Broken Promises to Texas Education

Politics aside, school funding is a real plight, is an editorial that hits close to home. Under funding of our schools here in Texas is a huge problem that everyone needs to get involved with. The future of our country is our children.  How is our children or our country suppose to flourish with out education? Education should be the first priority of politicians. The author of this editorial is intending to reach all Texans, not just those who work in education or who have children in school.  The argument is very clear and the evidence to back up the implications is in tact. In a special session in 2006 legislatures promised more state money to schools to replace local money, which frankly isn't there. During the regular session earlier this year the state reduced it’s obligation of state school districts by $4 billion. Schools like Hutto, Elgin and Taylor are “in high-growth suburban areas feeling the pinch of rapid enrollment and stagnant state assistance” (Editorial Board). Over 100 schools have banded together in a law suite against state legislature. And rightly so. The editorial goes on to say “the impact of the states financing and public education on the governor’s presidential aspirations is unclear. What is clear, however, is the short- and long-term impact on Texans affected by the state's educational product — and that would be everybody." 

I completely agree with the Editorial Board who wrote the article. Our graduation rate is falling, our classes are over crowded and our teachers are underpaid. The City of Hutto has built a second high school to accommodate the growing number of students. Unfortunately the city cannot afford to staff the new school, which is forced to sit finished and empty. Problems like this are rising all over the state. Our governor has moved past focusing on his state and has his eyes on a bigger prize.

Rick Perry mandated HPV vaccine for 12 year old girls?

 Seeing as Rick Perry is the front runner so far for the GOP presidential nomination, it is important to be informed about his policies. The article for which I embedded a link is an article about a policy Rick Perry mandated here in Texas. Perry issued a mandatory Human Papillomavirus vaccine for 12 year old girls. He said it was because "abstinence isn't as sure a prevention as a vaccine". The article disputes Perry's policy based on his contradicting views. According to this article, Perry "accepts the scientific consensus that it comes to the safety and efficacy of the vaccine that prevents the HPV virus that causes cervical and other cancers. But he has openly expressed doubts about the scientific consensus in the matter of evolution or the human role in global warming". The article became even more interesting when it pointed out that Perry's former chief of staff is a lobbyist for the vaccine's manufacturer, Merck. Hmmm... I wonder what exactly Perry is getting for his mandatory vaccine policy. Maybe financial contributions?  And the government expects us to believe that politicians aren't corrupt. Yeah right.

Rick Perry's HPV Vaccine Record Exposes Confusing Inconsistencies