Why Johnny Can’t Read

By Tina J. Benkiser, Chairman Republican Party of Texas

See Spot. See Spot run. Run Spot run. Simple words that many of us learned to read as children. Yet, today we wonder why Johnny, or Susie, or . . . can’t read them. The answer: increasingly bloated school bureaucracies more interested in self-perpetuation than teaching children and giving them the building blocks they need to succeed in life. America’s future depends on whether we can reverse this trend.

Caring deeply about our children, parents and teachers want to help them grow, learn, and reach their full potential. Today, rather than building blocks, the classroom is filled with road blocks. School boards and bureaucrats have essentially ripped funding and control from the classroom and put them in the boardroom. It’s time to give them back.

Consider the following: State revenue for “education” has increased nearly 300% in the last three decades while local tax receipts have increased over 78%. Yet, Johnny’s reading and math skills are not any better than they were 30 years ago. In fact, it’s not unusual today for half of our high school graduates to need remedial English and math classes if they go to college.

So, where did our money go? If you are in Aldine ISD, the district projected a $10 million shortfall of which $9.5 million was mostly for awards to the superintendent and a non-classroom administrator. If you are in Keller ISD, $2400 went for club memberships for several employees using an account that many thought earmarked for student activities. If you are in Connally ISD, a federally funded TEA grant sent 40 teachers, staff, and several Apple trainers on a 5-day Caribbean “technology training cruise” although Waco has three institutions of higher learning with great computer labs and advanced training courses. Tales of budget irregularities, kickbacks, and bid rigging abound. And, don’t forget that school districts used our money to pay lobbyists a reported $6.1-13.1 million in the last several years.

That may explain why in the last decade, school district operating and general administrative expenditures have risen four times faster than student enrollment. It may also explain the whopping 61% growth in general administrative expenditures. During the same time, student enrollment grew only about 14% with a generally proportionate increase in the number of elementary teachers. However, the number of “other support staff” excluding teachers, counselors, nurses, therapists, diagnosticians, librarians, or administrators grew over 104%. That may further explain why last year so many school districts vehemently opposed spending at least 65% of education dollars in the classroom.

But, would cutting administrative costs really save money that could be better spent in the classroom? Absolutely. A few years ago, Laredo ISD reduced its central office administrators by eight and reassigned secretarial and clerical staff to vacant positions saving $795,000. Imagine what that money could do in the classroom each year.

To protect our children’s future, we need reform now. The Supreme Court made it clear that the Texas Legislature must develop a fair and equitable tax system to properly fund education and that more money is not the solution. Out of control unelected bureaucrats, unions, and their lobbyists would love to see this fail and will likely try to make this session into an Ardmore in Austin they and their lackeys will try by obstruction, distortion, and misdirection to ensure that nothing happens. Let’s hope the Legislature is able to forge a solution that protects both children and taxpayers from shameful bureaucratic efforts to erect more roadblocks than building blocks.