As the 2014 Legislative Session comes to a close, legislative trends and efforts are
clearly earmarked by examples of discrimination, favoritism for religious interests and
increased profit making for businesses and investors at the expense of public
education. Here are some questions about education along with the “answers” that
2014 legislators are considering.
Q: Public schools not doing well enough?
A: Take more money away from them rather than earmark money for
improvement.
Q: Not enough money in the State coffers to increase funding for education?
A: Cut taxes for business owners that will further reduce school funds.
Q: Concerned about discriminatory hiring practices in the workplace and
withholding services from anyone (e.g. sexual orientation) on the basis of religion?
A: State Senators Delph and Bosma going on record to rebuff giving State
money grants to institutions who discriminate hiring on the basis of religion.
A: But allow Charter and Private Schools that receive State tax dollars to
discriminate based on ability, special needs and religion (sexual orientation?).
Q: Charter Schools and private schools supposedly better?
A: Allow discriminatory selection based on academic ability and religion,
insuring the lowest performing students remain in public schools while the private and
Charter Schools can reject students who would drag down their performance, or whose
needs they don’t want to meet.
A: Allow private voucher schools to be exempt from State exams and
meeting accommodations for Special Needs students.
Q: Need better teachers in under-performing schools with the most
disadvantaged students?
A: Provide financial incentives for highly qualified teachers to transfer to
underperforming Charter Schools, but not underperforming public schools.
Q: School shootings and student safety a concern?
A: Allow concealed guns in cars in school parking lots.
Q: Is there verified research, that pre-School programs for the most
disadvantaged children will raise achievement?
A: Do not allow a pilot program because it will cost money.
A: Remain one of only a few States in America without mandatory
Kindergarten and State funded pre-school program.
Q: Want high State education standards?
A: Reject Common Core Standards due to objection from religious and
private schools.
Q: Concerned about filling the void left by rejecting Common Core Standards? !
A: Create ridiculously short timeline to develop the highest educational
standards and new State test. Fail to consider time for re-tooling curricula, instructional
strategies, and costs.
Can it be any more obvious that:
A) Many Legislators are not qualified to make coherent, logical
educational decisions;
B) current Legislative decisions are being motivated by financial
incentives/welfare for business and private/religious interests by taking money from
pubic education and from the needs of our most disadvantaged children?
How long will the public endure and accept such obvious illogical contradictions,
hypocrisies and discriminations in legislative actions and proposals regarding public
education?
Contact both Republican and Democrat lawmakers.! !
Please consider joining the Indiana Coalition of Public Education Network (ICPE)
