Monday, July 17, 2006
Education as Farce in Pennsylvania
According to recent news accounts, the Pittsburgh school system might be hired to run the Duquesne city schools---a school district whose academic performance is so bad that it should have been disbanded years ago and its students given vouchers to attend other schools, public or private. However, because of purported financial problems it is looking for cost savings through contracting with Pittsburgh City schools for administrative services.
This is laughable on many fronts. Given Pittsburgh’s abominable financial and operations management why would anyone turn to them for administrative assistance? One need only remember the many custodial staff who made over $80,000 per year to realize the ineptitude of Pittsburgh school management. Surely, there are far better run districts in Allegheny County that could have been contacted to provide help.
Second, how is that a school system with 775 students and a $12.9 million annual budget is financially strapped? In most parts of the state and nation, $16,645 per pupil is more than enough money to provide a good education. Of course, that observation must exclude Pittsburgh schools where they also spend upwards of $17,000 per pupil.
Presumably that could be the explanation as to why Duquesne would opt to go to Pittsburgh schools for assistance. They already know how to under educate students at an exorbitant price tag.
On second thought this situation is not laughable. It is depressing. One can only wonder how supposedly intelligent people could allow the Duquesne schools to come to such a pass. Undoubtedly, a lack of accountability, obsession with education fads, political correctness and arrogance have all played a substantial role.
Too bad a little common sense and commitment to giving taxpayers some reasonable product for their money never seemed to enter into the picture. Probably because the lion’s share of the tax dollars spent by Duquesne schools came from state and federal taxpayers. Tax money that came without sufficient accountability for its use. For years, Duquesne’s students have been pawns in the games played by the inept staff, board and state department of education who have been simply incapable of recognizing or dealing with the disaster they have created.
It is long past the time to shut the disaster down and give pupils a chance to get an education elsewhere. Instead, the board is looking to Pittsburgh schools to provide administration. How sadly predictable.
This is laughable on many fronts. Given Pittsburgh’s abominable financial and operations management why would anyone turn to them for administrative assistance? One need only remember the many custodial staff who made over $80,000 per year to realize the ineptitude of Pittsburgh school management. Surely, there are far better run districts in Allegheny County that could have been contacted to provide help.
Second, how is that a school system with 775 students and a $12.9 million annual budget is financially strapped? In most parts of the state and nation, $16,645 per pupil is more than enough money to provide a good education. Of course, that observation must exclude Pittsburgh schools where they also spend upwards of $17,000 per pupil.
Presumably that could be the explanation as to why Duquesne would opt to go to Pittsburgh schools for assistance. They already know how to under educate students at an exorbitant price tag.
On second thought this situation is not laughable. It is depressing. One can only wonder how supposedly intelligent people could allow the Duquesne schools to come to such a pass. Undoubtedly, a lack of accountability, obsession with education fads, political correctness and arrogance have all played a substantial role.
Too bad a little common sense and commitment to giving taxpayers some reasonable product for their money never seemed to enter into the picture. Probably because the lion’s share of the tax dollars spent by Duquesne schools came from state and federal taxpayers. Tax money that came without sufficient accountability for its use. For years, Duquesne’s students have been pawns in the games played by the inept staff, board and state department of education who have been simply incapable of recognizing or dealing with the disaster they have created.
It is long past the time to shut the disaster down and give pupils a chance to get an education elsewhere. Instead, the board is looking to Pittsburgh schools to provide administration. How sadly predictable.
