Public Education In Texas

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Public Education in Texas has been an area of priority in Texas since it gained independence from Mexico in 1836. Although the first public school was not created until 1840, public education has undergone a plethora of changes. For the most part, these changes have been positive, but there have been some that have plagued Texas Public Education, particularly in recent years. Improvements in public education have been things such as funding, allocating land, and reshaping school systems (An Overview of the History of Public Education in Texas). Indeed, the improvements made to public education are extensive, it has undergone many revisions that have led to incredible milestones. According to the Article "History of Public Education in Texas,"…show more content…
During the 1840s to about 1890, Texas Government also focused on allocating enormous amounts of land in order for public schools to be built. The really positive impacts in public education came starting in 1984 with the passing of House Bill 72. This bill did numerous things, such as provide better funding for poor school districts, and it increased teacher salaries. In addition, it required students have a minimum grade of 70 in order to participate in extracurricular activities. Though the bill was voted as unconstitutional just three years later, it aided in improving public education in Texas. There were many other changes made, but the next crucial addition to public education was Senate Bill 1. This bill passed in 1995, it was also another major reform for public education. Senate Bill 1 lead to great strides and opened new doors for public education. For example, students could now participate in extracurricular activities in just three weeks if they were passing. This was cut down in half from a six-week period. It also raised teacher wages, encouraged parental participation in school, promoted a safe environment on…show more content…
A report titled "Rankings and Estimates" done by the National Education Association shows that average salary in Texas for a teacher is $49,690. It also reveals that the cost per student is $8681. In comparison, the state of New York has an average teacher salary of $76,409. The cost per student in New York is $20,428. Texas has a student to teacher ratio of 15 to 1 while New York's, is about 13 to 1 (Rankings and Estimates). The differences in these statistics between Texas and New York are astronomical. Although Texas has stepped up its funding, it is still lagging behind a state like New York. There are many factors that contribute to the numbers, but it is no excuse for Texas to be so far behind. Teachers in Texas deserve better salaries for the great work they do. A reason for the discrepancies in teaching salaries between these two states, is high school coaching salaries. These particularly apply to football where, in Texas, football might as well be considered a sacred religion. The salaries that accompany some coaches in Texas High School Football can be ridiculous. According to the Article "As high school football popularity soars, so do coaches' salaries," it states: "Information requested from area school districts shows 46 area coaches make an average of $88,420 a year. At the same time, teachers in the North Texas region (for grades 7-12) make $51,452 a year." This information is absolutely ludicrous and
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