Category Archives: economy

Last week, the Ohio House of Representatives finalized its revisions of Gov. Strickland’s evidence-based school funding reform.

According to a recent AP report,

Strickland proposed a dramatic overhaul of Ohio’s school funding formula that would boost the state’s share of the cost and reduce what taxpayers are expected to contribute to their local schools. His proposed “evidence-based” education system would require schools to use programs based on research findings and would set standards for students, teachers and districts. Districts would be audited annually and could be shut down for repeated failure to meet academic and operating standards.

The evidence-based system is the same as the outcome-based system that was defeat the last time it was proposed. This version coincides somewhat with “No Child Left Behind” requirements. The main issue with the proposed system is its inclusion of politically-correct attitude, feeling and behavioral outcomes. This may also be called mind-control or brainwashing for good secularist citizenship. If 80% of Ohioans are religious, an additional 80% of Ohio children will be made good practical atheists. That is something evolutionists like Richard Dawkins, Strickland, and followers would gleefully approve.

Despite the changes made by the House, Rep. Stephen Dyer, chairman of the budget subcommittee on primary and secondary schools, said the essence of Strickland’s “evidence-based” is still intact.

The following are some of the more significant changes mentioned in the AP report.

• Extending implementation from eight years to 10 years.

• Increasing base teacher salary from $45,000 to $49,914.

• Capping growth in state aid at 1.9 percent a year, compared with the 15 percent and 16 percent Strickland had proposed.

• Giving the state six years, rather than two, to pick up a larger share of local school costs.

• Allowing districts more flexibility in how soon they start new initiatives such as lowering student-teacher ratios, lengthening the school year, and implementing all-day kindergarten.

Raising the pay scale of teachers is a good thing, but don’t let it be a distraction from the real issue. As noted above, the state plans to control local education. If the Left achieves this goal, the plan of world socialists (the Left) will be complete. That means Capitol Hill politicians will ultimately control all schooling, and in the end the United Nations will dictate the content and structure of American schooling.

If you think the above is preposterous, then consider this: the federal government now owns American financial businesses, they recent passed universal health care (medial socialism), our welfare economy is based on Marxist socialism, and American education is now within their reach. The goal of NAFTA is to create a North American Union according to United Nations plans. Many of the federal leaders approve of the global currency discussed at the last G20 summit.

As Professor Economics Charlotte Twight explained in her book Dependent On D.C., the federal government has every intention to bring Ohio education under its total control. Gov. Strickland is a member of the Capitol Hill club seeking to achieve the goals of the Left.