Mike McClellan’s whining ("East Valley Voters Made Their Education Bed") about the defeat of various education funding measures conveniently forgot to mention that the largest measure, Mesa’s $230 bond request, passed. He also seems unaware that most public school teachers earn far more than most private school teachers, especially in the benefits area. Finally, despite inflation-adjusted per-pupil spending nearly tripling in Arizona since the early 1970s, we have very little if anything to show for it in terms of improved pupil achievement.
Arizona educators have deliberately made tracking pupil achievement trends difficult via repeatedly changing tests and lobbying against effective accountability measures.
However, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, "The performance of (national) 17-year-olds on the 2008 reading and mathematics (latest available) assessments was not measurably different from their performance in the early 1970s." Further, a recent Harvard- sponsored study reported that Arizona ranked 31st out of 41 states in the annual rate of growth in student achievement in math, reading, and science for the period 1992-2011. Thus, there is no basis to claim that the enormous increases in Arizona education funding over past decades have helped pupil outcomes.
The ‘good news,’ Mr. McClellan, is that Arizonan voters are realizing it’s time to stop wasting more money and instead demand improvements. A good way to start would be utilizing promising innovations such as Kahn Academy’s Internet teaching tools — demonstrated to be more effective and potentially far less costly.
Loyd Eskildson
Former Chief Deputy, Maricopa County School Superintendent’s Office
Scottsdale
smartvoter posted at 5:18 pm on Fri, Nov 30, 2012.
Mr. Eskildson is correct , we are throwing good money away! He was simply comparing test scores today to test scores from the 1970's The difference between the 70's and today is that the left winged liberal UNIONS were'nt that big back then in the school systems like they are today.
For the past 20 years or so every election cycle there is always something on the ballot about getting more school funding, and it's alwsys about the kids, only thing is it's the kids that always get the short end of the deal and the Administration employees always seem to get everything.
I lived in Dobson Ranch for 10 years right down the street from Dobson High School and for 2 years in a row they tore up the parking lot and re-paved it. There was nothing wrong with it, they just had to spend the money or loose it.That can easily be fixed by changing some of the laws governing schools.
And for the teachers they don't deserve any more money , they themselves should be tested every year to prove they are worthy of a rate increase. They work less than the average worker and get more. I work 52 weeks a year and school teachers make more then I do and they whine that it's not enough.
What can you say besides left winged liberal indoctranation.
VofReason posted at 1:23 pm on Fri, Nov 30, 2012.
Although I did hear that Tempe hired a chef for their district to figure out that carrots are good and french fries are bad. Now that is money well spent......
VofReason posted at 1:22 pm on Fri, Nov 30, 2012.
Yah, well what does a Former Chief Deputy, Maricopa County School Superintendent’s Office know versus a retired English teacher about school funding. Oh, wait? People in Education may find this strange, but in the real world, spending more money to fix the problem is usually what you do after exhausting all other options. For some reason, it is always their first and only suggestion.
Rich posted at 7:47 pm on Tue, Nov 27, 2012.
And, Mike did it with facts and statistics, that were totally off the point. If Mr.Eskildson was actually taken seriously, and he is right, a lot of people have stolen a lot of money, and that, in itself, explains the state of education in this country. When you steal from something, you diminish what it can accomplish, and apparently 2/3 of what we spend for education is stolen somewhere along the line. At one third the cost we can produce the same results and have. The question we have to ask ourselves is really what we want out of education, educated people, or Mike's comfortable retirement.
DonMey posted at 11:58 am on Tue, Nov 27, 2012.
It seems most people completely missed the point of the article. He pointed out spending doesn't equal success, and then people posted comments about how little we spend...
Bluepoet posted at 10:39 am on Mon, Nov 26, 2012.
I am curious to know what Mr.Eskildson's current employment consists of...could it be private education, or internet tutelage, perhaps?
As for the arguements--I would say that Arizona needs both the money AND the improved educational system, as reflected by the abominable state of our public schools, and their national rankings. Instead, we seem bent on abandoning the entire thing, and letting the private companies, prisons, and parents sort it all out.
I suppose it means we'll see a cheap labor force, in the next generation...maybe we can send them South of the Border, to find jobs...[whistling]
Rich posted at 11:31 pm on Fri, Nov 23, 2012.
Mike,
Nothing you said was relevant to the argument. Has inflation-adjusted per-pupil spending nearly tripled in Arizona since the early 1970s? Apparently so as you don't dispute it. Has student performance increased or has the extra money been wasted. Apparently again, the latter. He needn't mention anything else, the point is made. Your attempt to divert attention from the point is a bit transparent, don't you think?
bubba posted at 5:30 pm on Fri, Nov 23, 2012.
Apparently Mr. Eskildon's letter is quite neglegent.
Mike McClellan posted at 3:38 pm on Fri, Nov 23, 2012.
A. The office Mr. Eskildon worked for is one of the biggest boondoggles in our state's education system. The county schools offices throughout the state could easily be eliminated and replaced at the State Dept. of Ed. level, saving taxpayers millions
B. What Mr. Eskildon neglects to mention is that bonds do not go for teachers but for building or equipment or remodeling, things that the state hasn't funded fully for years.
C. What Mr. Eskildon neglects to mention is that per pupil funding has indeed multiplied, just like it has across the nation. What Mr. Eskildon neglects to mention is that unlike the '80's, when Arizona ranged between 18th and 24th in per pupil funding well into the early 90's, we're now anywhere from the high 30's to the high 40's, depending on how the rank is attained.
D. What Mr. Eskildon neglects to mention is that since the '80's, the percentage of the total budget providing for education has dropped from 69% to 57%.
E. What Mr. Eskildon neglects to tell you is that we have an average of 21 students/per teacher, higher than the national average of 15 per pupil.
F. What Mr. Eskildon neglects to tell you is that the only national testing -- NAEP -- shows a slow progress in reading, math, and science in both grades tested, 4th and 8th, over the last 20 years.
G. What Mr. Eskildon neglects to tell you about tracking student achievement is that , as Republican State Superintendent of Instruction Huppenthal has noted, the clearinghouse for educational statistics in our state is outmoded and inefficient. Which is why he's revamping that. What Mr. Eskildon also neglects to mention in this regard is the changing nature of testing in our state, having dumped the earlier system for AIMS, having the AIMS tests change over the years, having the pass scores change over the years. And now revamping the program once again, with the Common Core Assessment coming to fruition in two years.
H. The Khan Academy is an excellent education tool, but it has its limitations, as any tool does. And what Mr. Eskildon neglects to tell you is that many schools and teachers in AZ already have made the Khan Academy a part of their programs.
truth posted at 3:32 pm on Fri, Nov 23, 2012.
It is not the amount of money that is spent on each student, but if the money is actually spent on the student in the class room for reading, math, science and writing. You article is missing one figure, Arizona spends half the amount on education per student than other states.
SculptorDad posted at 2:08 pm on Fri, Nov 23, 2012.
Hear hear! But Khan is too new to make comparisons with and claims for.