Oklahoma education funding graph

[RecycleMichael]

http://okpolicy.org/blog/budget/graph-of-the-day-state-support-for-schools-has-fallen-while-enrollment-rises/

I am too lame to post the graph.

[Townsend]

[Conan71]

What happened to all the politicians who were elected on the promise of more school funding and education being a priority?

What happened to the great lottery and gaming compact windfalls?

[Townsend]

What happened to all the politicians who were elected on the promise of more school funding and education being a priority?

There weren't any.  All of them were elected by claiming their opponent was "too liberal for Oklahoma".

[nathanm]

What happened to all the politicians who were elected on the promise of more school funding and education being a priority?

They lied.

What happened to the great lottery and gaming compact windfalls?

Used to make up shortfalls elsewhere in the budget.

It's utterly ridiculous that a classes' worth of per pupil funding isn't even enough to pay a decent salary and benefits package for a single teacher, much less administrators or anyone else. It amazes me that our legislature still hasn't figured out women have more choices than just being a telephone operator, nurse, secretary, or teacher these days.

Tax collections are where they were in 2008, the state's GDP is (slightly) better than it was in 2008. Why are we spending less on schools?

[cynical]

Because a lot of Republicans including the current state superintendent don't like "gubmint schools." The underfunding is intentional.

Tax collections are where they were in 2008, the state's GDP is (slightly) better than it was in 2008. Why are we spending less on schools?

[TeeDub]

It's utterly ridiculous that a classes' worth of per pupil funding isn't even enough to pay a decent salary and benefits package for a single teacher, much less administrators or anyone else.

What is utterly ridiculous is that you think that teachers and administrators are underpaid.

[nathanm]

What is utterly ridiculous is that you think that teachers and administrators are underpaid.

You know what's even more ridiculous? That you read what you think I should have written rather than what I actually wrote.

Only slightly less ridiculous is that you free marketeers don't understand supply and demand. (or at least pretend not to when it's convenient) You want better teachers? Pay for them. CEOs get paid so much supposedly to attract the best and the brightest. Why is that same logic somehow unsound when applied to teachers, regulators, and other people in public service jobs?

[Gaspar]

You know what's even more ridiculous? That you read what you think I should have written rather than what I actually wrote.

Only slightly less ridiculous is that you free marketeers don't understand supply and demand. (or at least pretend not to when it's convenient) You want better teachers? Pay for them. CEOs get paid so much supposedly to attract the best and the brightest. Why is that same logic somehow unsound when applied to teachers, regulators, and other people in public service jobs?

You have to be careful of us "free marketers."  We are indeed Capitalist scum.

CEO's are paid based on results (past and present) not on intensions.  If you are proposing that we pay teachers based on the same criteria we pay corporate CEOs, than I am 100% in agreement with you. . .but I don't think that's what you want, and I'm damn sure the unions wouldn't allow results-based pay.

The worst thing that can happen to a good cause is not to be skillfully attacked, but to be ineptly defended.

[erfalf]

You know what's even more ridiculous? That you read what you think I should have written rather than what I actually wrote.

Only slightly less ridiculous is that you free marketeers don't understand supply and demand. (or at least pretend not to when it's convenient) You want better teachers? Pay for them. CEOs get paid so much supposedly to attract the best and the brightest. Why is that same logic somehow unsound when applied to teachers, regulators, and other people in public service jobs?

How does one explain the teacher pay at private schools? From what I understand, it tends to be lower than the public counterpart, yet the results are better.

In this light, maybe public school teachers are over paid.

[nathanm]

CEO's are paid based on results (past and present) not on intensions.

This is delusional. Once again, you're stuck on the way things are "supposed" to work according to dogma, but missing the way things actually work in practice.

Our government is dysfunctional and has little accountability. The only thing more sad than that is that governance and accountability are even worse in corporate America. We're turning into China and you guys keep saying "more please". It's downright bizarre.

[AquaMan]

What Nathan said, in spades.

There are so many real life examples Gas that its hard to choose just one. But take the guy who screwed up an autoparts chain. Then was recruited to run a chain of office supply stores, mainly because he had lowered labor costs using WalMart methods, reduced inventory depth and quality at the auto parts store. It was like watching Stalin purge the military before WWII. The chain showed a modest gain then wallowed in mediocrity. Meanwhile Office Depot hired him because of his "results". He promptly tried the same thing and took their stock from $17 share to $2.50 share, all the while playing with the books to enrich himself even more. Caught the attention of regulators and was charged. When exposed, those brave, intelligent board members....bought out his contract. His results (failure) enabled him to make a lot of money at other peoples expense.

Yeah, corporates get rewarded for results and it doesn't matter whether they're good or bad.

[Gaspar]

This is delusional. Once again, you're stuck on the way things are "supposed" to work according to dogma, but missing the way things actually work in practice.

Our government is dysfunctional and has little accountability. The only thing more sad than that is that governance and accountability are even worse in corporate America. We're turning into China and you guys keep saying "more please". It's downright bizarre.

Let me see if I get this. . .According to your statement, the private sector worse than the government, and we're turning into China (a communist country with an economy run by the government), and US GUYS (I assume you are talking about us "free marketers") are asking for more communist Chinese style economy?

You've got me so confused now.  Are we evil capitalists or evil communists?  Are you proposing we do away with corporate America?  Is mock-capitalism the goal? 

I suppose I can grasp the idea that we might be turning into lots of other countries if idiots keep listening to Krugman. 

[AquaMan]

How does one explain the teacher pay at private schools? From what I understand, it tends to be lower than the public counterpart, yet the results are better.

In this light, maybe public school teachers are over paid.

Save us all some time. Check the numerous threads this has been explained and argued over for the last few years on this forum. You'll realize the futility of even bringing it up.

Look for these key words: "Cherry picking, alternate sources of funding, fictional or skewed results, overhead paid by churches, lack of special needs mandates". It'll all come back to you.

[AquaMan]

Let me see if I get this. . .According to your statement, the private sector worse than the government, and we're turning into China (a communist country with an economy run by the government), and US GUYS (I assume you are talking about us "free marketers") are asking for more communist Chinese style economy?

You've got me so confused now.  Are we evil capitalists or evil communists?  Are you proposing we do away with corporate America?  Is mock-capitalism the goal? 

I suppose I can grasp the idea that we might be turning into lots of other countries if idiots keep listening to Krugman. 

You have been confused for quite a while. Where you came up with that stuff is symptomatic.