Teechurs Wont Mor Munny!

The Washington Education Association's mantra, "give us more money so we can work harder," has temporarily been put to silence due to the rejection of Initiative 884. The approval of I-884 would have increased the state sales tax by about 15.4%, pumping about $1 billion into the Washington state public school system in order to increase teacher salaries while reducing class sizes . . .again. The initiative was turned down by 61 percent of the voters. When a tax hike is turned down in a state as liberal as Washington, the rejection of I-884 should serve as a big sign for Washington educators. Perhaps people are finally beginning to realize that more money does not lead to teacher accountability and brighter students.
WEA president Charles Hasse said, "Time and again, voters have expressed their support for what works - smaller classes and quality educators - the very things that help ensure every child has a quality education." Sorry Charlie. Obviously the voters didn't express that this time. It's probably because they're already handing over $9.2 billion in education funding while they continue to watch the dropout rates climb. Washington spends $9,454 per K-12 pupil which is higher than the average private school tuition. However, less than half of those dollars (42.5%) spent on education are used for what the Superintendent of Public Instruction calls "basic instruction." Perhaps this is one reason for why only 56-68 percent of all students who enter the ninth grade in Washington state obtain a high school diploma. The statistics for minority groups are even more depressing which hovers at roughly two out of three students failing in schools.
Another indicator that more money has led to less improvement is the results of the 2002-2003 Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL).
Students failing to pass the WASL:*
READING WRITING MATH
4th grade 33.3% 46.4% 44.8%
7th grade 52.1% 45.3% 63.2%
10th grade 40.0% 39.5% 60.6%

*Source: Office of the Sperintendent of Public Instruction

As these facts show, more money does not lead to higher academic standards. Instead, our schools need well-qualified teachers and more parental involvement. Washington could also use charter schools to force failing public schools into competition. Unfortunatley, the charter measure, Referendum 55 was also rejected on November 2, thus giving the WEA one thing to cheer about. God forbid if that ever passed. That would have meant the public schools losing some more of their precious billions. Phew!
Are we really and truly seeing any difference in academic achievement after pouring so much of our tax dollars into the hands of incompetent teachers? Of course not. But those in the public school system obviously think that we're dumb enough to keep doing so. Just not this time. Wait a few more years before they give it another shot, which they will. As for myself, I prefer P.J. O'Rourke's philosophy on the issue: "Per-pupil spending on public school education has increased by an inflation-adjusted 150 percent since 1970, while reading, science and math scores have continued to fall. The hell with the little bastards."