Ohio Governor Ted Strickland's Education Plan is Bad for Ohio Schools

Governor Ted Strickland's education plan in bad for Ohio schools, students, teachers and extremely harmful to the Ohio's budget. Governor Strickland had a lot of love from the southern Ohio area he used to represent, bi-partisan support for the kind, and intelligent public servant ran deep. Disappointment in Governor Strickland is growing in the financially strapped region, with the further unveiling of the new education plan. The vast majority of school district administrators and teachers do not support the ill-advised plan to the Ohio educational system. As a long time Strickland supporter, and former educator, the formation of this plan baffles me as well.

Working smarter and not longer is far more beneficial to students than what the new Ohio education plan devises. Extending the school day three hours a day involves a lot more coordination and strain to school districts than this plan addresses. Elementary school students in southern Ohio rural areas can spend up to an hour on a school bus, both to and from school. A thirty-minute car ride from the Wilkesville area of Vinton County, to the elementary school outside of the Village of Hamden takes at least 45 minutes, in good weather. The three extra hours of classroom instruction, on top of the lengthy travel time would be far too long of a day for kindergarten and early elementary school students alone. Would the school districts be providing another meal, for the students would likely be in the classroom until 5:30 or 6:30 at night?

The added time teachers, custodians, and bus drivers would spend on the job for the longer school day and school year would be an added burden on Ohio school districts. Unions will have to renegotiate the pay scale of members, due to the change in job related duties and hours worked. Extracurricular activities, which are important for not only positive social interaction, but potential college scholarships, would be impacted as well. Should the school day be extended by three hours, the students would be going straight from classes to activities and not reach home until eleven o'clock at night. Additional bus drivers would have to be hired, to allow for transportation directly from school to extracurricular activities, while still transporting students home at the end of the extended school day.

Teachers do receive a salary year around, as does other ten-month school staff, but their salary is pro-rated in proportion to the number of days and hours worked. Should the new Ohio education bill become law, teachers would demand to be paid for the extra time work, creating thousands of extra funds needed for school districts to meet payroll.

The entire approach set forth in the new Ohio education bill is backwards, and appears to have not headed the input from educators themselves. Smaller classes, safer schools, and added educational aids to help with under-achieving students would be a great first step in improving education in Ohio. Ability based classes beginning in elementary school, would allow the lower ability students to learn at their own pace, and not be intimidated to ask questions in front of their more intellectually capable peers. Such classes would also permit upper level students from being hampered by a slower pace of learning, and achieve to the best of their abilities. The middle level students would be less likely to be lost in the educational shuffle, and perform better as well. The old argument of the negative social impact of designating classes by abilities quite simply doesn't hold water. Students are more than aware of who in their class isn't making the grade, and which students leave the regular classroom several times a week for remedial coursework.

Governor Strickland spoke recently at a seminar for Ohio school district treasurers, and detailed his education plan. For possibly the first time in this accomplished politician's career, he did not have the support of the majority of the education professionals in the room. Many of those in attendance were reluctant to be recognized by the Governor for their achievements, for fear of being perceived of in support of the new education plan by their communities.

The phrase, "It isn't as bad as it was in the first draft, but what are we in for," is being repeated across the state by educators, administrators, and school board members. Having met the Governor on multiple occasions, working for his campaign as an elected official myself when he represented the area, I am confidant that his heart was in the right place, but his plan could cause a death rattle in the Ohio educational system. While I feel disloyal to a man whom I respect in writing this editorial, Ohio citizens must stand up and be heard on this issue before it is too late. Education is the cornerstone of society, but when it becomes a yoke on the neck of communities, nothing positive is accomplished.