Education is a "huge deal"

Briana Foster thinks it's awful and silly that education is "one of the last priorities" for Texas Legislature, and so do I!  However, in her blog 7 entry, titled "Texas Education-The Last Priority," I think she missed a point or two and could have elaborated on a couple other.

Typically the success or failure of a child at an early age is a blueprint for elementary school, high school and throughout life.  This means that providing high-quality preschool education to all low income families, not just those at or below the poverty level as Head Start does, makes good economic sense.  The early education program needs to be improved in general and revised to reach more low income families.  These improvements would result in higher education achievement, economic productivity and eventually reduced costs to taxpayers.  Children with multiple risks suffer the greatest educational disadvantages and need to have well funded preschool facilities that provide them with an opportunity for success.

The blog author states that "It's sad to know our local government doesn't see all the value in education" but I believe many do understand.  How could you not understand the economic hindrance of cutting 5.4 billion from the Texas Education Fund?  Improper funding of primary and secondary schools, especially those at a socioeconomic disadvantage,  can lead to illiteracy, higher teen pregnancy rates, increase in crime and costs for rehabilitation of juvenile and then adult offenders, the subsequent increase in mental health costs and funding for workforce education, higher unemployment and poverty levels, higher welfare and medical costs, homelessness and finally, state funded nursing homes. Yes, there are other factors such as poorly educated impoverished parents....hmm....coincidence?

Brianna's "not asking or trying to preach that education should be our number one."  Well, I am.  It seems that everything is dependent on it.  It all begins with funding in education, especially in the poorest school districts where there are larger and larger classrooms and a lack of school supplies and books. Many children in high poverty schools are attending classes hungry and unhealthy and being instructed by under paid teachers and teachers who are forced, because of funding cuts, to teach multiple subjects outside their expertise.

She says, "If there's not enough funding for the educational program, then  the kids, parents, and most importantly teachers will begin to suffer."  The suffering has begun!  I'm not sure why teachers will suffer more, maybe that's just her shiny red apple, but I tend to believe society as a whole will suffer, and I'm not talking just Texas.

Maybe we can all breath a little easier knowing that our education woes might soon be caressed by the idea that anybody on a college campus could be carrying a gun. That was sarcasm.  I'm tired. It's been a long semester, and as a wise old friend of mine once told me, "let's poop and regroup."   Peace.