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Educational Reform

As a teacher in Ohio public schools, I am well aware of the crisis at hand regarding education. The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled the old system to be unconstitutional due to the inequality between schools. Our state legislature has yet to come up with a worthwhile and realistic approach to this problem of how to fund our public schools. Instead, they spend their precious time passing legislation regarding things like group license plates and commemorative highway dedications. I think such laws may have some merit, however, shouldn’t we be focusing our efforts on much more important issues on the docket, such as education? This is not to say the General Assembly is entirely to blame for a lack of solutions, but rather, it is extremely poor leadership, especially when both houses are controlled by the same party as our incumbent governor. It is as if these individuals have a goal to make Ohioans dumber. (* See Proficiency Testing and the State Report Card Section of our agenda for details.)

I have seen inner-city public schools, and I have seen the public schools of the more socially elite. There is a sharp contrast, quite literally “day and night.” Property taxes in the elite districts are sufficient to supply the area high schools with state-of-the-art equipment and highly-qualified teachers. The inner-city schools face social problems as well as financial problems. They have difficulty attracting highly-qualified teachers, and the poor are statistically much less likely to pass levies which would increase their taxes. This is where the state has to intervene with a complete restructuring of the tax system.

It is no wonder why so many states are facing teacher shortages. With paltry salaries and the organized chaos of a public school classroom, what crazy fool would ever want to become a teacher? Well, the answer to that question is the person who has “the right stuff.” A teacher must possess a vast array of skills and attributes. Creativity and sensitivity are as important as dedication and intelligence. Recruiting those people who possess all those classroom nurturing qualities is no easy task under the current system. There are so many with the potential to become excellent teachers that would love to teach if only they were justly compensated. Only the most virtuous seek employment as a teacher these days. This is another place where the state has to intervene through aggressive recruitment and the revamping of the certification process.

Restructuring the tax system will allow all districts to markedly increase the salaries and benefits of teachers to levels more appropriate with those individuals with similar education in the commercial market. And if need be, the State may consider modifying the system to create state and local tax exemptions for increased recruitment of teachers. Ohio has been blessed to have so many excellent teachers, but the future looks bleak if these issues are not addressed in the coming years.  I hope that Ohio politicians will realize the significant value of a well-designed educational system, and I hope that I may have the opportunity to teach once again."

Paid for by the Committee to elect Whitman and Clark.  

Treasurer, Lana Whitman, 3716 Co. Rd. 31 South, Bellefontaine, OH 43311