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Wednesday, March 16, 2011

House To Restore Education Money

House plans higher fees; deeper cuts elsewhere

House leaders want to reverse the bulk of the budget cuts to education proposed by Gov. Martin O'Malley, a move that would restore funding for strapped school systems in the Baltimore area and around the state after an angry backlash from teachers, students and parents.

The plan would shift $58.5 million back to schools by raising some fees and trimming elsewhere in the $14 billion general fund budget. Members of the House Appropriations Committee are scheduled to start voting Wednesday in Annapolis on those changes, which would restore two-thirds of the money that O'Malley proposed to cut.

"Investment in education is good public policy. It is good economic policy," said House Speaker Michael E. Busch. "It puts people on the path to success."

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5 comments:

McGruff said...

Once again they cave to the unions.
The quality of education is NOT a function of funding.
Funding has been on an almost constant increase for decades, yet the outcomes have not improved significantly.
Private schools provide a much better education.
Why?
Because they have to compete to survive.
Our public schools aren't getting the job done, and they won't until there are CONSEQUENCES for not getting the necessary results.

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr Busch,
Please don't try to speak about or on behalf of public schools until you out yours kids in them. That goes for you to Mr O'Malley.
thank you,
Parent of 3 children in public schools

Anonymous said...

I am 933, and obviously I can't type this morning. sorry, you all know what I was trying to say lol

Smallsbury_Steak said...

awe....the poor teachers are protesting holding sign saying that they haven't seen a raise in "4 years" so let give them everything they want...

What bother's me is that it's not true because a good majority of teachers and education staff have in fact received raises and COLA's over the past 4 years. I've been laid off, furloughed and reduced in salary over the past 4 years all at the benefit of education. My workload increases while my pay decreases. What is fair about that?

Now don't get me completely wrong here, a lot of teachers do deserve raises and enhanced benefits, but to complain that they have received nothing or not as much as they wanted while others are losing jobs and taking home less pay is absurd. What makes teachers think that they deserve more than others?? The fact that they are teachers and "educate our future" doesn't mean that they are better or more valuable than me or other non-teacher professionals. We are all in this failing economy together, to hold one class of workers accountable over another for the downfalls of our economy and spending is unacceptable. Today's economy is all about doing more with less. Teachers don't want their pay cut or frozen just like I don't, but I have learned to deal with it-why can't they?

If I had just a 3% COLA over the past 4 years then I would be making an addition $6,000 a year. I could have a new car, pay down my mortgage, go on vacation or many other things with that money, but guess what... I CAN'T! That's something I have learned to sacrifice! I will not tolerate the greed of educators and the State/County's submission their every need while my pockets get more and more shallow. Shut up and be thankful that you have a job! You could be in the unemployment line with the millions of other Americans that are losing their jobs to fund teach greed!

Anonymous said...

McGruff, when the private schools start accepting every student, then you can compare them to the public schools. The public schools are charged with educating every, and I mean every child, no matter the socio-economic status, physical disability, or emotional disability. The private schools can choose who attends their schools. Let me pick my students, and I'm sure 100% of them would be very successful. The public schools are a reflection of society as a whole. All the problems of society make their way into and have a negative effect on the schools. Your CONSEQUENCES must apply to all the factors of a student's success: the teacher, the parents, and the students. However, I do agree that the most important factor in a student's success is the teacher.