If it makes you feel better, I really doubt Molly cares about this issue as much as she's trying to appear. I've known her for a while, and she's really vocal and passionate about issues related to healthcare reform and construction/infrastructure corruption, but not this. I can't say if she did it because she needs the clout or because a union boss made her an unrefusable offer, but I can say that I've never heard her bring up the topic unprompted or speak on it at any relative length.
There is a lot of Democratic Party fealty to the teachers' unions that is sort of autonomic, like breathing, because, of course, why not, they're public school teachers, we're Democrats, how could we not be joined at the hip? Exacerbated by the fact that Republicans, since the hated GWB, have been sort of at the forefront of reform (if you forget that Oba-something guy, Obamala whatever). The school reform issue is like a pissed off crazed waiter who walks over and yanks the tablecloth off the table. Everything is upside down, and you've got terrible wine stains.
I see why people can be tempted to reveal home addresses and phone numbers when they are outraged. The teachers unions must have more than money over the pols. Maybe pictures? Perhaps accompanied by livestock?
Wow a new villain! Although the Pinkertons in your comments section will love that you believe she is acting solely on behalf of the teachers unions. I think it’s ok to embrace some cognitive dissonance here and recognize that schools like Wainwright were capable of improving their performance, especially post-pandemic and with new STAAR tests. HISD schools have shown big growth before- they were capable of doing it again.
Not all the growth was because of the new system being introduced though - high school biology students were detoured to environmental sciences to boost passage rates, likewise for middle school algebra students being routed to regular math. Middle school social studies and science decreased or stayed flat.
But at some point you have to grapple with the fact that these representatives have a constituency that overall does not like the reforms. NES enrollment is down 9% (!) from last year. Overall the district enrollment is down. The takeover has separated more students from the district than Hurricane Harvey.
So let’s have fun- imagine a grand bargain was put on the table. There’s a proposal put forth that Texas should become the New Education State (NES). A bill is introduced that says
- all students will receive a voucher to attend the public or private school of their choice
- all schools in Texas whether public or private will implement Houston ISDs NES curriculum for core classes with all of their MRS strategies and all schools whether public or private will have to take the STAAR test. Electives like music or art or even religion classes at private schools can be designed on a smaller scale
- to ensure success, all administrators and teachers are compensated and evaluated similar to HISD there will be commensurate raises given that correspond to HISDs NES salary increase but are adjusted for the schools or districts previous salary and cost of living.
- All districts/schools will implement the HISD forced distribution system and dismiss principals at the same rate as HISD in the 2023-2024 school year. Teachers are evaluated the same as the original pre T-Tess takeover evaluation system.
Does this pass? And imagine you are governor for a day - do you sign it?
I don't quite understand the goal here. Offer parents choice, via vouchers, but require (remove choices for) all schools to teach via NES? Seems to me that's like offering families free lunch vouchers at any fast food restaurant - then requiring Cane's and KFC and Long John Silver's and Domino's and Arby's and Taco Bell ... all to sell burgers and fries. Even as much as I like burgers and fries; even though I confess I prefer burgers and fries to, say, Chick-fil-A, I don't see how choice among burger joints is supposed to work. Help me understand how you envision schools being different.
- religious conservatives/private schools get voucher money
- conservatives get a top down curriculum without the opportunity for “woke” instruction
-teachers across the state get a raise similar to what Houston’s NES teachers receive
NES is truly the superior model then all schools should want it. If religious instruction is what drives families to private schools then perhaps a compromise would be to follow this instructional model for your core classes and you can have public money.
I’m imagining the current set up of the Texas legislature where the public/voucher in the Republican Party is pretty evenly split and Abbott is continuing to push for vouchers.
Thanks for the question and follow up. It’s a fun thought exercise. I’m interested in what Jim thinks because I do believe he’s driven by a concern for the outcomes of disadvantaged children. The idea builds on his less local democracy piece. If he believes in NES then this would allow for a lot more Wainwright style success stories but the trade off is that no student in Texas would read a novel as part of their curriculum until college. If he believes NES created a miracle with high school biology scores then every biology class (including AP ones) across the state could get that same “high quality instruction.” Would Texas be better off under these terms?
Shootsy, you are my junkyard dog. And I've got a garage apt In Houston where you can crash at any time. BTW, there is a typo in the headline. Hint: two letter word.
If it makes you feel better, I really doubt Molly cares about this issue as much as she's trying to appear. I've known her for a while, and she's really vocal and passionate about issues related to healthcare reform and construction/infrastructure corruption, but not this. I can't say if she did it because she needs the clout or because a union boss made her an unrefusable offer, but I can say that I've never heard her bring up the topic unprompted or speak on it at any relative length.
There is a lot of Democratic Party fealty to the teachers' unions that is sort of autonomic, like breathing, because, of course, why not, they're public school teachers, we're Democrats, how could we not be joined at the hip? Exacerbated by the fact that Republicans, since the hated GWB, have been sort of at the forefront of reform (if you forget that Oba-something guy, Obamala whatever). The school reform issue is like a pissed off crazed waiter who walks over and yanks the tablecloth off the table. Everything is upside down, and you've got terrible wine stains.
I see why people can be tempted to reveal home addresses and phone numbers when they are outraged. The teachers unions must have more than money over the pols. Maybe pictures? Perhaps accompanied by livestock?
Sorry second paragraph should say “If NES is truly the superior model…”
Wow a new villain! Although the Pinkertons in your comments section will love that you believe she is acting solely on behalf of the teachers unions. I think it’s ok to embrace some cognitive dissonance here and recognize that schools like Wainwright were capable of improving their performance, especially post-pandemic and with new STAAR tests. HISD schools have shown big growth before- they were capable of doing it again.
Not all the growth was because of the new system being introduced though - high school biology students were detoured to environmental sciences to boost passage rates, likewise for middle school algebra students being routed to regular math. Middle school social studies and science decreased or stayed flat.
But at some point you have to grapple with the fact that these representatives have a constituency that overall does not like the reforms. NES enrollment is down 9% (!) from last year. Overall the district enrollment is down. The takeover has separated more students from the district than Hurricane Harvey.
So let’s have fun- imagine a grand bargain was put on the table. There’s a proposal put forth that Texas should become the New Education State (NES). A bill is introduced that says
- all students will receive a voucher to attend the public or private school of their choice
- all schools in Texas whether public or private will implement Houston ISDs NES curriculum for core classes with all of their MRS strategies and all schools whether public or private will have to take the STAAR test. Electives like music or art or even religion classes at private schools can be designed on a smaller scale
- to ensure success, all administrators and teachers are compensated and evaluated similar to HISD there will be commensurate raises given that correspond to HISDs NES salary increase but are adjusted for the schools or districts previous salary and cost of living.
- All districts/schools will implement the HISD forced distribution system and dismiss principals at the same rate as HISD in the 2023-2024 school year. Teachers are evaluated the same as the original pre T-Tess takeover evaluation system.
Does this pass? And imagine you are governor for a day - do you sign it?
I don't quite understand the goal here. Offer parents choice, via vouchers, but require (remove choices for) all schools to teach via NES? Seems to me that's like offering families free lunch vouchers at any fast food restaurant - then requiring Cane's and KFC and Long John Silver's and Domino's and Arby's and Taco Bell ... all to sell burgers and fries. Even as much as I like burgers and fries; even though I confess I prefer burgers and fries to, say, Chick-fil-A, I don't see how choice among burger joints is supposed to work. Help me understand how you envision schools being different.
There’s something for everyone here
- religious conservatives/private schools get voucher money
- conservatives get a top down curriculum without the opportunity for “woke” instruction
-teachers across the state get a raise similar to what Houston’s NES teachers receive
NES is truly the superior model then all schools should want it. If religious instruction is what drives families to private schools then perhaps a compromise would be to follow this instructional model for your core classes and you can have public money.
I’m imagining the current set up of the Texas legislature where the public/voucher in the Republican Party is pretty evenly split and Abbott is continuing to push for vouchers.
Who says no?
<i> "If religious instruction is what drives families to private schools ..." </i>
Oh, I think I understand you better now, thanks.
I doubt your postulate, but I understand that *if* that's the assumption, then the rest tends to line up.
Thanks for the question and follow up. It’s a fun thought exercise. I’m interested in what Jim thinks because I do believe he’s driven by a concern for the outcomes of disadvantaged children. The idea builds on his less local democracy piece. If he believes in NES then this would allow for a lot more Wainwright style success stories but the trade off is that no student in Texas would read a novel as part of their curriculum until college. If he believes NES created a miracle with high school biology scores then every biology class (including AP ones) across the state could get that same “high quality instruction.” Would Texas be better off under these terms?
Shootsy, you are my junkyard dog. And I've got a garage apt In Houston where you can crash at any time. BTW, there is a typo in the headline. Hint: two letter word.
Thank you for typo plus apartment. Fixed typo, my wife says, "Pack."
I don't see her packing.
They're mad because they are losing their grip on the public schools
Preach it, Brother!