Way to Go "Politically Texas"

          I agree with the opinions shared in “PoliticallyTexas’” blog titled Public School Teachers Needing A Miracle really got my attention. We have similar opinions about K-12 education and the lack of funding and overcrowding. I like that she researched and included statistics about the stress on teachers with the overcrowding. I really liked her idea that the state should: “… take the time to address the teacher morale.” The stress that the teachers are under and the number of students that are in alternative schools has increased at the same time that the stress level of the teachers has increased is this a coincidence. The lack of funding, the overcrowding, the “… ‘attitude’ among growing children, in some cases the lack of stability in homes and the need to feel ‘popular’ can cause stress in a teacher’s life. … unexplained drop in morale can be traced to far more than just state budget cuts.”

          I think the writer did a really thorough job of explaining her argument. I really enjoyed reading her blog and will look forward to reading it in the future.

STAARS Testing is being deferred!!!!!

     I am so happy with what I read in the Austin American Statesman on the 30^th of November. I was reading an article titled: “STAAR scores won't count in course grade this year.” It has taken a very long time to come to this decision. “Texas Commissioner Michael Williams on Friday gave lawmakers, public school leaders, and parents some breathing room to work through deep-seated concerns about the state's standardized testing system,” written by Kate Alexander.

     I have experience as a parent of a teen who recently decided to go the route of G.E.D. The school was unable to provide the special education services needed to work with his learning disability. He was targeted and punished for not measuring up to the other students.

     The schools that were closed due to low test scores really did not improve anything in my opinion. I believe that that only made matters worse. The over-population in the schools did more harm than good. The funding for the schools that are currently in operation are not receiving any of the funding that we saved from closing the other schools. It confuses me how this has gone on as long as it has with the extremely difficult testing even for those that have learning disabilities.

It is a good start to defer the fifteen percent to give legislators time to change the testing system. How many students have given up on their education due to their scores on these tests?

      "The state law requires high school students to take 15 end-of-course exams,which intended to measure a student's college or career readiness. The class of 2015 –current 10^th graders-- took the exam last spring and results were dismal. About half of the test-takers failed at least on the end-of-course exam,which means they have fallen off the graduation track." It is about time for Governor Perry to prepare his re-election tactics. I hope that this is a success for the children. They need the help and support of society to stand up for the rights of all students. Just because you have a learning disability does not mean that you don not deserve the same change at a good education as all other students.

"Six for the Money" I Agree!

I agree with the opinion shared in TX: Affairs of the State’s blog titled “Six for the Money.” The funding of the public education is continuing to decrease while the number of students has continued to increase. It is disturbing to the number of schools closed due to low test scores, and the other schools that closed due to the lack of funding by the state. In my opinion the funds that were saved by the permanent school closures should be used to help adequately provide for the needs of the current schools that are struggling to provide for the needs of the students as well as services and supplies for the staff and educators The Texas School funding program has been in question a number of times over the years and now they are facing six lawsuits directed to the financial issues in the school systems covering three major topics: efficiency, adequacy, and meaningful discretion.

The increase in property taxes, the Texas Lottery, and the funding that the U.S. Government offers or tries to provide some assistance with the funding of Public Education. This all depends on whether Governor Perry will except funding from the U.S. Government or reject it.  Something needs to happen and soon to help remedy the current dilemma between the state and the schools. All children in America have a right receive and education without any discrimination of any kind.

 The courts will hear from six different schools around the State of Texas on how the districts are continuing to fall short. What is it truly going to take for the Texas Government to open their eyes to the reality that the education system needs updated and that the funding needs to increase or the dropout rate will continue to increase due to the lack of teacher support in the overcrowded classrooms. Hopefully in January we will have some new information to determine what is going to be done to improve the Texas’s School for the good of the parents and the children. Then it can be good for all. The passing of the new voucher system by the Texas Legislature next session will make a big impact I think by give families more options when they go to register their children for school. Let’s hope these lawsuit generate some necessary changes.  

Editorial about Low Income Housing in Austin and code enforcement

        I found an article titled “Apartment Walkway collapse could lead to tougher code enforcement” in the Statesman on November 1, 2012 written by Jasmine Ulloa very informative. I think the city of Austin has let the slumlords get by with below minimum standards in low income housing for way too long. Attention needs to be paid to ensure that the City of Austin increases their enforcement of  code violations that fall below minimum standards.
    As Ulloa states in her article, “But some community leaders say the city’s plans to improve code enforcement aren’t strong enough and could meet roadblocks. The city and taxpayers have to decide whether they want to pay for the repair incentives, they said, and the city hasn’t discussed consequences for those not willing to participate in a restoration program”
       What allow a property to fall below the minimum includes: backed up sewers, severe cockroach infestation, rats, faulty wiring, leaky roof, or not having  hot water. Dirty carpet and faulty appliances (malfunctioning dishwasher) are not violations. This information can be found in the Texas Constitution  Tex. Prop. Code SS 92.052(a). It is legal to rent an apartment  that has dirty carpets and has cockroaches, just not severe infestation,to someone. What is wrong is that City Council thinks that  because  someone is low income means that they are  second class citizens and thus not deserving of adequate housing regulated properly by the City. Tenants of the apartment complexes described in this article as well as many other complexes around the Austin area were built before 1985.Those code standards do not meet today's standards. Not to mention the number of absentee landlord/owners who live out of state or in a different country that are almost impossible to contact for any reason.
       What will it take for the Austin and  local taxpayers to see that people  suffer in substandard apartments and  there is no solution to these problems? The tenants complain to the city about the problems with their apartments and what repairs need to be made and are evicted. Instead of getting support from the city for reporting the code violations, they have to move. The places that are available for  low- income citizens who have been evicted are worse in most cases. This is a vicious cycle. No one sees the elephant in the room. Do you truly think that people choose to be poor? Life happens. What ever happened to love thy neighbor? I  researched this topic for over three hours to find out what the minimum standards were and discovered that we are one of the few cities in Texas that does not have  health housing   information available for public viewing online. Is it an oversight that Austin is not included on this website? I think not.

Commentary of an Editorial

           I read an opinion blog Texas on the Potomac an editorial written by Jana Kasperkevic titled 

“Democrats single out Texas as the nation’s vilest villain in ‘war on women’ ” published on 

September 9, 2012. I am writing my commentary from this blog entry.

In her blog she discusses how “Texas Republicans have been singled out as villains in the war on women by none other than…Texas Democrats. At a Texas delegation breakfast, State Senator Leticia Van de Putte “warned that the attack on reproductive rights had roots in Texas with the Legislature’s law to require those seeking an abortion to first undergo a sonogram,” reported Robert T. Garrett for Dallas Morning News.” I do agree that this law is against the rights of women it takes away our freedom to make decisions and have control over our bodies.

“Carol Alvarado, a Democrat from Houston, described the sonogram required as “government intrusion at its best…a climax in government intrusion,” while trying to explain to her colleagues at the House of Representatives that the sonogram might have to be obtained by using a vaginal probe.” I think that the people who are putting these laws into play should consider what actually goes into getting a sonogram. I think that the number of babies that are in foster care due to abuse and/or neglect should also be put on the table. This to me should be considered in regards to forcing women that cannot or will not care for their child for whatever reason. I think the state government needs to but out of the decision making process in regards to controlling the rights of a woman and her rights as a citizen in this great state.

“They don’t respect us [women]. They don’t think we’re smart enough to make our own decisions,” Van de Putte of the Republicans of the DNC.

“Van de Putte is not the only one to draw comparisons between Texas and the state of national politics during the Democratic National Convention.”

“What Rick Perry has done to Texas, that’s exactly what Mitt Romney wants to do to the rest of the country,” Cynthia Wilson of Dallas told Dallas Morning News. “I join many women in saying. No we’re not going to let that happen.”

“If you want a Romney presidency might look like, look at Texas,” Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood and daughter of former Texas Gov. Ann Richards, told The Daily Beast.

“Richards spoke at the convention on Wednesday night. Besides saying that both her mother and grandmother are from Texas Richards said, “Back in Texas, we say that you dance with them that brung you. President Obama brought women to this dance and we’re staying with him all the way through November!”

I agree with the writer that changes need to be made to keep the funding for Planned Parenthood of Texas. I have seen that we as women have more rights than before. I  see though that  more rights given to women need to be protected. These issues may be more easily resolved if we take the power out of the hands of those that are not in support of  providing funding for Planned Parenthood, a charitable organization that is tax deductible. The funding would be available without judgment by the public or the state and local government. I have personally used to use the services provided by Planned Parenthood. Most people think that the only reason why people go to Planned Parenthood is for abortions. I will beg to differ: I never had an abortion,but I did go for checkups and to obtain birth control when I was struggling financially, like many other are today with the troubled economy.

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Critique of Editorial

Critic of Editorial

I was reading an article in the Amarillo Globe-News on October 6,2012 titled: “Editorial: Sex offender program needs federal review.”  The editorial discussed how implementing a federal program would cost more than $38 mil for requirements and changes to comply with federal guidelines. The state of Texas is one in five states that has decided to opt out, losing 1.4 mil in federal funds. I agree with Dave Henry, the writer of this editorial: “that it is a shame that public safety- especially is credible and has a when it comes to heinous crimes committed by sex offenders- has to be relegated to dollars and cents, but in this case, the state of Texas has little choice.”

I think this editorial is for anyone who cares about public safety. The writer is credible and backs up his story with solid evidence. I think that the states that have opted out should think again. They should brainstorm to develop a plan to work with  federal government to integrate the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act for the safety and well-being of our children and /or young people depend on it. This act did not just come out of thin air it was put in place by a father that lost his son and they never found out who killed his son. The person that was suspected of killing the Walsh boy was a serial killer by the name of Ottis Toole who is is now deceased, so no one knows who abducted and killed Adam Walsh. Imagine if this was your child or grandchild how would you feel. Would you not think it was important? Just consider the crimes that were committed that landed these offenders on the Texas DPS website. Then, think of what can happen if we let this national program to be proven ineffective. It is too dangerous to let this drop due to poor planning and funding. I think this is of extreme importance and needs to be a priority to the Governor of this state.

Salary Increase over funding for schools.... Hmmmm

        I was reading The Texas Tribune today, September 7,2012. I found an interesting article:"Texas Schools Chief Michael Williams Will Make $215 K"  containing in depth information about Governor Perry appointing Chief Michael Williams the Commissioner over Texas schools. I thought it would be of interest to you. Governor Perry increased the salary of this position from $186,300 to the current salary of $215,000. The salary increase of about $29,000 over his predecessor, the governors’ office confirmed. I truly think that the raise that was given to Chief Michael Williams came from the money we saved from closing our children’s schools. Or did it come from the Rainy Day Fund? I have an issue with this.The schools are overcrowded and I truly believe that this makes it more challenging for the children now and in the future  to get a proper education.