I'm all for cutting government spending. Quit doing things like marijuana prohibition, public schools, speed limits on highways. Farm subsidies, fuel ethanol badly need to go.
OT: What did Dan Patrick do to the teachers?
- Thread starter oldschoolcat
- Start date
The last Republican or Democrat I voted for was Richard Nixon. I usually vote for the Libertarian although I did vote for Ross Perot. I don't really buy all of the Libertarian platform, but see it as a protest vote against the 2 parties that are hired to run the the dog and pony show.
They are for legalizing drugs and no income tax, so not all bad.
They are for legalizing drugs and no income tax, so not all bad.
Back to schools, I really don't know what the answer is, but we really need to catch up with the rest of the world fast.
When we need to import as much talent as we do to supply the tech companies I think there has got to be something wrong with what we are doing in schools, from Kindergarten through College. But I bet the answer is doing education smarter, not more money.
When we need to import as much talent as we do to supply the tech companies I think there has got to be something wrong with what we are doing in schools, from Kindergarten through College. But I bet the answer is doing education smarter, not more money.
Speedstrength did an excellent job of addressing the schools. Teachers cannot undo what parents don't do.
Yes sir, that's the rub. Many in America who claim to be poor are not. It's an excuse. There is also a huge issue of usury in our country which fosters the "keeping up with the Joneses" while robbing people of their labor. I wish I could do something about it from here but I can't. One day when my kids have finished college, I am going to volunteer helping people understand personal discipline which includes finances.
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You get it.
There are some people in our country that do need help. The people that abuse and leach off the system are taking from the few that truly can't help themselves.
That's a good goal to help people understand basic finance. If more young people truly understood how powerful compound interest is they would all be comfortable in their old age.
Somebody help me out here, was it Einstein that said compound interest was the most powerful thing in the universe?
Why does education cost more than it use to. Well it really doesn't cost more. Per pupil spending is down since 2008. The legislature never fully restored funding after the crash. If you want to go back to the 70s or 80s you have to consider a few things. If you strip out inflation you can trace it to two main culprits. The first is technology. Computers, servers, internet connectivity, and support staff aren't cheap.
The second is federal and state regulations. Our contract for STAAR testing runs almost 100 million per year. Then you have curriculum specialist whose sole job making sure teachers are adequately teaching items covered by the test. Then there are consultants, curriculum development or buying curriculum. There are programs that track test scores and predict how students will perform on upcoming test based on previous state and district level assessments. There are whole central office departments dedicated to testing from the assistant superintendent level on down to support staff. All of this cost money.
The second is federal and state regulations. Our contract for STAAR testing runs almost 100 million per year. Then you have curriculum specialist whose sole job making sure teachers are adequately teaching items covered by the test. Then there are consultants, curriculum development or buying curriculum. There are programs that track test scores and predict how students will perform on upcoming test based on previous state and district level assessments. There are whole central office departments dedicated to testing from the assistant superintendent level on down to support staff. All of this cost money.
That's inside baseball. Great insight. 2008 changed a lot of things but "teaching to the test" now brings a whole new meaning, ridiculous.
Ya, it was me. Einstein said compound interest was the seventh or eighth wonder of the world. The interest required to pay savers for their deposits is basically what is pulled from the laboring class to appease savers. It's a vicious cycle.
For those of you with kids in grades that are tested check the homework. In April we started getting a STAAR review packet for homework every day. I emailed the teacher and said we aren't doing that and they stopped coming home. I maid my son read actual books for 30 minutes and then do math problems for 30 minutes after school. Way better than those stupid worksheets.
Some of you may have heard something called Kumon? Mine have been going for 8yrs now both starting at age 5. They are both leaps and bounds ahead, talking 2yrs ahead of their classmates who don’t do it. It’s not for everyone, as it takes dedication from both the kids and parents, but it just becomes part of routine.
STAAR text? Pffft.
Not saying Kumon is the cure all, but it has made a difference. At least for my kids in 8th and 4th grade.
STAAR text? Pffft.
Not saying Kumon is the cure all, but it has made a difference. At least for my kids in 8th and 4th grade.
My father in-law is a superintendent in a fairly small district. He has nearly 40 years in education. He is going to get nearly 100% of his current pay at retirement, he had a prinicipal buddy retire a few years ago that will get over 100% of his final pay annually until he dies. His buddy had a ton of years in, but still a great deal.
I would get around $2,600 a month if I retired at 65 from social security. Whereas my father-in law will get over $10K per month. Our income is in the same ballpark, before you pull out the $18K a year I have to pull out to fund my own 401K.
So comparing teachers retirement to social security is apples to oranges.
And we have stopped speaking about public education, as it gets pretty heated. He is a great guy and I am glad he is taken care of, but damn.
mm42, I have had the same conversation with relatives who work for cities and counties. The math doesn't work, but they will swear until they are red eyed and fighting that "they put into the system" and it is what they "deserve".
It's a Ponzi Scheme....and everybody knows it. And you and I are paying for it.
It's a Ponzi Scheme....and everybody knows it. And you and I are paying for it.
People who put in 40+ years in public education are out there but they are rare. At that point he is making about 90% of the average of his last 5 years of salary. Here is why the system is solvent. 50% of all teachers don't make it to 5 years. 2/3rds of the profession doesn't retire as teachers. They leave because of low pay or frustration or something else. It takes 5 years to be fully vested. I had 6 years. My last 5 years average to a little over 38000. At 65 I can get 10.6% of that salary average or about 335 a month. Its been in there since 2006. Not sure if I would do better pulling it out and putting it in a 401k or keeping it in. I just decided to keep it in.
My dad had 34 years in and retired at 63. When he retired it was last 3 years average. He didn't coach his last 10 years and went down to teaching elementary when he retired his last 3 years average was a little over 55k. He gets 78% of that so about 3500 a month which is more typical of people who retire as teachers.
My dad had 34 years in and retired at 63. When he retired it was last 3 years average. He didn't coach his last 10 years and went down to teaching elementary when he retired his last 3 years average was a little over 55k. He gets 78% of that so about 3500 a month which is more typical of people who retire as teachers.
I think social security is 6.2% plus another 6.2% from employer on the first $118,500. TRS must have the world's greatest financial planners.
So it's basically a taxpayer funded employer match? Is there any easy reading on what Patrick's plan is?
I have a few times and find a lot of conflicting information. Apparently proposing pay raises makes you the Anti-Christ?
Most districts pay above state base so Patrick's proposed pay raise wouldn't really do munch of anything. Last time I looked there was only 1 district that paid state base. Its a distraction for the real problem.
Texas is a low tax low service state yet republicans run on cutting taxes. In order to get the budget to balance they force cities, counties, and school districts to raise taxes in order to cover cost. The biggest problem for education in Texas is lack of funding and the school finance mechanisms. The legislature needs to restore education funding to pre 2008 levels and fix how schools are funded because Robin Hood isn't cutting it.
Texas is a low tax low service state yet republicans run on cutting taxes. In order to get the budget to balance they force cities, counties, and school districts to raise taxes in order to cover cost. The biggest problem for education in Texas is lack of funding and the school finance mechanisms. The legislature needs to restore education funding to pre 2008 levels and fix how schools are funded because Robin Hood isn't cutting it.
Fifty two percent of Texas state tax rev goes to education funding. That is too high. Medicaid is increasing quickly and will begin crowding everything else out soon enough. In my opinion, individuals don't do enough on their own to contribute to his/her own education. How did America do so well a century ago with much less than we have now? I have my own opinions but schools are not underfunded. I hear the waste is astronomical. This comes from vendors who sell to schools.
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Vendors selling what? Schools probably have to buy it because of a state mandate or to try and deal with state mandated testing.
Texas budget was 216 billion all public education including higher ed was 42 billion. That is less than 25%
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.my...oes-education/y4Kkq71Is9j1OofHfwyevM/amp.html
This does not include 30 billion in local property taxes collected for schools. That's too much.
This does not include 30 billion in local property taxes collected for schools. That's too much.
Did you read the whole article. In the past 20 years the average was 58% and no legislature has ever done under 53%. I imagine it's been that way since the 50s. So the 52% is the lowest it's been since at least 1998. There is a reason teachers are leaving the profession in record amounts. They are tired of using their own money for supplies, teaching in overcrowded classes with outdated or limited supplies.
So I did a little more digging on Mr. Patrick's 52%. That is every dime spent on public education from EC-3 through PhD from federal, state and local dollars including university athletic departments. Should we really be including the hundreds of millions of dollars spent on college sports when discussing k-12 funding?
What are property tax rates compared to pre 2008? They are higher which are being used to offset the previous 2008 gap, hence the uproar from property owners.
Obama care has greatly increased the medicaid roles. That's where your school funding has gone. Thank goodness we have some legislators who balance the state budget instead of borrowing to satisfy everyone's wants. If we were to introduce a little competition to the educational and medical economies, we would be in much better shape fiscally.
Oh and btw, my parents always supplied my school supplies. I have a sneaking suspicion that parents aren't doing it know because they feel entitled to "free stuff" because everything else at school is free. Back in my day, teachers had the freedom to fail students if they didn't show up with proper supplies. We need to get back there as the motivation from being humiliated was powerful.
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Property tax rates are higher but property poor school districts aren't able to make up for the reduction in state funding. Some property rich districts are having trouble.
As far as supplies go there are people with kids who make minimum wage. That's less than 16k a year. Hard to take care of a kid with that.
As far as supplies go there are people with kids who make minimum wage. That's less than 16k a year. Hard to take care of a kid with that.
You don’t pay for teachers retirement. They have an automatic deduction from their paycheck every month that goes into the teacher retirement fund. So they pay for their own retirement just like you do.
Finally found the k12 numbers. In 2008 the split was 18 billion in state funding and 18 billion in local funding. In 2017/18 it was 19 billion in state funding and 27 billion in local funding but due to an explosion in population that is actually lower in per student funding than 2008. Still looking for those numbers. In order to lower property taxes the state needs to increase funding for k12
Since the collapse and bailout of 2008, a lot has changed in the private sector. Those sectors that are cozy with government and have access to low cost loans have not felt the effect of the actual sting that has taken place. If you look at agriculture, service industries, and many more, the pie has become smaller by a large factor. Everyone, including the school systems are going to have to adjust to the newer normal of stagnating growth with higher inflation. This is the cost of bailing out the financial system in 2008 and will continue for some time. Meaning if you print money to cover bad loans, at some point that money is going to make it into the economy and once the rate of circulation for the currency increases then inflation will kick in... If you have high debt loads at the same time with increasing interest rates, then more will be taken out of the econ to service this debt while money is chasing scarce items like food, oil, gas, etc.... It's called stagflation and it is coming to a town near us all.
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