When Empower Texas and Bill White agree, it is... well... surprising. Empower Texas, Texas Association of Business, and Bill White (talk about strange bedfellows) all agree Texas schools are failing, and after 10 years as Governor, it is pretty obvious who's the culprit.
Empower Texans and the Texas Association of Business today joined groups from across the state and political spectrum to weigh in on the state of our schools.
The Texas Association of Business's report (pdf) states that "our state faces a true Texas-sized crisis...that will destroy our good business climate, prosperity and growth if its goes ignored."
Empower Texans, a conservative political action group, reported that Texas taxpayers are "not getting our money's worth" in Texas' education system.
In his 2003 State of the State address, Perry proclaimed, "There is no greater cause than the education of our children - all of our children."
Texas Association of Business reports (pdf):
- "Only seven states have done a worse job than Texas in developing a well-educated young workforce, those workers who are farthest from retirement age." (p. 2)
- "Currently, at least one-third of Texas ninth graders drop out of school before earning a high school diploma." (p. 4)
- "Based on the current performance levels, more than 50 percent of Texas students will never acquire the level of skills needed to successfully function in a competitive, knowledge-based 21st century economy-- and are not ready to participate." (p. 4)
- "Even if Texas were performing at national best levels in getting students to graduate from high school, enroll in college and graduate from college, our stated 55 percent goal could not be attained." (p. 5)
"All age groups in Texas are educated at lower levels than their peers nationally." (p. 7)
- "Texas' 25-34 year olds are the least educated group of Texans in two decades." (p. 8)
We've been following the State Board of Education all week and it is clear there are problems, but Rick Perry has a proven track record of not caring.
"Rick Perry has had 10 years to make our education system competitive and he has failed," said Katy Bacon, campaign spokesperson.
He doesn't care that Texas is becoming one of the least educated states in America. He doesn't care that only seven states are doing worse than Texas in creating a new, well-educated, innovative work force. Rick Perry has been in office for 25 years and he doesn't care that taxpayers are wasting their money on a flawed school system because he is too busy wasting our money on a rental mansion for himself.
Simply, Rick Perry's priorities are flawed. Not a surprise really.
Luckily, Bill White understands.
"We need a governor who will prioritize educating Texas' future workforce," Bill White said. "Texas deserves a governor who is more focused on the future of our state than his own political future."
Rick Perry has a 25 year career blotched with failures. Even Empower Texas and the Texas Association of Business can see changes need to be made to fix our education woes. It's time to put Texans first. It's time to fix the problems with this state and not just ignore them. Rick Perry continues to fail as Governor. |
