Plan for Single Sex Schools in East Austin Is another Pricey Experiment

Link To Read Full Editorial: Plan for Single Sex Schools in East Austin Is another Pricey Experiment

Published by: The Austin American Statesman   Date: February 2, 2013.

Written By: Editorial Board

                The editorial is on the Vote made by Austin School Trusties to approve single-sex schools for Pearce middle school and Garcia middle school. The editorial calls out to its audience by making the statement "Parents, homeowners and taxpayers also deserved more serious discussions about how decisions regarding single-sex schools will affect the bottom line."

                The proposal chosen requires boys or girls in the Pearce-Garcia zones to attend the schools, unless they opt out. I agree with the statement "Successful single-sex schools across the country are based on choice." Indicating to me that there is reasoning to why or why not schools are successful, and by giving the option to opt out of the proposal would not give a good enough reason to begin the change to same sex schools.  Grand Prairie single sex school is an example given in the editorial to help justify the benefit of a single sex school. With the school only open for six months the progress of the school gives little data to go on and is not an accurate guide for the operation to be considered as an example to aid the proposal.

                The writer takes notice to the proposal and how there is no justification for making the costly commitment, nor is there solid enough research for a high success rate to undergo the changes. The reasoning behind the approving vote had no real backbone, they state in the editorial that "Instead the emphasis was on cosmetics — wearing uniforms or studying in environments that, as single-sex campuses, presumably offer fewer distractions."

                An overlook on the more negative side to the operation is pointed out by the use of district surveys and the indication of enrollments dropping. Even if they remain at the current enrollment numbers the cost for running the schools would increase about 1.5 million more than what it is currently costing to maintain the schools. Figures provided by the district illustrate the demands on the districts limited fund increase, therefore making it increasingly harder to sustain the single-sex schools.

                I feel as if the intent on striving to find a better solution for poor academic success in schools should always be a current topic. The way the district is going about their decisions doesn’t seem to be thought out or backed up with enough facts to validate the districts intentions. By doing so it affects more than the students but the whole family and district staff. High test scores in a quick amount of time should not be the goal at hand, instead look at the base and structure on how the students are learning. The teachers and curriculum impact the student individually, and need to be seen as key factors. Positive and negative effects on schools and students success or failure are needed to be analyzed and looked in detail. The solution should not be thought of as a whole but instead looked at in one subject at a time.

 

Lawmakers Renew Push to Ban Texting While Driving

Recently this past month at a legislative briefing, family members of those victims of texting and driving met up to partake in a program called "It Can Wait”. The program set up by AT&T, it is meant to expose the dangers of texting and driving through a driving stimulation test. These actions were in relevance to try and push support for House Bill 63 and House Bill 41 alongside Senate Bill 28. HB 63 promotes the ban on typing on a handheld device for the purpose of sending an electronic message whereas, HB 41 seeks to ban any use of a cell phone without a hands free device illegal.

             During the 2011 legislative session governor Rick Parry vetoed bills approved on comparable laws on texting and driving. Perry called the bill “A government effort to micromanage the behavior of adults” Pressures form committees may lead to Parry altering his place on the issue at hand when already, 25 cities in Texas have local ordinances banning the practice within city limits. Other adversaries on the ban bring up statements like “Laws would have little meaning because they would be difficult to enforce” said by city council member Barbra Graff.

After the briefing Houston senior police officer Paul Lassalle further added that the prospective ban faces two hurdles to enforcement. The first, he said, is that the burden of proof in court is so high that officers have to be very careful before accusing someone of texting while driving. The other is that some police officers who text and drive themselves will be hesitant to enforce the ban. "There's the hypocritical aspect of it."

I feel that there is a purpose why lawmakers create a law or bring up an idea of a law. I encourage people to read this article and open their eyes to inform themselves as a driver on the risks of texting and driving and that there is a need to enforce some kind of resolution to humanities poor habits of being distracted on the road. There is a brief section in the article that  talks about one of the deceased mothers, Mrs. brown who now goes to different schools to hopefully educate and encourage our youth about the dangers and consequences of texting while driving. I strongly agree with what she does and I hope by her doing so that more individuals listen and understand the dangers of using your phone while driving affects more than just yourself. 

Source: Texas Tribune

Title : Lawmakers Renew Push to Ban Texting While Driving

Article Written By: Maurice Chammah

Date: January 29,2013

 

Link to Read Article : Lawmakers Renew Push to Ban Texting While Driving