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"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela |
Can Private Schools Survive As A School Choice Option?
By Carole Hornsby Haynes, Ph.D. | September 22, 2015 National Center for Policy Analysis
Private school enrollment is on the downswing. The percentage of all students in private schools decreased from 12 percent in 1995-1996 to 10 percent in 2011-2012. Catholic schools have less than half as many students as they did 50 years ago.
Give the Forgotten Middle Class School Choice!
By Carole Hornsby Haynes, Ph.D. | March 6, 2015 | Education Views
The wealthy are growing wealthier and the disadvantaged have free food, cell phones, rent, utilities, and cards to access cash. The middle class is slowly sinking into a sea of oblivion.
The rich can send their children to the finest private schools and colleges. Vouchers, tax credits, and tuition scholarships are being made available to the poor, but no one seems to notice that the middle class can little afford to send their children to private schools.
Key to Winning School Choice Debate
By Carole Hornsby Haynes, Ph.D. | February 26, 2015
‘School choice’ has become the rallying cry for millions of Americans weary with a public school system that is fraught with insurmountable problems that have grown worse in the face of failed reform efforts. Public education is no longer focused on providing students with a sound academic foundation, but rather changing student attitudes, beliefs, and view as world citizens instead of American citizens.
Out Of Control Spending In American Government Schools
Originally titled “Reverse the alarming growth rate” in Texas Insider, January 27, 2011
By Dr. Carole Hornsby Haynes | January 28, 2011 Title Revised
Over the past decade public education spending across the nation has increased dramatically. The costs are rising faster than the taxpayer can fund them. In Texas there has been a 63 percent increase. Why has there been such a large increase in spending while student performance has declined?
For certain the money is not going toward instructional costs. The Texas Education Agency reports that total expenditures per pupil are $11,567 with only $4,972 going toward instructional costs.
Where is the money going?
To pay the salaries of large numbers of non-teaching personnel.
From 1998-99 to 2008-09 the number of teachers in Texas rose from 256,276 to 325,809, a 27.1 percent increase, while during the same period the number of administrators rose from 18,531 to 25,130, a 35.6 percent increase.
The teacher to non-teacher ratio is 1.019!
Has all of this extra help from non-teaching personnel provided an uptick in academic improvement to justify the cost?
To the contrary.
We have seen a decline in results. The average Texas SAT score has continued to drop: 992 in 1998-1999, 989 in 1999-2000, and 985 in 2009-2010.
Why are there so many ancillary members with numerous curriculum directors? Why are there so many administrators?
It appears that our educators consider spending taxpayer money on well-paid non-teaching staff to be more vital than spending money to retain new well-trained teachers who often leave after five years for better jobs and work environments.
The elimination of these layers of non-teaching bureaucracy must be a very high priority in getting our education finances in order.
Far too much money and time are being spent on public education with little “return on our taxpayer investment” dollars. As student scores slide southward and violence and disrespect continue to grow at alarming rates in our schools, we cannot expect voters to continue shaking the money tree.
Voters across America have already sent the message that we want less government, less spending, and a return to the ways that made us a great nation.
That message also applies to state and local governments and how our money is used for education.
Public school administrators must take the leadership in returning to the simple, time proven ways of imparting knowledge and stop trying out every newfangled idea that consultants, elitists, and “reformers” want to test next to justify their existence and fat salaries.
If educators are unwilling to listen to the taxpayers about less spending and improving student performance, they are going to face loss of their positions as Americans seek other options that will provide a better education for our children—at a far less cost.
Copyright ©2011 Carole Hornsby Haynes, Ph.D., All rights reserved
