In Sunday’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2-1-09, the Georgia Department of Education listed the education cuts to each school district. However, each school must perform more with less support from the state. The lack of funding from the state translates into addition local funding, property taxes, from each school district.
Commencing in 2003, when the state economy was booming and tax breaks were given, Governor Perdue and the General Assembly reduce funding to each school district by 134 million dollars. Furthermore, the state has made educational cuts commencing 2003 to 2010.
|
Year |
Quality Basic Education cuts in millions |
|
2003 |
$134 |
|
2004 |
$283 |
|
2005 |
$332 |
|
2006 |
$332 |
|
2007 |
$169 |
|
2008 |
$142 |
|
2009 |
$278 |
|
*2010 |
*275 (proposed) |
|
Total for 8 years |
1.948 billions cut to education in Georgia |
Under this plan, Georgia's schools districts recieved less funding to maintain facilities and transportation even though both items are characterized as basic needs under QBE. Georgia has roughly 1.6 million students and based on the results of the CRCT last year, the students do not need or deserve a reduction of support from the state.
We agree that the funding given to school district is to be given directly to regular instruction (all students), exceptional children and the ESL students. The implication of after school programs is not equitable for all students for some students must go home at 3:00pm. Therefore, my school has implemented team time, with a 20 minutes focus on mathematics and remedial courses during the day to address the needs of the children.
We also have after-school program that focus on mathematics, reading and writing each Tuesday and Thursday. Moreover, we have teacher led tutorial Monday-Thursday.
However, I want to initiate a program where we could extend the day to engage all students in human development. Schools focus so much on academic discourse that we devalue human development. My school would start at 7:30am and conclude at 5:00pm. All students will have the opportunity to take courses such as chess, debate, sculpture, drama, dance, animation, and character education. These classes in addition to the core classes will allow students to express themselves creatively and critical. These classes will supplement the connection classes already in place such as music, PE, technology and consumer science. Students will have the opportunity to engage in collaboration, decision making and reflect on the lesson learned. We cannot continue school as normal for our students need more that academic discourse for they need to know how to think deeply and broadly. My school is to address the need of the whole child through a challenge and rigid curriculum that values all course of learning.
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