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You may recall that Governor Romney has stated a few times in different ways that the problem we have in educating our children has nothing to do with a teacher shortage. If you listen to Mr. Obama, he would have us all believe that is precisely the problem. Well, let’s stick to the facts. The following is an excerpt from The Imaginary Teacher Shortage from yesterday’s WSJ:
For decades we have tried to boost academic outcomes by hiring more teachers, and we have essentially nothing to show for it. In 1970, public schools employed 2.06 million teachers, or one for every 22.3 students, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s Digest of Education Statistics. In 2012, we have 3.27 million teachers, one for every 15.2 students.
Yet math and reading scores for 17-year-olds have remained virtually unchanged since 1970, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Assessment of Educational Progress. The federal estimate of high-school graduation rates also shows no progress (with about 75% of students completing high school then and now). Unless the next teacher-hiring binge produces something that the last several couldn’t, there is no reason to expect it to contribute to student outcomes.
We need to return education and the teaching of our children to the local levels and take it away from the fabulously inefficient federal government. Why do we keep throwing good money after bad?
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Victor is a businessman working in the healthcare industry. He and his wife of 33 years have five children and four grandchildren. Vic has been blogging for Mitt Romney since 2007.
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Thanks Vic for this post.
I hope voters will pay attention to Gov Romney’s BEST edu plans “students first” Vs Prez Obama’s “i want teachers unions votes” plan instead of giving priority to students, parents.
It is a no brainer, Prez Obama’s school edu can be judged easily what is going on in his own home town Chicago. We witnessed what’s going on in his home town at the chicgo teachers strike.
Gov Romney was awesome on nbc education summit 2012.
http://www.educationnation.com/index.cfm?objectid=55C19DC6-074B-11E2-BC7C000C296BA163
Propaganda from the party that gets MILLIONS of teacher union dues.
We need NEW ideas, innovations and LESS federal control.
We NEED Romney/Ryan!!
I’m a teacher, and have seen those of us who support Romney accused of “voting against our own best interest”. I could not live with myself if I accepted increased compensation that would have to come from the earnings of the next several generations. It’s in everyone’s “best interest” to live within our means, as individuals and as a nation. Improved compensation will come to everyone who is willing to work hard, when we are fiscally responsible at every level.
Wendell, THANK YOU for you courage. Any level of change takes a corresponding level of courage. Our founders knew they would hang for speaking out for change.
THANK YOU.
We also need parents who teach their children to discipline themselves and be responsible. I am old and I went to elementary school just after WWII. There were 44 children in my 4th grade classroom and the teacher was in charge and we knew it. If we did not behave, our parents were notified and we were punished at home. Mom didn’t run down to the school to accuse the teacher and principal of mistreating her little darling. Lawsuit? Never crossed anyone’s mind. My education put me in advanced classes when I went to college. For that I am very grateful to hardworking teachers and loving parents.
NO we have a paddle shortage. We would do better to hire drill Sargents then teachers. Its just as important for the student to get enough sleep as to do their home work. speaking of homework it takes great effort to listen to that first grade reading while your child is doing her reading homework to you.
Susan and Brent,you are spot on!