An apologist for the failing school system called today, furious we’ve been picking on the tax-increasing, budget-busting ways of schools that aren’t producing results. The caller, an aide to a Republican state representative, said that “Dallas ISD is doing great things.” The front page headline of the Morning News confirms it: “DISD plan to ease grading standards…” Great things for slackers.
DISD is telling teachers, the DMN writes, “homework grades should be given only when the grades will ‘raise a student’s average, not lower it.’”
Teachers are outraged. Ah, but we cannot argue with the edu-crats, according to the Republican staffer.
DISD’s spending per-pupil has risen 38 percent since 1997′s TEA snapshot report. DISD revenues are up 48 percent — while enrollment is up just over 2 percent.
At the same time, SAT scores have fallen from 874 in 1997 to 855 in 2007.
Tachers are outraged, parents are furious, taxpayers feel cheated, but some Capitol staffers want to play the fiddle and ignore reality.
