Contributing columnist Dana Hall McCain: Alabama schools need radical surgery
Dana Hall McCain | [email protected] begin most education columns I write with the same recitation, but it’s important context: I am not a hater of public education. I am a product of Alabama public schools and the daughter of two career public school educators. Both of my siblings and three sisters-in-law are public school educators. I’ve lost count of the number of cousins, nieces, and nephews who teach across our state.
Taxpayers have been patient. We have increased funding. And even if take-home salaries are modest, the retirement and benefits that Alabama teachers enjoy are the envy of many other white-collar professions in the state. Several other states like North Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee spend less per student than Alabama yet achieve better results.
I told you all about my public education roots. But there’s a second chapter to my story, as well. When I had children of my own, I chose a private Christian school for their education. The reasons were complex and based upon our values, the needs of our children, and the health of our local public school system at the time. My husband and I were fortunate that, for us, there was actually a choice to be made.
Similarly, the competition among public schools to attract students and the funding they bring would incentivize them to perform, making a number of the public schools better., would have ushered in massive change all at once, it is undergoing modification. One proposed change would alter the timeline to phase in the program over 13 years.
If given 3-5 years to phase in the plan, starting with kindergarten and working our way up, existing quality public and private schools would have time to anticipate demand and grow their footprint to accommodate it. Visionary families in communities with no good options would have time to establish better schools.
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