Education
The candidates for governor spoke yesterday on education -- Beebe to the AEA and A$a to a rural school group. A$a wants quality education for rural schools. (Even if it means preserving pitiful schools that don't teacher core curriculum, band or many activities beyond basketball. Pipe some TV classes into those outposts in case any kid is brave enough to sign up and call it square with schools with a 150 courses and dozens of extracurricular activities. Yes, that's the ticket.) Beebe, for his point, is dancing very carefully between the AEA and the big business community that has been twisting arms and giving campaign contributions to legislators on the strength of support for merit pay in the 2007 legislative session. In that regard, there was some significance yesterday in the presence at a Beebe fund-raiser of Luke Gordy, lobbyist for the suits, such as the D-G publisher, leading the charge for merit pay. When it comes to business lobbyists, Beebe rarely gets left.
Comments
I'd like to get both Asa's and Beebe's official position on merit-based pay for teachers. You think that could be arranged, Max/Warwick?
Posted by: Bill | July 13, 2006 08:15 AM
"When it comes to business lobbyists, Beebe rarely gets left."
You democrats must sure be proud.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 13, 2006 08:26 AM
The other candidate for governor, Rod Bryan, also spoke about education last night on community radio station KABF. His points resonated with author and college professor David W. Orr of Oberlin College. You can find the essay Orr writes (that Rod has incorporated into his Education Reform) at www.context.org/ICLIB/IC27/Orr.htm
The changes needed to reform our education system are not being proposed - in small or large part - by the two major party candidates for governor.
I implore everyone to have a look at this essay and other issues Rod brings to the race.
Posted by: r4g | July 13, 2006 08:54 AM
Governor Asa Hutchinson sounds mighty good to me. He will cut the fat...cut the taxes...get the car factories...Stand up to the Liberals who want half of everything for nothing.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 13, 2006 09:15 AM
"Governor Asa Hutchinson sounds mighty good to me. He will cut the fat...cut the taxes...get the car factories...Stand up to the Liberals who want half of everything for nothing."
Not again, Anony$taffer! Stop it...I am having my mid-morning snack and you are killing me! Oh goodness, I have lost control...really, I mean it...stop! Uh oh...I just dropped a pepperoni in between the a and the s keys...
Posted by: rosso | July 13, 2006 09:52 AM
I apologize to Lendall and Bryan. Of course, the public would benefit from knowing their views on merit-based teacher pay as well.
Posted by: Bill | July 13, 2006 10:12 AM
Don't real newspapers mention all the candidates? I guess Huckabee was right about the Arkansas Times. You criticize your candidate (MICHAEL BEBEE) but fail to mention that another candidate is but a stroke of the pen away. HIS NAME IS ROD BRYAN. RIGHT THERE ON THE BALLOT. (with an i by his name for independent)
Reallity Bites Huh Max? Please step out of the vacuum and give us some real coverage.
Posted by: Will the Real Media Please Stand Up | July 13, 2006 12:27 PM
Actually, providing a plan that would incentivize keeping small rural schools open with additional state support could be a creative way to break the logjam if it were properly constructed by including complete bookkeeping of athletic expenditures, administration and consequences for those who fail to comply. But of course non of that is really the issue.
Posted by: I got a well education hear | July 13, 2006 01:06 PM
I swear. For the love of God will the media PLEASE seek out opinions from the others that are ON THE BALLOT? Do you people really think Mike and Asa have all the answers? Really, come on.
Posted by: thearts | July 13, 2006 01:58 PM
Lets spend the budget surplus on trips to Asia that have no hope of bringing new jobs to Arkansas. The we can elect a Bush republican insider like ASSa .
Posted by: Riverdog | July 13, 2006 02:38 PM
I didn't really think it could be arranged, anyway.
Posted by: Bill | July 14, 2006 04:07 PM