The Need for Public Education

The best possible education of everybody is the most important ingredient to a society that functions well, and is in the best interest of us all.

In Texas, in the 21^st century, our population (including that of school age students) has grown rapidly. We are now the second most populous of these United States.

Schools in Texas have had reasonable success as well as significant problems. Noteworthy examples of said shortfalls that need to be properly addressed:

School funding that has been in the courts since 1968 (start with this brief timeline from the Houston Chronicle - https://www.chron.com/opinion/outlook/article/A-timeline-on-the-Texas-school-funding-battle-5816607.php );

The state has backed away from it's commitment to the funding of public education in, at least, 2006 and 2011;

The state has tried to make believe that competition will improve our schools and has siphoned off some of the reduced funding to charter schools and voucher programs to private schools;

The State Board of Education has edited text books in a variety of subjects while abstaining from the use of experts/scholars in those academic endeavors...

To understate, Texas has a massive public education system that is working, but is in need of serious attention and support.

Our students (selves, children, grand children, etc...) deserve better than we are doing... Our education professionals (teachers, professors, administrators, support staff, etc...) deserve better than we are doing...

Perfection is a stretch goal that none ever actually attain; everything can always be done at least a little bit better. To get better we must strive to solve the problems listed above, and any of the other challenges one might discover along the way.

We can, and should, do better.