Closing the Gap in Public Education Spending

The 1836 Texas Declaration of Independence lists Mexico’s failure “to establish any public system of education” as one of the reasons for declaring independence and establishing a new government entity. In 1845 the state constitution provided that one-tenth of the annual state tax revenue be set aside as a perpetual fund to support free public schools. Obviously, education has been an important and pressing issue in the mind of Texans since our independence as a nation and later our admission into statehood. It seems strange then that despite protests from teachers and Texans, cuts to education spending are eating at the heart of our public education system. According to a recent Texas Tribune article, a 2011 poll of Texas educators found that 92% said that their district had eliminated positions – most reported between 10 and 50. 79% reported cuts to student programs, including pre-K, special education, electives, and athletics. 87% said that class sizes had increased at both the elementary and secondary level.

The Texas population has grown more rapidly than that of the U.S. has a whole in every decade since 1850. This is of course a benefit to the state, as a young population is a more effective work force, but it also means that we must be ever more cautious in ensuring that the education system provided for this burgeoning population must be adequate and up to the task. According to a report by the Texas Legislative Study Group, published after the recent 82^nd Legislature, our state (in comparison with others) currently ranks 45^th in scholastic assessment scores (SATs) and 50^th in the percent of the population 25 and older with a high school diploma. We also rank 43^rd in high school graduation rates. Not surprisingly, Texas also ranks 44^th in state and local expenditures per pupil in public schools. The correlation is obvious. How can we expect greatness of our state, and of our children, if we are not providing the resources?

According to the 2008 Texas Comptroller Susan Comb’s special report “Texas Works: Training and Education for All Texans,” official Texas population projections point to a less educated work force if the state continues on its current path. Former Comptroller and Austin mayor, Carole Keeton Strayhorn, once said, “Nothing is more important than education. Our state’s future tax base and fiscal well-being depend directly on a highly educated workforce.” Texas is in some ways facing a financial crisis, it’s true; however, continuing to cut education spending would be, in my opinion, penny wise and pound foolish and a cowardly thing for any Legislature or Governor to do. Pleasing crowds now by decreasing state spending, while passing the problem down to future decision-makers, is what has landed us in the dire emergency facing our system of state public education. I urge Texans to petition for reforms in education spending and policies. Closing the gap in our public education policies and funding must be number one priority if we want to ensure the success of our children in the future and guarantee our prosperity as a state.

Appreciation for the Spouses of Our Veterans

Josh Coffman, in his blog The Eyes of Texas, argues for a proposed amendment to the Texas constitution that would allow for the surviving spouses of 100% disabled veterans who have passed away, to continue to receive a homestead tax exemption. Currently the law extends to completely disabled veterans, but not to their spouses in the event of death. Coffman presents a convincing and moving argument that this courtesy should be extended to the spouses of our veterans as well: the wives and husbands that inevitably are faced with the care of their disabled veteran spouses, deserve all of the appreciation that we can bestow upon them and more. The argument he presents is simple and difficult to disagree with: ensuring that the spouse of a deceased disabled veteran continues to receive exemption from homestead taxes is the right thing to do, regardless of political stance.

How can this simple statement be contested? These disabled veterans, men and women, have given up months and years of their lives in service to our country and were rewarded with injuries that would haunt them the rest of their lives. Their spouses have raised children alone, worried about their wives and husbands at home alone, and unfortunately have had many of their worries realized as their husbands and wives have returned home injured and disabled. When these veterans return home, the spouses are the ones who continue to raise children alone, along with caring for and assisting their disabled spouse. These spouses - husbands and wives - are heroes and deserve every bit of our respect and appreciation. This is the least in probably a long list of things the state government should implement to ensure the care of veterans and their spouses and families and I, for one, fully support any steps in the right direction. The vote was cast on November 8^th and the outcome should be announced shortly.