CONTINUATION OF STUDENT CENTERED EDUCATION

02-18-08

Continuation of Student Centered Education requires at least a small amount of the total program or set of policies regarding education or maybe better words would be “total educational environment”. The idea includes each child would get an opportunity to receive a minimum foundation of education to be paid for with a financial formula to guarantee each child would get the same amount of money spent on each child. This idea was dawn up in the late twenties and early thirties and was fully implemented in 1948 when the State Salary Schedule provided that teachers would be paid the same based on their years of experience and level of professional education. The Second World War caused a postponement and it resumed development with the listing of every child age zero to eighteen in 1945.

The formula started out with only one idea in thought. That each child would receive the same amount of state money each year to meet the requirements each child would have for the school year. Example: each second grade child would receive the amount of money required to pay for the requirements decided upon for a second grade child. Eventually the formula became in reality by 1948 that the local school boards would provide the buildings, maintenance, janitorial service, and any other item required but not paid for by the state. The state would pay for all state requirements as teacher salaries, transportation, books, library books and any “State required” items. Usually after all budget letters had been agreed upon by the legislature, State Board of Education, and Governor an amount usually based upon enrollment would be placed in each schools state allotment listed as other costs to be spent as the local board wished.

The first year’s requirements for each grade or student were determined by a statewide committee of educators from all subject matter areas with some College and University input. As the years progressed changes were made in the subject matter areas. It finally became so embroiled in politics that the MFP, which really stood for academics, was referred to as money. In other words either through intention or stupidity, the academic area of the Minimum Foundation Program of Education became the financing formula for education. The whole thing has gotten so out of hand that a few years back the legislature in all its glory turned the program completely around and gave extra money to the richest school boards. The more money a local School Board raised a bonus of extra money would go to that Board. That is how a quality educational program (briefly stated) went to a mixed up mess caused by politics. There will never be quality public education until educators with proper training runs public education.