Jackson Free Press

Each morning during the semester, the bell rings for thousands of Mississippi youth. Mississippi teachers bear a great burden in their cause to shape every young mind. They know that each generation becomes another candle to light the way for all of us. Education—especially in our state—becomes the great hope to move us ever forward.

This belief represents a shared goal of all in our state. Politicians pontificate on it, preachers prepare sermons on it, and academicians proffer study after study confirming the need for a quality education. Yet, there is a great disconnect between our rhetoric and the actualization of our mission. Too many of the state's students perform low on standardized tests and have lower graduation rates than other young people their age. Mississippi's schools are under-funded and overpopulated.

Follow this fact down the yellow brick road, and one comes to a startling conclusion: Poor school districts cannot adequately educate their young people as well as wealthy school districts. So it is, then, that those who were unfortunate enough to be born to a poor family in a poor district will receive a worse education than those in wealth-saturated districts.

This becomes the tale of two schoolhouses—one rich and one poor, one well-built and the other crumbling. Even in our day of integrated schools and equality for all, there is now a new form of discrimination: economic discrimination. The ladder to success is inverted, providing more help to those who do not need it and less to those who do. While researching a recent paper I submitted to the Mississippi Political Science Association, I found that schools with the lowest funding had the poorest students. Consequently, they maintained the worst ACT scores along with other functional test scores. So we see a major problem—inequality in the schoolhouse . This time it is not a white or a black thing—it's a rich or poor thing.

So it is incumbent on us as citizens to carefully construct an educational system that sustains that mission of carrying society forward. We cannot relegate our youth to schoolhouses that fail to propel them onto high ground. The current system, which funds school districts on the local level, must be redesigned to make up for this inequality. School districts must be funded from the state Capitol, or the state Capitol must make up for the disproportionate funding levels. The economic subjugation of the poor in Mississippi cannot wait for the schools to invent newer, cheaper ways to educate its students. Full funding and full equality for a full life is the least we can ask.

Many state lawmakers are simply reneging on their foundational promise to concern themselves with Mississippi students. The Mississippi Adequate Education Program (or MAEP) was devised to promote equality between rich and poor districts, to create parity of spending between school districts. However, the $381 million promised is being cut by $79 million.

How can the Senate and Gov. Barbour justify such a massive reduction in funding? Barbour explained his reasoning to The Sun-Herald, "I'm no math major, but when you see that $100 million funds the teacher pay raise and classrooms, but they're asking for $381 million, that means one-quarter is going for teaching and three-quarters for things not for teaching." But House Education Chairman Randy "Bubba" Pierce, countered, "He either does not understand the education budget, or he does and is attempting to create a misconception about the education budget to justify his lack of commitment to (the Mississippi Adequate Education Program)."

Both men have a point. It is imperative that we have full funding, and it's also imperative that we spend the money wisely. Let's get the appropriations folks together with the school budget officers and devise a way to maximize our spending on both the teachers and the students. This way our money is spent wisely and in a way that creates opportunity for the students, support for our teachers and peace of mind to the parents.

John Sawyer is a senior political science major at Millsaps College. He plans to enter the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in the fall to become a Roman Catholic priest dedicated to social justice concerns.

Previous Commentsshow

Thats the most objective thing I've seen from you in while- I appreciate that alot. I believe that your fundamental argument is a good one- however, I think you'll find that if you expand your reference point a bit- you'll find this is a problem on a national level. The fact of the matter is, not only can poor districts not fund their activities as well as the richer districts, you'll find that poor states like Mississippi struggle with providing an acceptable level of funding to provide equitable education for all. Just like poor school districts, the tax revenue in Mississippi is weak comparatively speaking, thus ultimatley resulting in less funding for schools and worse student performance. Richer states, on average, have some of the best educational systems. I'm not saying things can't be done to correct some of the problems you've pointed out- I'm just saying I think that the dang math is getting in the way here more than ideology. I think there are plenty of Republicans on board with us when it comes to providing equitable education for our youth- but the fact of the matter is neither party can pull money out of the air to fund these programs. We have come up with some good ideas- but if we can't afford em anyway I'm afraid it doesn't matter how Bubba Pierce or the senate or the Governor feels about it. Simple as that. If we want to work through this budget problem and get to a place where we can afford to fund MAEP and teacher pay raises we gotta quit pointing fingers and get something done. This is a problem for all Mississippians, not Republicans and Democrats. Yall have a good weekend and God Bless.

bluedog

Jan 21 2005

bluedog thanks for the comments. i do know that it is a national problem - e.g. Mississippi versus Vermont or New Hampshire - but there is no way we can convince nationalize education funding at this moment in American politics. probably working on the state level is best. john

John Sawyer

Jan 21 2005

Bluedog, it's not really math getting in the way. It's an ideology that says you cannot raise taxes of any kind to pay for a single thing -- including Adequate Education funding, Medicaid, etc. People of whatever party who believe that, and lawmakers who won't even negotiate on it because they are so blinded by anti-tax ideology, are not "on board with us when it comes to providing equitable education for our youth." They're holding us hostage--even as the majority of Mississippians want their tax dollars used to pay for adequate education and health care. Why wouldn't they? You're also not dealing with the question of how much national education policy and unfunded mandates--supported by many of the same people who refuse to raise a single tax or fee on the state level--are squeezing the states and local districts financially. That's a big part of this equation.

DonnaLadd

Jan 21 2005

I think I've said this before? Mississippi is not different from Minnesota, except they started from a higher point maybe. but everywhere, this anti-tax stance is taking over. 'we all just shouldn't have to pay for anything cept our own SUV's etc.' Minn. is even considering toll roads, so the wealthier can drive faster! ha. taxes are how we support a decent way of living for all around us, we don't live in a bubble. tough concept to get across nowdays. meanwhile, we are urged to give to charity. let people humbly ask for help.. freedom 27, liberty 15. any other teams?

sunshine

Jan 21 2005

I agree Mississippi's schools need more tax revenue. But one thing I've never heard about in all the decades of education debate is how THE CULTURE inhibits intellectualism -- particularly the youth culture (yes, it's definitely an adult problem too, but youth are more forceful and vocal about it). When you have a youth culture that thinks "cool" is the most important yardstick by which to judge a peer's worthiness of respect. When part of being "cool" is to not be intellectually inclined (as opposed to merely making good grades -- BIG difference there!) When you have a lot of youth who are delusional enough to think making bad grades in school is "cute" Is it any wonder our kids are doing so badly in school??? In situations like this, no matter how talented and dedicated the teachers are, no matter how much money we devote to school funding...many of our kids still won't cut the mustard academically (especially by international standards) because they don't want to be seen as UNCOOL. AND WE WONDER why American kids rank dead last or close to it among industrialized nations; and do poorly even against many of the higher-end Third World countries besides

Philip

Jan 23 2005

"It's an ideology that says you cannot raise taxes of any kind to pay for a single thing -- including Adequate Education funding, Medicaid, etc."- Ladd I wouldn't mind seeing a increase in some taxes (sin taxes especially- lets tax the hell out of tobacco)- but we need to break out of the old mindset that an throwing money at projects will produce better results. If we are going to serve the unserved better, we need some reform- which includes forcing programs like MAEP to gain weight in instruction and lose weight in administration.The fact of the matter is, if you study the revenue patterns of Mississippi, we bring in more money now than we ever have. This is not a revenue problem- and Republican and Democratic governors across the union are dealing with overspending as well (The Democrat governor to the north of us had to cut entitlement rolls in order to keep TenCare solvent). I don't subscribe to the "no new taxes mantra" of the Republicans, but I agree that this state is going to have deal with our overspending problems- smart fiscal policy requires working BOTHsides of the equation (including taking a look at our tax system). You that scream tax, tax, tax and spend, are just as ideologically trapped as the Republicans that say No new taxes and fees, no new taxes and fees. You too, hold us hostage to programs that are wasteful, and governments that think they can spend our money better than we can. And in closing, we all recognize that the Republicans in Washington don't help the situation either, but as John states, we have to work with what we have, so working the state level is the best option at this point.

bluedog

Jan 25 2005

Philip, aka Mr. Data - you weren't ever viewed as UNCOOL, were you? The most recent thing that scared the heck out of me was the realization that NCLB only covers reading and math. No science, or social studies. Which, in this day of "creationism is a valid theory, just like evolution!" is just plain terrifying. Because, well, it really really helps if the theory fits the available facts, at least for starters. As for me, I'm just trying to place bets on when the economies of the EU and China overtake ours.

kate

Jan 25 2005

*You* do like to use the second person, bluedog: you, you, you. Who exactly is "you" in your last posting?!? The truth is, I'm not a "tax-and-spend" Democrat, or a "borrow-and-spend" Republican. There is a helluva lot of daylight between what I was talking aboutóthe absolute refusal by our governor and his cohorts to raise a single tax and feeóand, as you put it, "you that scream tax, tax, tax and spend." You're falling into that fallacious trap of assuming that if someone isn't one extreme, well, then they must be the other. No one here that I know is advocating throwing money at a damn thing. I'd suggest your second-person accusations are horribly misplaced. And, Kate, I'm with you on the EU and China. The U.S. better look out.

DonnaLadd

Jan 25 2005

latest bad news - I see Sen. Chaney is suggesting MS renege on its promise of (the final installment of ) teacher pay raises (which are $6,000 below the avg. of 16 regional states, not to mention the national average, and do not tell me the cost of living is less here, not true). no teacher unions , so what power do they have. I'd say breaking a promise is pretty unethical, even for government.

sunshine

Jan 25 2005

Ladd, (that better?) You are suggesting that the governors opposition to tax and fee increases is the obstacle to improvement here in Mississippi, are you not? If it walks like a duck, sounds like a duck, and looks like a duck, it is a duck. Greeny, Democrat, Republican, youve said in your own words if the Govenor didnt block tax increases it would be better-thus more taxes would be better- and I disagree with that presumption. I never put you in the R or D category, but if you require my assertion to be put in a label box, I'd put your stance in the Liberal box, not the Democrat box. And that, your probably proud to be. And I agree with Kate too- we are going to have to recognize that the EU and China are going to have to be dealth with economically. We've got the upper hand, I just hope we don't lose it with irresponsible foreign trade policy.

bluedog

Jan 25 2005

Kate:Philip, aka Mr. Data - you weren't ever viewed as UNCOOL, were you? Philip: Yes and no. "Teenage Wannabe" is the most accurate description, plus a large helping of goofball thrown in for good measure. (LONG story behind that one, but suffice to say the anti-nerd messages from the entertainment media and the local "in" crowd did create a lot of self-loathing on my part; If fact, I will dare to say it was similar to the claims (quitelegitimate, I might add!!) by racial and sexual minorities about mainstream societal attitudes causing self-loathing -- that's probably why I've turned so very little-L libertarian, if not outright ultra-liberal, on social and cultural issues). One of the most vivid memories from high school was when some party animals, trying to be helpful I might add, said "you're too much of an intellectual. Be Cool! Like Us!". I might add that attitude was pretty typical of my school and others in the area (though no doubt it's a NATIONAL problem as well). Trying to get this back to the subject: Since Asian-American cultures on average appear not to suffer from this cultural defect, is it any wonder that kids in this group are disproportionally represented in so many intellectual fields? (and incidentally have incomes approaching and even exceeding those of White non-Hispanic Americans)

Philip

Jan 25 2005

Philip, it's even more pronounced when you're a girl. There's a tie in here to the abortion discussion - we feed girls the notion that "nothing's more important than motherhood" and we poke fun at them for being intellectual (especially in math/science). Is it any wonder there are so many teen pregnancies? bluedog, the question is not "are more taxes better?" The question is "are more taxes better than seeing our educational system crumble?". I really really really despise the prevailing ideology that TAXES ARE ALWAYS BAD. Taxes are good, they are important, they fund many vital programs. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, "Yay Taxes!". (And, yes, there is some fine print behind that slogan, about avoiding corruption and incompetence and so forth.)

kate

Jan 26 2005

Actually, I don't consider myself a "liberal," at least not by today's stereotypes of "freely taxing and spending" and personal irresponsibility and so on. I can go Dr. Laura on somebody's ass in a heartbeat about personal responsbility (of course, not the homophobic, hateful side of her). So, why don't we avoid boxes -- they're too limiting and kill discussion, such as everytime you have spewed something like "you liberals" -- that is such a bad way to try to have a conversation (and I only go a couple rounds with people who do that. Fortunately, it's not all you've done, so there's hope). When you do that, you are not only placing me in a box, but everyone else at the same time, when it's so apparently not true. I just can't live (or think) in such a black-and-white world, where your options are limited immediately by your chosen label. Gross. Now, the tax point. You're still missing my major point, as you do every single time you have tried to tell me what I'm saying. What I'm saying is that Barbour's *refusal* to consider a single tax or fee increase shows where his priorities lie -- and where they don't. You cannot be serious about trying to help a state (or country) prioritize and pay for their needs if you are coming to the table not allowing a single negotation to take place beyond what you want. You think you know all the answers, and you don't care what the people think. (The majority support more taxes.) This level of obtuse ideology, indeed, is hurting the state because it means that a full array of options, involving both smart tax increases and cuts where they make sense, is not on the table because our governor thinks that "no new taxes" rhetoric is more important that education and health care funding (and, in case of cigarette taxes, lessening the number of Mississippians who will due miserable deaths due to smoking). That, My Dude, is what I'm saying.

DonnaLadd

Jan 26 2005

kate, 'Yay Taxes,' love it. well, in Ms. they are a tad regressive (on food? on clothes?) but overall, it's a way to , sorry, redistribute wealth. I know those are fighting words. Like, why should richer and maybe older folks have to pay for public education when they have no kids in school? because this is a society. we live together here. it's not..what's that, Survivor? show. ha.

sunshine

Jan 26 2005

speaking of numbers - if the state budget gap is oh somewhere around $1 billion or so, and Pres. (sigh) Bush wants another $80 billion for war, and MS is maybe one percent of US population more or less, wouldn't that come close? just wondering... $80 billion to states who need it vs. ,hmmm. I know it doesn't work that way. but it should.

sunshine

Jan 26 2005