What is your view of Gov. Perry’s executive order to require 65 cents of every dollar to be spent in the classroom?
I am sure the intention of this act was an honorable one, but this order will further tie the hands of the local schools. This often happens when decisions are made about educational matters by politicians rather than educators. I taught for 22 years in Allen and can say I never had a problem with having adequate materials for my classroom. Because personnel costs account for 80% of a school budget, just having the teacher or teachers in a classroom would account for a high part of this 65%. On the other hand, all the districts of Texas are not duplicates of each other, and the needs of one may not mirror the needs of another. If, for example, a district finds it is quite adequately providing for the classroom needs of its students--but is accomplishing that goal at a rate lower than 65%--and would like to spend the difference on programs that would enrich and better the students, first it would be forced to fulfill that mandate and wastefully spend money on an unneeded initiative. The reality of this order is that it will do very little to help students or teachers, and will no doubt add time to both the teacher’s day and to staff requirements to assure that the school is complying.
Why am I running for the Allen ISD School Board?
I retired from teaching in 2006, and am running for a position on the Allen Independent School District Board of Trustees in the May election. I am often asked why I am running for the Board, and I have several reasons I believe are important.
First, I was always happy teaching school. I think this is evident by the number of my children who followed me in this great and honorable career. I feel that I need to give back to the students and professionals who gave me 43 happy and enriching work years.
Secondly, I have a great passion for public education. We in Allen are blessed because we still have some of the small town "feel" left in our schools. However, I believe we must return to the principle upon which public schools were created: to reflect not society, but the best of our society; if our schools do not subscribe to the highest expectations--not only in academics, but in citizenship, character and mutual respect--public education as we know it will turn into a system of private schools with each segment in our society having their own school. Our forefathers probably made our country what it is today because they enacted the free public school education laws. Our schools must return to the position they once held in our culture: that of promoting, expecting and requiring that our schools exemplify the highest standards of society.
Thirdly, I have a personal interest in keeping Allen schools the best they can be. I have one grandchild who graduated from Allen High School, one currently attending AHS, one is a pre-kindergarten student at Bolin Elementary, and two others who will be in AISD in the next two years. All of these children make education--particularly in Allen--of grave importance to me.
In my opinion, "It's all about the kids" is not a public relations statement, but rather a personal mission philosophy I embrace and I am pursuing for the benefit of not only my grandkids and the other children of Allen, but also for all the little ones yet to come.
First, I was always happy teaching school. I think this is evident by the number of my children who followed me in this great and honorable career. I feel that I need to give back to the students and professionals who gave me 43 happy and enriching work years.
Secondly, I have a great passion for public education. We in Allen are blessed because we still have some of the small town "feel" left in our schools. However, I believe we must return to the principle upon which public schools were created: to reflect not society, but the best of our society; if our schools do not subscribe to the highest expectations--not only in academics, but in citizenship, character and mutual respect--public education as we know it will turn into a system of private schools with each segment in our society having their own school. Our forefathers probably made our country what it is today because they enacted the free public school education laws. Our schools must return to the position they once held in our culture: that of promoting, expecting and requiring that our schools exemplify the highest standards of society.
Thirdly, I have a personal interest in keeping Allen schools the best they can be. I have one grandchild who graduated from Allen High School, one currently attending AHS, one is a pre-kindergarten student at Bolin Elementary, and two others who will be in AISD in the next two years. All of these children make education--particularly in Allen--of grave importance to me.
In my opinion, "It's all about the kids" is not a public relations statement, but rather a personal mission philosophy I embrace and I am pursuing for the benefit of not only my grandkids and the other children of Allen, but also for all the little ones yet to come.
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