School Funding Issues

Our Texas government makes it seem that education is one of the top priorities. However, funding schools continues to be a difficult situation, and will affect everyone that attends public schools. An editorial from the Austin American Statesman is called Politics Aside, School Funding a Real Plight. This editorial is an argument between the school district and how politicians are handling the financial funding. There is a current lawsuit that has been filed by a number of public school districts because they believe their funding has been unfair. John Sharp, Texas comptroller, stated that the school finance legislation that passes in 2005 is not performing as planned by Rick Perry.  Also, Seven Ogden, chairman of senate finance committee, resigned from his job because he didn’t agree with how the legislators were handling this financial issues with the schools. How will this affect our school system if this lawsuit goes though? It could mean that judges will be deciding how to fund schools and not the legislators. This editorial shows that this may continue to increase or decrease our taxes depending on the outcome. This issue with funding schools will not be solved fully until the legislature meets again in 2013. Rob Eissler of the house public education committee, said, “You don’t want the courts writing your schools finance law. It ties your hands.”

This editorial shows detailed proof of how local school taxes have changed over the years and how graduation rates continue to plummet because of poor funding. This argument between politicians and school districts appeals to an audience of local voters that are involved in the Texas school districts. I believe this editorial was well persuaded to its audience. This subject of how politics are handling the school funding issues is a great example of how politician just want another voter, and don’t truly deal with the issues.