LETTER | Ironic typo in education newsletter highlights proficiency struggles in S.D. schools
A recent Associated School Boards of South Dakota (ASBSD) newsletter had an ironic typo in the sentence where they warned readers about the possible push for school vouchers in the upcoming legislative session. They omitted the word “not.” The relevant sentence should read:
“One method ASBSD anticipates will be used to justify this funding shift is to indicate that public schools are [NOT] meeting standards on academic performance metrics, (e.g. third grade reading, eighth grade math, etc.).”
Those of us who believe in the God-given individuality of each student and the ultimate right of parents to make decisions for their own children’s education, will of course continue to point this out. Facts are stubborn things. The future of our state is too important, and we spend way too much of the budget on education, to passively accept the status quo where less than 50 percent of students are proficient in the core subjects by the time they graduate.
Those who purport to represent all South Dakota school board members while in their newsletter deriding equitable parental empowerment as “[shunt]ing public resources into private education,” are on the wrong side of history. Private and homeschool parents pay taxes too, and have the right to decide on the best education for their child without paying twice for school. In the 21st-century, with all the technology we have to customize education, it is only equitable that funding should follow the student to the educational opportunity that serves them best, according to their parents. As it does, both public and private schools will be forced to evolve, and in the process improve.
That is what Article 8, Section 1 of the South Dakota Constitution means when it directs lawmakers “to adopt all suitable means to secure to the people the advantages and opportunities of education.”
Rep. Scott Odenbach
Spearfish, District 31
Yes! Parents need to start taking note of legislators willing to engage in the fight for better education & parents’ rights in SD.
In that same ABSD newsletter their readers were admonished to “be aware of their overall academic performance and the areas needing the most improvement and to go to work on plans to make progress toward improvement.” Imagine what ACTUAL vouchers would do if just the POSSIBILITY of voucher legislation causes this reaction.
Failing schools would need to focus on OUTCOMES and compete to retain students—not just “have a plan.”
ASBSD, this is a pathetic and cynical strategy to defeat legislation that could help kids trapped in your failing schools.