If that were the case, our investment
would have long cured the problem. Since 1980, nearly $400 billion
has been spent by the federal government on education. In combined
local, state, and federal spending, roughly $293 billion is appropriated
every year for education.
Despite this considerable investment of tax dollars, 40 percent
of fourth-graders do not read at even a basic level; half of the
students from urban school districts fail to graduate on time;
U.S. 12th graders are outperformed by all but two of 21 nations
in mathematics; and public institutions of higher education annually
spend $1 billion on remedial education.
Our children, however, are very bright! In state after state,
our third graders do exceptionally well in testing. But by the
12th grade, their test scores take a dip. What happens to our
children between the 3rd and 12th grades? (I'll give you a hint-it's
not the kid!)
Increases in education spending are expected, but money alone
is not the issue. Currently, there are 760 federal education programs.
It is safe to assume new programs are not the answer either.
In the last Congress, the Education Subcommittee on Oversight
and Investigations publicized the findings of their extensive
national study on what works and what is wasted in education.
The subcommittee found that successful schools and school systems
were characterized by the following: local control, strong parental
involvement, emphasis on basic academics, and dollars spent in
the classroom, not the bureaucracy or ineffective programs.
These findings have formed the backbone of the Republican education
vision and the underlying theme of the bills passed, including
the Academic Achievement for All Act (Straight A's); the Student
Results Act; the Teacher Empowerment Act; the Education Flexibility
Act; and the Dollars to the Classroom Resolution. While these
bills represent a step forward, there is still considerable work
to be done at the federal, state, and local levels to spur excellence
in the classroom.
Experts agree the most important determinant of a successful
learning environment is quality teaching. Teachers need to be
treated as professionals, and there is no question that good teachers
deserve well-paying compensation. Conversely, poor teachers need
to be shown the door. Unfortunately, teachers do not get merit
pay for achieving and it's easier to win the lottery than to dismiss
a poor performing teacher. Reforms espoused by conservatives would
reward those teachers who had a profound impact on our children's
lives and demand accountability from teachers who fail our children.
This is why tenure reform is so important. Tenure prevents teachers
from being treated like other professionals. In other occupations,
high achievers are rewarded, consistently low achievers are let
go. Likewise, the rigid pay schedules supported by unions also
prevent merit pay. In other words, the Teacher of the Year makes
the exact same pay as a teacher who routinely falls asleep in
class because his or her schooling and time in service are the
same. If we are going to raise our expectation
of schools, we need to give education
leaders the authority to make changes in personnel, pay, and accountability.
Additionally, focus needs to be put back on the teachers rather
than the bureaucracy that envelops the educator. In some states,
more than half of all statewide school personnel DO NOT teach
in classrooms-they are administrators.
As professionals, teachers need to be given the support they
deserve including training opportunities, legal protection, and
a safe work environment. This year, Republicans passed a proposal
to protect teachers from lawsuits based on frivolous complaints.
By empowering teachers to maintain a safe and disciplined environment,
we enable them to do what they do best-teach.
Republicans are empowering parents as well. School choice efforts
have produced charter schools across the nation which are producing
dramatic results in student achievement. Tax credit and scholarship
initiatives have met with similar success.
The Clinton administration has used the bully pulpit well in
convincing America that tax cuts and tax credits are bad for the
country in spite of evidence to the contrary. Conservative proposals
which would provide a $2,000 per year/per child education tax
credit to be used for books, computers, tutoring or any other
educational related expense is rejected out of hand as another
play by the "right-wing."
School choice offers low-income
parents the ability to give their children the best possible education
in their community. School choice puts the local public school
on notice that in order to keep students in their school they
must compete for excellence with other schools in the education
arena.
As the father of a six-month-old daughter, it is never too early
to think about the education she will receive. The question America
must answer is what needs to be done to have the very best education
system. We can do better, but to do so, we must rise above the
foolish political spin and come together with common sense, and
yes, bold initiatives to better our education system for the sake
of our children's future.
Jeffrey L. Taylor is a 1984 graduate of Assumption College. He is currently a chief of staff on Capitol Hill, and previously served in the Administration of President George Bush. He lives with his wife, Julie, and daughter, Morgan, in Mt. Vernon, Virginia.