I really didn't want this to be an attack on a Texas insitution, but, it is looking rather corrupt actually. This is just the truth. The Texas GLO should be disbanded.
October 28, 2014
By Neena Satija
"I sued them over price, (click here) I sued them over environmental issues, I sued them over royalty payments,” said Garry Mauro, a Democrat who was land commissioner from 1983 to 1999.
Patterson told State Impact Texas in 2012 that he (still yet another Bush) is negotiating with two oil companies that may have underpaid royalties by upwards of $100 million. The agency would not name the companies, and has been tight-lipped about such disputes. It named one lawsuit it is involved in regarding royalties but did not provide details.
An oil and gas investment consultant, Bush raised hundreds of thousands of dollars from Texas-based energy magnates before even announcing what office he would seek. The contributions provided campaign fodder for his Democratic opponent, former El Paso Mayor John Cook, who pledged not to take money from companies doing business with the GLO. (In the latest campaign finance filings, Bush had more than $3 million in cash on hand, while Cook reported just over $3,000.)
The latest Texas Tribune/University of Texas poll has Bush leading Cook by 18 points....
If politicians are cutting cronies a break in exchange for campaign funds, there needs to be an investigation. The Texas GLO is obviously a place where leveraging of power can take place and evidently may be taking place.
The only role a state education agency should have in curriculum decisions is adopting "guiding principles and standards." The state also distributes funding for schools as well.
The state can offer examples of those standards in pointing to certain books and curriculum, but, ultimately it should be given it's final nod by local authorities.
I don't believe Common Core is a bad thing. It can be a change from current curriculum, but, it does provide a strong basis for learning the basics and understanding the basics. Memorization isn't necessarily the best way to learn and Common Core attempts to provide 'the understanding' behind the learning.
If I lived in Texas and the state were taking over young minds with curriculum that didn't give parents a voice, that may very well be an underlying example of the fear of Common Core.
Learning has to provide a direction for young people to be successful. Parents and local school boards should have a say in the QUALITY of that education. The primary funding for schools is property tax. That tax is justified. So, the parents should be making decisions along with educators and the state standards and guidelines.
The best way for parents to have a voice about curriculum is for a "Working Group" to be assembled on the local level with some funding from the state or federal government. That is the best way to decide curriculum. Such a role of a parent should require an orientation to what exactly comprises curriculum and a state convention of parents could be a great place to do that.
That "Working Group" should be comprised of a representative number of School Board members and the Teachers Association. I think that would solve a lot of problems in the states right now. Children are important to their parents. Parents are a voice to be recognized and respected. Bring parents to a level of understanding through local organization which carries brevity to curriculum the school system is then a stable and respected part of a child's life.
I think local school boards, teachers and parents should be on common ground in the education of children. Parents have to believe in it, otherwise, why enforce "homework time."
October 28, 2014
By Neena Satija
"I sued them over price, (click here) I sued them over environmental issues, I sued them over royalty payments,” said Garry Mauro, a Democrat who was land commissioner from 1983 to 1999.
Patterson told State Impact Texas in 2012 that he (still yet another Bush) is negotiating with two oil companies that may have underpaid royalties by upwards of $100 million. The agency would not name the companies, and has been tight-lipped about such disputes. It named one lawsuit it is involved in regarding royalties but did not provide details.
An oil and gas investment consultant, Bush raised hundreds of thousands of dollars from Texas-based energy magnates before even announcing what office he would seek. The contributions provided campaign fodder for his Democratic opponent, former El Paso Mayor John Cook, who pledged not to take money from companies doing business with the GLO. (In the latest campaign finance filings, Bush had more than $3 million in cash on hand, while Cook reported just over $3,000.)
The latest Texas Tribune/University of Texas poll has Bush leading Cook by 18 points....
If politicians are cutting cronies a break in exchange for campaign funds, there needs to be an investigation. The Texas GLO is obviously a place where leveraging of power can take place and evidently may be taking place.
The only role a state education agency should have in curriculum decisions is adopting "guiding principles and standards." The state also distributes funding for schools as well.
The state can offer examples of those standards in pointing to certain books and curriculum, but, ultimately it should be given it's final nod by local authorities.
I don't believe Common Core is a bad thing. It can be a change from current curriculum, but, it does provide a strong basis for learning the basics and understanding the basics. Memorization isn't necessarily the best way to learn and Common Core attempts to provide 'the understanding' behind the learning.
If I lived in Texas and the state were taking over young minds with curriculum that didn't give parents a voice, that may very well be an underlying example of the fear of Common Core.
Learning has to provide a direction for young people to be successful. Parents and local school boards should have a say in the QUALITY of that education. The primary funding for schools is property tax. That tax is justified. So, the parents should be making decisions along with educators and the state standards and guidelines.
The best way for parents to have a voice about curriculum is for a "Working Group" to be assembled on the local level with some funding from the state or federal government. That is the best way to decide curriculum. Such a role of a parent should require an orientation to what exactly comprises curriculum and a state convention of parents could be a great place to do that.
That "Working Group" should be comprised of a representative number of School Board members and the Teachers Association. I think that would solve a lot of problems in the states right now. Children are important to their parents. Parents are a voice to be recognized and respected. Bring parents to a level of understanding through local organization which carries brevity to curriculum the school system is then a stable and respected part of a child's life.
I think local school boards, teachers and parents should be on common ground in the education of children. Parents have to believe in it, otherwise, why enforce "homework time."
