Chapter 5
The Texas education system raised concern since the declaration of independence in 1836 following the failure of the government to begin the public education system. However, in late 1983, a constitutional amendment that advocated for the provision of bonds by the school fund was passed through voting. Currently, school funds generated an income of approximately $756 million dollars thus, making education facilities more available to the students (Champagne and Edward 16). The dropout rate is the indicator of the holding power of various schools in Texas during that period. Data indicates that 106 counties recorded a reduction in the attrition level. However, 110 counties recorded increase in dropout rates, thus, making a general increase in the dropout level. Disparity along the racial and ethnic lines was lower as compared to the current situation. For instance, Black and Hispanic students were more likely to leave school before graduating with a Diploma compared to white students (Heilig, Heather & Angélica 136). The school districts that had a high number of dropouts had it mandatory to submit a plan that elaborated their strategies to compensate the allotment in the education system to curb the dropout problem. In addition, the implementation of researched strategies to prevent dropout cases was prioritized.
The Texas miracle was an educational approach that recorded commendable results especially in Houston that had been known for worsening dropout rates. It was driven by the need of President Bush to create awareness during the presidential campaigns. The administrators could account for the success of the schools that enabled Rod Paige to receive credit as the Houston school superintendent. The approach of state testing all the children in grades 3-8 annually differentiated their scores by various factors such as ethnicity and race. In addition, they published scores and praised schools with high scores but warned those with low scores. Finally, the scores shot high while the performance gap rose with an increment in the graduation records.
During the period that H. Ross Perot served as chairperson to the public education committee, he spent his money to introduce educationists. As a result, the educationists’ research showed that there was a need for an increment in the teachers` pay. He denounced the restriction on football coaches that were only available for the top academic development on the curricular sector. For instance, vocational education and agriculture were considered cost ineffective. This induced pain in the alumni, coaches, and fans of such activities following the introduction of the policy that advocated for high school games for the schools that passed the grades only. The expansion of school days annually, from 180 to 210 days was implemented following the question of why other students in other states like Germany studied for 240 days compared to 180 days. Therefore, it advocated for the increase of the school days to ensure that a wider academic content was covered. Finally, the period attempted to stop adult illiteracy by encouraging them to further their education such as through reading newspapers to equip them with basic knowledge. Therefore, I opine that Perot had a positive look towards advancement in the education system.
Molly Ivins holds that former defense workers had attained adequate skills and experience, thus no longer needed training. Instead, they need employment opportunities. He determined it as Perot`s weakness by analyzing the problem but opted for no solution. He said that Perot`s plan would damage the economy since he thought that the math classes would focus on solving the challenges such as the budget deficit. He supported his idea by considering John White’s, the Perot`s plan architect proposal to postpone the implementation of the plan for two years. According to him, the biggest challenge is the deficit in the economy. A good economy is a combination of private and public sectors’ investment. It would call for reforms in the taxation systems, provision of credit facilities, government subsidies and finally programs by the government. For instance, there should be reduced government interference in the free market system. The educational reforms of 1993 emphasized the introduction of comprehensive tests that would cover across the state. It advocated for the analysis of students` performance based on set standards instead of making a comparison to the peers` performance (Washington assessment student learning). Periodical assessment of subjects was preferred and the careers included reading, writing, math, social studies, health, science, and arts.
Testing the reforms required monetary support in the implementation stage. In this case, money was needed for maintenance and development of the policies. Therefore, the testing industry gradually turned into a profit-oriented industry just like any other industries after privatization. Political issues affect the testing task by diversifying the role into many political parties. The power exercised by those in authority is driven by the political motive to use standardized tests. In addition, the political drive to exercise authority has driven the educational adjustments policies from both ends.
The federal funds were channeled to the various schools based on performance in the tests introduced during the reign of President Bush. In addition, the state used test scores to determine the qualifications of the teachers without considering other factors that might have affected the students’ academic behaviors. It was wrong and referred to by the educational commissioner as the heart of a vampire. Disaggregation is a means of comparing variables like firms to a single constant parameter. The Texas education system only emphasized on test scores at the cost of any other variables that could affect the students’ merit in schools. NCLB was a strategy geared towards achieving accountability, making admirable educational varieties and flexibility of education. The parents, students, and community worked together to achieve success. Scholars were likely to record an academic achievement of Hispanic students. Therefore, 2000 learning institutions were started in reaction to the new policies. According to some researchers, the NCLB plan has marked a turning point in education. It has increased accountability, transparency, and hard work among the parents, teachers, students and administrators.
Chapter 6
The business of schools
Pearson is a British scholar, who used education for business purposes to earn dollars of profit. For instance, the system of assessment called TPA was developed at Stanford University under the influence of Pearson. In this system, either Pearson or his agents would evaluate teachers solely. Charter schools operate under an agreement to offer services to the public within an atmosphere of freedom. They are started, managed by companies and individuals while public schools are started and managed by the government ministries to offer services to any students with the required qualifications.
Chapter 7
The textbook wars
Texas textbooks became advantageous to other states since they focused mainly on material content being learned in class. The textbooks’ components were compared based on the content of cognitive ability (Harris &Marta 62). The compared elements included the decodable texts, literature and leveled texts. The board in charge worked on the curriculum under the leadership of people that believed in evolution. The teachers had to work on the guidelines for social studies through consulting professionals of the board. The selection of such books originally was under the control of religious rights. The typical class textbooks have become unreadable since the information in such books fails to relate to the available material resources in the school environments closely. For instance, the illustrations used display outdated incidences hence the failure to inculcate practicability in learning. Following the continuous evolution of the world’s technological, political and social conditions, schools should use updated textbooks that give the clear picture of the society in learning. Typical textbooks have narratives filled with sidebars showing issues such as history, individual’s biographies, and even trends. Textbook publishers in Texas perhaps adapted to the bureaucratic decisions and policies that were made long ago. It continuously embarrassed the population, which had the power to see the value of education and scholarship.
Chapter 8
Sex education
Generally, Texas did not opt for sex education since abstinence was encouraged. Following the data collected, in 2007 and 2008, a 94% abstinence was recorded. The content taught only emphasized on abstinence and thus did not teach on the use of condoms. Despite the restrictions on sex education, the teens in Texas experienced high pregnancy and STD spread rates. The state’s approved textbooks ignored the knowledge in sex education apart from abstinence. They attached stereotypes to sex-based education, for instance, the use of contraceptives and protection measures such as the use of condoms. Therefore, ignorance was the order of the Texas sex education classes. A number of districts started to go for defined sex education due to the adverse failures of the abstinence (Spring 25). In addition, the strict studies about abstinence produced a number of weaknesses such as; wrong information about STDs, misleading beliefs about condoms use, depending on shameful directives and encouragement of stereotypes. In addition, the information was gender-biased and based on wrong sexual orientation. A 93% increment was recorded in the level of provision of sex education. It was after President Obama signed acts, which alienated millions of dollars to be used in the implementation of prevention of teen pregnancy (TPPI) in 2010. It was later approved by the congress on the education on personal responsibility. These represented a turning point in the error of sole education on abstinence.
Chapter 9
Cooling to the Global warning
The problem of the global warming led to the proposal of several bills by the national assembly to regulate the hazardous effects of pollution such as global warming effects due to the depletion of ozone layer. The senate debated the bill on the legislative action on controlling the problem in the climate security of 2007. It focused on the reduction in greenhouse pollution 70% by 2050. The policies included the preference of natural gas usage and other renewable sources of energy to reduce the level of accumulation of polluted gasses in the atmosphere. President George Bush advocated for the United States to conduct seminars to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. He was focused on the reduction of the cause to global warming by reducing the emissions. It was to be done by organizing meetings with nations that emit many greenhouse gasses such as India and China. The president encouraged the industrial nations to unite and make an agreement about the solution to the problem. In a comparison of his view to that of the former Governor Perry`s, I prefer his strategies because he took steps to involve other states about the strategy since he analyzed and learned that controlling greenhouse emissions in U.S. alone would fail to reduce the aggregate emissions to the ozone layer.
According to the former governor, Rick Perry, he opted for the elimination of energy department of the United States. It raises debate following his ideologies and current opportunity to feature as the secretary of energy according to the choice of the presidential elect, Donald Trump. He advocated for the development of fuel from fossils. He promised to procure $30 billion to be invested in promoting technological advancement and innovation within the state. Therefore, he denies the scientific idea of change in climatic conditions. He advocates for proper research in the 17 set laboratories to enhance scientific improvement that would produce clean and more modified technological energy production. This marks the differences in his ideologies from those of Governor George Bush.
Works Cited
Champagne, Anthony, and Edward J. Harpham. Governing Texas: An Introduction to Texas Politics. 2015. Print.
Heilig, Julian Vasquez, Heather Cole & Angélica Aguilar. "From Dewey to No Child Left Behind: The evolution and devolution of public arts education." Arts Education Policy Review 111.4 (2010): 136-145.
Harris, Angel &Marta Tienda. "Minority higher education pipeline: Consequences of changes in college admissions policy in Texas." The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 627.1 (2010): 60-81.
Spring, Joel. American education. Routledge, 2015.
