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Health & Fitness

EDUCATION CUTS---WHERE IS THE BALANCE?

Educational Cuts--where?

AJ’s Corner

EDUCATION CUTS—WHERE IS THE BALANCE?

People are complaining; people always complain.  An interesting twist to the complaints nowadays is that numerous individuals in the Commonwealth are complaining about the lack of educational funding given to school districts and to some institutions of higher education.   The immediate reaction on the part of these academic portals of knowledge is to cut programs and staff; which I suppose is the logical response.  The reasons for the cuts in education are placed on the door step of Governor Corbett.  I am not an apologist for Governor Corbett, but you have to keep in mind that the folks in D.C. have cut funding for education to the states; and funding in general. 

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                What is further interesting are the cuts the schools are intending to make.  Apparently, the schools feel compelled to cut academics and personnel; staff and teachers.  Such academics as art and music seem to be the first cuts.  What so call educators forget is that in art and music, other disciplines are involved; such as math.  What is the real sham in the cuts is that none of the athletic programs are cut or even considered to be cut.  Why not cut back football---can’t do that; sacred in Western Pa; what about basketball or hockey, or the numerous other sports schools offer. 

                What is not involved with the cuts at schools is the balance between athletics and academics.  We can give up the ability for students to read, write and add 1 plus 1; or even to study the Founding Fathers; but we can NOT give up the X’s and O’s of the gridiron.  WHY? 

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                The answer could be revenue for the school, publicity, and nightly news sports report; or simply, my athletic player will be the next star in whatever professional sport is the flavor of the year?   And, of course the school will be great.

                Is the immediate run to cut academics and staff a scare tactic of school districts to put pressure on the government to increase or at least keep funding education?    Oh, by the way, what about the union?  The perception given is if funding is not the same or increased then the entire educational system of the country is destroyed. 

                By the way, athletic departments are usually the most expensive in the school.

 

Later

AJ

 

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