Filed the following comment on the Times webpage that posted Lisa MacFarlane’s questions for legislators. ******* Lisa: I applaud your article on questions for legislators. I don’t even take umbrage at your “preferences for special interests” comment. Yet, you left out some important questions. Allow me to offer a few examples? Between 1996 & 2014, state test scores for students in reading, writing, math, and science have improved dramatically, even during a time when the state’s historical underfunding of education was rampant. “Who should be given credit for those achievements in the face of such neglect?” In the 1940s, Washington state’s high school graduation rate was less than 50%. In 2004, amid failing funds, the graduation rate was 70% of those students who began 9th grade in our system. In 2013-14, the OSPI Report Card for the state shows that 76% of students graduated on time and that 78.8% graduated, if we include those who took all or part of another year to graduate. “Who should be given credit for those achievements in the face of such neglect?” In the rhetoric of school reform today, much is made about the “step increases” in salary available to teachers each year. “What proportion of teachers are eligible for these “step increases?” Advertisements for job openings often require the applicant to have experience in the field of work. It is reasonable, therefore, to infer experience is a positive factor in applying for these jobs. Yet, more and more the experienced teacher is taking the brunt of the criticism of our current educational system. “How do you perceive the veteran teachers of our state’s school system? Is experience a valuable resource or should we be bringing in more and more inexperienced teachers, such as those from Teach for America?” In my humble opinion, any legislator who does not have a plausible answer to these questions is unqualified for the legislature and its “paramount duty”. Ken Mortland – Kirkland,WA – Retired Teacher
Posted on: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 21:23:28 +0000
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