RESTRUCTURING PUBLIC EDUCATION IS URGENT With a population growth of 4.

5 million in Texas over the past ten years and still growing and with a huge State financial deficit, a re-examination of expenditures for all public services is an absolute must. The use of arbitrary across-the-board cuts may reduce expenditures but may cause unintended, unacceptable and farreaching consequences. Texas is still enrolling approximately one hundred thousand new students every year. At a cost of $9,000 per student per year, $900,000,000 of educational funds is used for new population alone. The State suggestions of reducing merit pay, enlarging class size, reducing retirement and medical benefits would barely pay for the increase in enrollment. By restructuring public education, Texas can bite the bullet and accomplish three major improvements: (1) improve academic achievement for all students, (2) reduce the dropout rate while increasing the graduation rate, and (3) reduce cost. (Read Public Education for the 21stt Century, attached.) Drastic changes to customary ways of doing things always have criticspublic education will be no exception. Before attacking the messenger, however, take time to study the proposed changes and the expected results of those changes. Linus Wright Linusdw @sbcglobal.net Ph. 214-363-7565

RESTRUCTURING PUBLIC EDUCATION For st THE 21 CENTURY

INTRODUCTION: How will our nation survive in the future without addressing the massive underachievement of the young people in our public schools? America is losing its edge in producing highly intelligent, thinking, creative innovative young adults equal to the tasks that are even now presenting themselves worldwide. American public education needs a complete restructuring in order to support the development of knowledgeable, critical thinkers of strong character and integrity, ready to assume their positions as productive participating citizens of a free society. To neglect a decision to change the system will only contribute to Americas losing its position as the leader of the free world. America has been number one in the development of innovations that have improved the quality of life throughout the world for the past hundred years. Because of our deteriorating system of public education, other nations are assuming leadership roles in economies, innovations, education, skilled labor and productivity. STATUS OF PUBIC EDUCATION: The December, 2010, release of the Program for International Student Assessment results showed that U. S. students were outperformed in reading, math and science by dozens of other countries, including China, South Korea, Germany and Finland. The U. S. ranked 23rd in science, 17th in reading, and, worst of all, 31st in math. It is difficult, of course, to compare countries of vastly different size, cultures, and compositions, but many commentators said the results pointed to other countries emphasis on academics, high prestige and pay for the teaching profession, and a parental culture of high expectations. (Dallas Morning News, January 18, 2011.)

Also to be noted: America has one of the highest dropout rates in the world. Students are inadequately prepared in kindergarten, elementary and middle school for academic success in high school. Thus, they become discouraged and drop out. The average dropout rate nationwide is 30-40%. Urban centers report dropout rates as low as 40% and as high as 80%. (The High Cost of Failing Public Education in Texas, Milton and Rose Friedman Foundation) America imprisons a higher percentage of citizens than any other nation. 70-80% of those inmates cannot read at the fourth grade level. America spends five times more to incarcerate a person than it spends for his education. (The High Cost of Failing Public Education in Texas, Milton and Rose Friedman Foundation) In 2010, only 20% of high school graduates were able to pass a simple mental test to qualify for entry into the armed forces. Only 25% passed the physical exam. American business and industry are sending many of their better paying jobs overseas where the labor market has better skills and academic preparation. (National Chamber of Commerce) NEED FOR RESTRUCTURING PUBLIC EDUCATION In 1900, a majority of the population lived on farms. Children were needed to assist with chores after school and with harvesting crops during the summer months; therefore, school days and school years were short. Now, in 2011, most of that rural population has moved to the cities, and children are no longer needed for farm labor (Illiterate America, 1987, Dr. Jonathan Kozol, Harvard University) America must move away form this hundred-year-old agrarian system of education. A six-hour school day and a one-hundred-eighty day school year will not and cannot compete with other industrialized nations whose students meet higher academic standards, have better prepared teachers, attend classes 30-50% more time, and are supported by a parental culture that expects and requires more from their children. Their students are no more

intelligent than American studentsthey just work longer and harder, thus achieve at a higher level. Secondly, the U. S. has never been successful, except in a few isolated instances, in educating children from backgrounds of poverty. They arrive at public schools at age six with a minimal speaking vocabulary of perhaps 400 words, while children of more affluent parents come with a vocabulary of 2000-4000 words. Low-income parents seldom have books and magazines in their homes, they speak less to their children, and they themselves often have a very limited vocabulary. It is difficult, if not impossible, to learn to read in first grade with such limitations, and that gap increases with every passing year. It follows then that if we are serious about improving academic achievement for low-income and non-English speaking students while reducing the dropout rate at the high school level, we must begin the age-appropriate formal education of children at a much earlier ageno later than age 3. The case for early childhood education: Daniel Pederson, President of the Buffet Early Childhood Fund states that in the first few years of life, there are 700 neuron connections formed every second. Yet public policy does not engage the child during the first five years of life. We have always argued that those years belong to the family, and indeed they do, but with more and more mothers working outside the home, the need is for childcare that is not only safe but also instructional, using that time to build vocabulary and prepare these young ones for success in school. Children who are culturally and/or economically deprived arrive at kindergarten already left behind, unlikely to catch up. Children at these early ages are like spongesthey eagerly receive, process and retain information of lasting value. Early childhood education will greatly reduce the later expense associated with remedial classes, high school dropouts, etc. Children who are given the tools to be successful in the school environment acquire the self-confidence and ego strength to enable them to make good choices and follow a productive path in later years. 3

 Research demonstrates that the most economical and effective way to improve academic achievement is to begin with 3 and 4-year olds, especially nonEnglish speaking students and children from backgrounds of poverty. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RESTRUCTURING: 1. Early childhood educationfull day for all non-English speakers and children of poverty. Non-degreed teachers with strong child development training have proven to be very effective with 3 and 4-year-old children. Research is available showing that students taught full-day by these teachers show greater academic progress (and at considerable less cost per student) than students taught half-day by degreed teachers. Educational First Steps, a non-profit agency in Dallas, Texas, provides a replicable model of what can be done and how to do it. They provide training for teachers and parents and ageappropriate academics for 4500 3 and 4-year-olds in 95 different pre-schools at a cost of approximately $500 per student. 2. Teacher and administrator academic preparation must become more rigorous, and teacher employment more selective. University requirements for elementary and middle school teacher candidates must include more courses in the content areas and fewer in methodology. 3. A governance model must be developed which includes required qualifications for school board members along with term limits. 4. Restructure elementary, middle and high schools to accommodate (a) flexible scheduling that is parent-friendly, (b) flexible curriculum to meet the needs of students as they achieve at different rates, and (c) longer school days and longer school years. 5. Eliminate 12th grade from high school, using those funds for full-day schooling for 3 and 4-yeaar-olds. The 12th grade is the least productive and the most expensive. Texas added the 12th Grade requirement in 1940 at the end of the depression, not for educational purposes but to solve an unemployment problem of young people on the streets with nothing to occupy them. 6. Transfer high school vocational courses to the Community College, which can provide more comprehensive courses at much lower cost. Using adjunct 4

instructors at community colleges, the cost is approximately one-fifth the cost for the same instruction in public high schools. The excessive cost for vocational course in the high school is the result of (a) using full-time certified teachers, (b) necessary lab and shop equipment, and (c) the necessity of smaller classes for this type of instruction. Contract with a Community College to teach vocational courses in the existing high school facilities for college credit. Community colleges use adjunct instructors at a cost of approximately $2000-$3000 per semester course as opposed to a high school using a full-time certified teacher at a cost of approximately $40,000-$50,000 per year. 7. Explore the amount of time, effort and expense of extracurricular activities in middle and high school relative to value produced and received. 8. Explore the allocation and use of auxiliary school staff, such as secretaries, teacher aides, counselors, custodians and maintenance employees. At least half of school personnel are currently employed outside the classroom. 9. Explore and determine the most efficient use of school facilities. 10. Determine proper compensation and benefits for all public school employees as compared to similar positions in the private sector. 11. Require every school to develop and implement a parent involvement plan, i.e. PTAs, PTOs, Advisory Committees, mandated parent/guardian/teacher conferences. 12. Require each school district to undergo an external evaluation every five years to determine effectiveness of operation. Criteria for the evaluation and the personnel conducting such an exercise would be approved by the Texas Education Agency. 13. Intentionally teach core values of respect, responsibility, honesty, selfdiscipline and citizenship. SUMMATION: President Lyndon Johnson said that public education is the engine that powers all economic growth in our nation. From the statistics presented, is it any wonder that (a) the federal deficit is approximately 14 trillion dollars and growing, with little or 5

no hope of a balanced federal budget anytime in the near future, (b) many states are facing bankruptcy and cannot meet their fiscal responsibilities, (c) the majority of all private and public pension funds are underfunded and will not be able to meet their promised obligations, (d) Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid will likely be unable to meet their promised benefits, (e) the military establishment, the safeguard of our freedom and security, will have to be downsized, and (f) higher paying jobs will continue to go overseas because the American labor market is not prepared academically or with the skill levels required for todays jobs. No one can predict how long it will take America to overcome the deficits we face in every domestic, economic and security problem listed. However, if public education is indeed the engine that drives economic growth, a drastic restructuring of the system must occur immediately. It takes at least 18 years (birth to 18) to produce a new generation of citizens prepared for entry into the job market and/or prepared for entry into colleges and universities for additional academic preparation. There are no quick fixes. Only well thought out, long-term solutions by the brightest and most experienced among us could implement such change to improve both the quality, the outcomes, and at once reduce cost. It can be done. After all, do we have a choice?

Linus Wright
7315 Lane Park Court Dallas, TX 75225 214-363-7565 July 25, 2011 SUBJECT: Recommendations for restructuring public education I would appreciate your reviewing the attached draft of Public Education for the 21st Century and commenting regarding the following: 1. Is the present status of public education stated accurately?

2. Are the suggestions for restructuring and improvement appropriate? 3. What changes, additions, deletions or corrections would you suggest? 4. Would you think it appropriate to submit such a position paper to key members of the Texas Legislature, the only legal body that can effect change in public education in Texas? 5. Other than the Legislature, what other individual, group or organization would you recommend could or would help start the restructuring process? Note: Any recommendations submitted to the Texas Legislature must be simple and briefno more than 5 pagesotherwise, it probably will go quickly into File 13.