Most bloggers have now come to realize that the essay in question was very poorly written and did not even come close to ans…

More importantly, the Constitution enshrined the principal of checks and balances. This was rare at the time and was a huge step forward that many governments around the world are still reluctant to take. Yes, our laws weren’t perfect from the very first day, and they’re still not perfect now. But establishing the rule of law, and maintaining that people had certain inalienable rights, was far beyond most other parts of the planet, at the time, and it set the stage for future progress in truly extending rights to everyone.

That school district in Kansas City is the perfect example that money alone doesn’t fix everything. A judge ruled that it was discriminatory to underfund a poor school district and basically ordered unlimited funding. The State was ordered to keep an account for the school district with (I think it was) $1 million in it at all times. Every time the school district spent money, the State had to top up the account so that there was no chance that the school would ever face any financial constraints. They had a Russian fencing instructor that didn’t speak English, which also meant a full time translator. I think the situation has lasted for well over a decade, and test scores still aren’t that great. Of course, it’s hard to imagine why unlimited funds would ever be good for any organization.

In addition to better funding for education, the U.S. needs to provide all children with a safe neighborhood, free (relatively, at least) from crime and violence. I’m a conservative that believes that the government should focus more on equal opportunity than on equal outcomes. But it’s outrageous that any child in the U.S. would have to grow up in a dangerous neighborhood, having to worry about drive-by shootings or other violent crimes. Even with a well-funded school, we’re not giving a child a decent chance in an environment like that.

I’ve never seen a school system where the total spending (fed, state and local) did not reach $4,500 per pupil for a 9 month year.

Assuming 25 kids per room that is $112,500 per class per year. (every year) assume the teacher gets paid $32,500 (probably generous) that leave $80,000 A YEAR left over. The building is capital (bond) money so there is no rent. Janitors don’t cost that much. And schools get a break on electricity.

There is the special ed costs but most schools only have 1 or 2 special ed teachers. Books are pricey but they use them for years. The library is a legitimate use of funds but they don;t cost that much to run.

AND this does not include grant money. Most computers are purchased via one grant or another so that is not where all the money is going.

Mind you that is the cheapest I have found. In (I think it was) Kanas City they average 44 THOUSAND dollars per kid per year. In a classroom of 25 kids that is 1.1 million bucks per classroom. You could pay the teacher 100K per year and STILL have a million bucks left over!

OK so I’m rambling.

What is the lowest number you can find in ALA?

If you look at funding on a system-wide level, the figures are misleading. I can point out some suburban schools that somehow have all the music and extracurricular programs they want while inner city schools in the same district are scraping by. Coming from a school district that had forced busing, I can speak from experience. Until the busing was approved, our suburban high school had a working planetarium. The school on the other side of town had a working metal gate at the entrance.

And as for professors playing politics, I’m a little bit slower to draw the line, because I just witnessed a fall semester on our campus that saw professors laying it on pretty thick for Bush, and some students fearful of saying anything who were opposed to Bush or the war. This is a private school, of course.

It is clear that per pupil expenditures isn’t the best measure of a school system–look at DC. Indeed, some of the problems are linked to the out of wedlock births I noted in the piece. However, after moving to Alabama I am now utterly convinced that there is such a thing as an inadequately funded school system.

And that comes at a cost for the economic development of the state as well as damaging the individual development of a large number of citizens.

And Watcher: sorry about that: it’s fixed!