A friend in local school administration has expressed frustration over HB 512, a bill moving quickly through the Ohio General Assembly. It would give the governor’s office almost complete control over K-12 public education in Ohio and complete control over higher education and workforce development.
This friend believes that educators should regulate education, just as other licensed professionals such as physicians or attorneys regulate their professions. He fears this bill is a partisan power grab by the governor.
He pointed out that a teacher named Kevin Griffin from Dublin, Ohio, has written a letter to the editor of the Columbus Dispatch that articulates the frustration of some educators. Griffin cites “invalid” standardized tests and “misusing test data” to evaluate teachers as some of the recent efforts by government to regulate education. The letter gives you much to think about. The writer says, in part:
“There is not any industry that ignores professionals the way teachers are ignored. If Ohio is serious about helping children, we should listen to the professionals, the ones who actually interact with students every day.”
Here is a link to that letter, though you may have to sign up for a limited free subscription to the Dispatch in order to read it:
http://www.dispatch.com/article/20180320/OPINION/180329960
The Feb. 21 blog entry here offered the Legislative Service Commission analysis of this bill, which is a plain English description of what this law would do. Here is the link once again:
https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/download?key=8763&format=pdf
Why is the government constantly tinkering with education and constantly making mistakes, and constantly leaving educators frustrated? Isn’t there a better way?
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