cut from the State Department of Education. Some legislators have stated that “education cuts will go to the bone,” even when education is recognized as being vital to the state’s economic development. I’m sorry, I thought we were already cutting into “the bone marrow!” Are they truly oblivious? “Can they not see that the future of American society is being compromised every time an education cut is enforced. Before long, with declining support for education, future generations will find they live in a country they no longer own,” stated John Fallon (a 31-year veteran teacher at Walhalla High School, a presentation skills consultant, and professional speaker) in an article for THE INDEPENDENT MAIL, Anderson, SC on January 31, 2010. Mr. Fallon went on to say, “Our educational system is all that separates our children from being successful or unsuccessful in both their careers and their lives. Those in education should not be expected to do more with less, and it’s unrealistic of our politicians and population to believe they can. By initiating this latest round of education cuts, Gov. Sanford and state lawmakers are continuing to prove themselves as ‘no friends of education,’ public or otherwise. Remember, we are in these dire straits because of the 2006 legislative decision (Act 388) to shift school funding from property taxes to sales taxes. They have the power to mold the future for our children, but with the present course they’re setting, they will steer us into the reefs of mediocrity or worse.” I congratulate Superintendent Jim Rex’s realization that cutting the amount of testing being done could save South Carolina schools a large amount of money. I agree that it is wise “to make standardized tests the first casualty. While they serve as useful tools, standardized tests are not a crucial need. It is more important to spend money teaching students than it is to spend money proving to the federal government that the students have learned, if such a choice must be made.” But, what more can be done? I say our states need to completely revisit their budget systems . We have the money to build elaborate road systems that, yes while they are convenient, are not a necessity during these difficult times. Yes, I understand that road taxes are in a separate budget that cannot be used for education. Well, there’s your problem! Someone needs to start all over as to how we prioritize our budget system. Our priorities are all wrong. An analogy: As head of my household, I develop a family budget for the year. During the year I see that, due to rising cost in the economy, I do not have enough money budgeted for food - but I have plenty of money in “transportation” (even enough for a down payment on a new car). I forgo the car until better times to take care of the most pressing need of my family; common sense tells me to redo my budget to buy food. Do you see the common sense with the spending that is taking place around us? Exactly a year ago, State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex called on South Carolina to begin the process of reforming its taxation and school funding systems. He stated the state needed to improve its financial infrastructure to replace the 30-year-old Education Finance Act. He called for two task forces to focus on “improving the school funding system,” and “changing how the state prioritizes its resources.” So, what I want to know is what progress has been made at this point? Have these ideas been lost to a more pressing race for governor? © Copyright 2010
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