Interesting proposals afoot in the world of elementary and secondary education: Cuomo's Plans for School Reform. Lots of reasons to be concerned, especially if you're a teacher. Or a student.
Here's the thing, though.
Until we solve the poverty problem, we are never going to solve the the education problem. Never.
Yes, incompetent teachers are a problem and should be fired.
Yes, school districts that fail to educate their students are a problem and should be reformed, whether they like it or not.
Yes, wasteful educational programs should be curtailed and eliminated in order to spend money educating students helpfully. (Note to politicians: services for gifted or disabled learners, the arts, and the humanities do not fall under the "wasteful educational programs" rubric. Nor do programs that involve class sizes smaller than 40, students having textbooks, and buildings that are not in imminent danger of collapsing.)
But teacher incompetence, failing school districts, and wasteful educational spending pale in comparison to the problems generated by the wealth gap in this country.
They also pale in comparison to the rank injustice of property-tax-funded school districts.
Solve the poverty problem. Do that first. Then worry about firing teachers and cutting programs.
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