South Bend weighed in on Governor Mike Pences State of the State address with the following remarks on education: Many are deeply aware of the painful cuts that have come to education even as a gaudy $2 billion surplus is touted by state officials. And the election of state Superintendent Glenda Ritz is a reminder that not all Hoosiers are comfortable with the sweeping education reforms that have been implemented in recent years. We are concerned that, in moving to expand what he proudly called “the largest educational voucher program in America,” Pence makes no mention of requiring the sort of accountability for charter schools that is rightly demanded of public schools. This hardly seems a fair and proper way to improve schools “for all our kids.” Research points to a mixed record for charter schools. A 2013 study from Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes found a downward trend in performance among Indiana schools that opened in 2008-09 and later. Last year, we recognized Pence’s efforts in pushing through a pre-K pilot program on early education — a small step, to be sure, but a necessary and long overdue one. One year later, as he proposes a modest investment in scholarships for the program, it’s difficult not to think of the governor’s abrupt withdrawal of Indiana’s application for $80 million in federal pre-K funds — and of all the deserving Hoosier children who could have been helped. We agree with the South Bend newspaper, although we worded it a little differently - Pence is full of contradictions - his actions dont match his words.
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 12:00:08 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015