Education

From the Times-Picayune: Ad attacking Rep. Karen Carter-Peterson seen as part of Jindal plan to push passage of controversial voucher bill.

From the Times-Picayune

From the Advocate: Big time salaries for Louisiana Department of Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret and Louisiana Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek opens the debate over what public service really means.

From the Advocate

From the Times-Picayune: Governor’s education agenda which would provide education vouchers is stirring up opposition from bothe the LAE and LFT. Move represents a likely first step toward even more hard-right education proposals such as the teaching of creationalism, which the Governor has spoken in support of, and the homeschooling agenda which the Govenor’s Chief of Staff once served as a paid lobbyist on behalf of.

Resources Not Used in Classrooms

We read almost daily in Louisiana about the difficulties of attracting new teachers in to the public school system. More and more young people are shying away from the teaching profession. And many who take the initial plunge leave after only a year or two in the classroom. It’s a major problem that needs to be addressed by the legislature and the new governor.

But maybe we are trying to attract new teachers from the wrong end of the spectrum. What is so special about recruiting 21-year-old teacher kids who have little life experience, and nothing more than degree and a teaching certificate? Where are the programs that focus on luring retired professionals with years of hands-on business experience into the teaching profession? Are these retirees too old? Read more

Though Governor Jindal and staff shook off the pejorative “voucher” title, the tax break his administration supports is a reconfigured voucher program, more or less. The teacher’s union lobby has called the move part of a “political agenda.” According to the Times-Picayune, Sen. Rob Marionneaux

expects the overall cost to the state to be about $20 million annually, which would average more than $150 in tax breaks per private school student.

Read more

When national companies search for new locations around the country and look at Louisiana, how important is ethics reform? A timely question to ask, since newly elected Governor Bobby Jindal is staking a major part of his reputation on bringing ethics in government to the forefront.

Michelle Millhollon addressed the issue in a Morning Advocate story this past Sunday. National business consultants were quoted saying ethics reform was not nearly as important as more emphasis on early educational training.

Read more

Earlier this week, Commissioner of Administration Angele Davis answered requests by Louisiana colleges for a partial waiver to the hiring freeze with a resounding “no”. One has to admire the stick-with-it-ness of the Commish, especially given this excerpt from a letter written by Commissioner of Higher Education Joseph Savoie.

For too long the administrators of our institutions have had to make tough choices and sacrifices simply because adequate funding was not available. It is somewhat ironic that now that funding is available, we may still be restricted in our ability to use those resources in securing the personnel so vital to our mission.

Davis’ Director of Communications, Michael DiResto (perhaps best known for his work on the Louisiana GOP’s “A Fair Fight” blog), responded that the process for requesting exemptions didn’t call for much in the way of time or effort. But since Davis has already turned down Savoie and the universities twice, they might not agree with that perspective.

Angele Davis is requiring government agencies to detail their need to hire new employees. State health and higher-education officials, among others, say the process will slow hiring for critical positions.

More at The Advocate.