EDUCATION WEEK or EDUCATION WEAK?

A new President is in place and it is a great time for a new beginning.  President Bush is giving education top billing, calling week one of the Bush II years as Education Week.  On the surface and winning issue… education, we are all for it.  But in reality it will take leadership to move the public education system to the next level.  He will get something out of his efforts because politely both parties want something.  

But the real question is the Presidents leadership.  Will he have the clout ability and leadership abilities to accomplish real change?  The ship of education does not turn very quickly and resists with a mighty strong entrenched bureaucracy.  Tie that to a parental “hands off” attitude and change comes only with a huge effort. 

Take Polk County.  We too have a new beginning; a new Superintendent who was elected by the people.  Has he surfaced?  Has he made any new proposals?  Has he spent any of his newly won political power to improve our schools?  He may have, but as far as the average citizen he has submerged in the molasses of bureaucracy in Bartow. 

If Polk County is indicative of schools across the country, real change will be almost impossible. 

I have argued in these columns that we should have an appointed superintendent rather than an elected one.  The advantages are huge.  We get a wider array of choices.  We could look for what we need right now in the school system.  We could have specific goals and accomplishment in the form of an employment contract.  The advantages far outweigh the only advantage of having the people vote for the superintendent.  

But where is the leadership for change, the leadership for making our schools better?  All is quiet on the education front.  We know that our schools could be better, but all is still.  The molasses of bureaucracy is winning.  

The President is for schools being accountable and having the club of vouchers to enforce the marketplace on schools.  Vouchers by themselves will not solve our school problems no more than throwing more money at the problem.  The argument against vouchers is that it isn’t enough money to send a child to a private school.  This is a typical liberal argument.  Money solves all ills and you have to make sure there is enough money for all who want.  

Vouchers have the ability of fundamentally changing the culture of the school system.  Making it competitive from being a monopoly.  Don’t you like having stores, car dealers, plumbers competing for your dollar.  Wouldn’t you like you kid’s school actively compete to educate you child?  The motivation of a few dollars as an incentive to parents to do better by their child is a huge benefit.  Yes, they will have to put money with the voucher to accomplish the goal, but it will get them involved, and become a concerned parent and the child will go to a competitive school.

 I agree that some will be left behind, but left in a school that knows it will have to do better or die.  Motivation is a wonderful thing.

 I would ask that our new superintendent, Mr. Jim Thornhill, come forward and lay out his plans for a better Polk County School system.  With every week that goes by with out hearing from him the status quo gains control and it becomes harder and harder to improve. 

I would ask that the school board and Mr. Thornhill spearhead the change from elected to appointed superintendent.  That would be a symbolic and powerful message that both want better for Polk county students.  And also get on board with the new president to do better nationwide.  

Do I expect the change?  No, I don’t think the superintendent will argue against his personal interest and I don’t think the school board has the courage to lead the fight.  The only way for this change to happen is to change voter’s minds. Newspapers and community leaders have to take the lead and stand up for improvement.  Most important, parents should be heard from.  So lets just see if we really want better for our students or we want to just sit back and let big government do it.