Yes, Utah legislators need an education. First, they need to understand just what exactly goes on in a typical public school classroom. I doubt few, if any, actually do. If they did, this constant onslaught of stupid legislation would cease immediately. Everyone on both sides of the aisle can agree that education needs funding which results in a sense of over-creativity on Capitol Hill. Here are two examples beyond the, now defunct, voucher issue:
We need more teachers. We have a shortfall. We seem to need math and science teachers. That may be true overall but does not apply to every school or district. In an effort to solve this problem, a couple of pieces of legislation have come about that either pay math and science teachers more, or extend the school year for secondary students much like elementary schools who are on a year-round schedule. Another way to attract more teachers is to increase pay. The second option of extending the school year is said to solve the problem. It's a shell game and nothing more.
First, all teachers need a raise. This state pays public school teachers near the bottom of all states. It's shameful. Extending the school year and paying teachers more for their work is not a pay raise, it is just more work. Teachers need more pay-per-contract-hour, not more contract hours.
Second, unlike what legislators seem to think, teachers do not really have summers off. That time is spent refreshing curriculum, going to professional development, networking, and recovering from teaching those little brats with little or no parental and legislative support. Yes, some teachers work a second job for additional income, but that is their choice. They still do all of the above. Having a full-year schedule would still impede the curriculum work and professional development since teachers will not be able to control their schedules.
Also, the year-round provision suggests that students don't attend more school days but that they get to choose when they want to go. Most will choose to have the summer off anyway since that is when they work summer jobs, travel to colleges they want to apply to, etc. Additionally, many older school buildings are not air-conditioned. Who's going to want to go to class then? And how can you focus on schoolwork with all the great weather outside?
Then there is the concept of paying math and science teachers more. This is a dumb idea. Frankly, it is just as difficult for me to teach students in a different content area as it is for the math teacher across the hall to teach them.We are both highly educated professionals and we see the same students, just at different times of the day. Pay us the same rate. If you want to get more math and science teachers, offer a signing bonus, but keep them to the same pay scale as all other content areas.
Mr. Garn should recuse himself from writing any future education legislation or voting on anything to do with education until he becomes better educated. Public education would really benefit if Howard Stephensen, Greg Curtis, Curt Bramble, Chris Buttars, Margaret Dayton, etc., stayed away from any legislation as well. |
