Betting on Education

On November 2, 2004 Oklahoma voters, in their infinite wisdom, passed the “education lottery” in which net proceeds of all lottery games go to support education. Since, that time state law makers have passed numerous unfunded educational mandates. Now, a little over two years later, school districts across Oklahoma are struggling with financial shortfalls. The Oklahoma Superintendent of Schools reasons that these shortfalls stem from the fact that revenue from the “education lottery” are far below expectations.

This got me to thinking, when was the last time I went gaming (PC for gambling)? Suddenly, it was as if the scales had been plucked from my eyes: by not gambling, I was part of the problem! In a state that funds its education through a vise, not gambling translates into to not supporting education.

Now, I am on a “fund” raising mission! We already have a casino on every corner, but that isn’t enough to meet the educational needs of our children. Why not take gaming into the schools? Slot machines in the lunch lines, craps in math, and black jack as an elective. What could be better than the students funding their own education? Need to improve parental involvement? Casino nights could be a huge boost as well as a financial windfall. The possibilities are mind-boggling!

So tomorrow morning when you stop at QT to get your morning cup of Joe, show your support and buy a lottery ticket.

Betting on education, RT

L-BAM

L-BAM, pronounced “La-Bam“, stands for Lowering the Bar to Achieve Mediocrity. L-BAM has existed in our culture for years. Until recently it only afflicted business and family dynamics, but now thanks to organizations like PAP (Parents Afraid to Parent : see blog May 2006) it has made its way into our schools.

Our schools in an effort to accommodate PUNKs (defined by Ray Comfort as pathetic unwanted needy kids) a PAP by-product, have been forced to lower the standards of behavior and academics. Furthermore, in an attempt to be culturally sensitive we have effectively abandoned the culture of school and learning. Social promotion has produced vast numbers of “students” without the basic skills to function at grade level. This in turn has caused a dumbing down of our curriculum to achieve the desired grade distribution.

Now in a knee-jerk reaction to state and federal legislation requiring proof of academic success through testing, schools are frantically treating the symptoms of L-BAM not the causes. The measures put in place are addressing the damage caused by years of L-BAM academics and PAP influence. The situation is dire indeed, and may even require some accountability on the part of students as well as parents.

I am reminded of the words of a friend of mine: ” ‘For three years I have been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ ‘Sir’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ “

Without treating the roots, the tree will always bear bad or no fruit.

Thanks for hearing me out, RT