Deeds would be good to education
Published: October 13, 2009
In light of the exciting fact that U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan chose Charlottesville at which to announce his new policy initiatives, I’d like to share some education-related thoughts about the gubernatorial race.
Creigh Deeds has been endorsed by the Virginia Education Association because of his consistent support for education in the commonwealth. Sen. Deeds voted with Mark Warner for the biggest education funding increase ($1.5 billion), while his opponent, Bob McDonnell, voted against it.
McDonnell’s transportation plan would take $2.4 million from education funding by draining the General Fund, exacerbating problems that already exist, such as our below-average teacher pay and the inequitable distribution of quality education in all corners of the state. Creigh Deeds is committed to not taking any money away from the General Fund to fund transportation.
Bob McDonnell’s school vouchers plan would do nothing more than drain funds away from our already-distressed public school system, while showing no appreciable gains in student achievement.
As a student of the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia, I believe that the choice between the two candidates could not be clearer. Creigh Deeds will improve our education system, which is one of many reasons he deserves to be our next governor.
Jacob Paul ‘JP’ Stroman
Albemarle County
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Reader Reactions
If vouchers were offered, parents would be breaking down the door to sign up. Why? because of the sad state of our public education system. Virginia spends twice the amount of money on education that the state of Utah does, but the drop-out rate and test scores are virtually the same. Spending more money is not the answer, this has become obvious in the last 20 years.
Unions have no place in our schools.
Disband the teachers unions, get rid of the bad teachers, reward the good ones!! And we will see a vast improvement in our education system.
“Sen. Deeds voted with Mark Warner for the biggest TAX INCREASE IN VIRGINIA HISTORY(which included $1.5 billion for education), while his opponent, Bob McDonnell, voted against it.“
fix.t
“Bob McDonnell’s school vouchers plan would do nothing more than drain funds away from our already-distressed public school system, while showing no appreciable gains in student achievement.“
This is a LIE. The school system is paid per student. If the state provides a voucher that is LESS than they would spend on that child then there should be more money to go around to the ones who stay. The REAL reason that there is opposition to vouchers is that there would be a disproportionate number of low end students by percentage and Teachers would have to work harder to teach them without the HELP of the good students. Be HONEST.
And everbody KNOWS that private schools do a better job (and the teachers are paid less… go figure)
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