The article “Politics aside, school funding is a real plight,” begins by referencing a lawsuit being made by over 100 Texas school districts that claims that the funding for public schools is so unequal, that it is unconstitutional. It then continues to give specific examples and numbers that reinforce the claims. This article is intended to inform and persuade the general public of Texas to be more informed and proactive about the school funding policies of the state. It was definitely written with the general public in mind, with informative facts and even a brief summary of past events.
The author claims that there is a unfairness in the way that Texas public schools are funded. School funding, he states, is based heavily on local property taxes. He cites the differences in funding between the Round Rock school district and the Pflugerville district. Even thought they are only a few miles apart, Round Rock is given $700 more per student. The author concludes from the lack of action by Texas’ current governer and legislator that nothing will really be done about the issue until 2013, when a new government is elected in. In closing, he states that the everyday citizen may begin to feel the effects of this unequal funding a hopefully place pressure on the legislature to solve the funding issue, so that a judge is not forced to do it in conclusion to the afore mentioned lawsuit.
Based on the evidence provided, and my personal knowledge of the dismal state of the Texas education system, I agree that something needs to be done about school finances and that if the average citizen doesn’t put any pressure on the legislature, this very important issue will continue to be put off.
