Trouble in Tariff Town
During the mid-80s, I spent a bit of time following Texas billionaire H. Ross Perot around Texas as he tried to reform the state’s nearly pathetic public education system. The Dallas businessman flew his private jet into towns all across the state and took public testimony from teachers, administrators, students, and, yes, football coaches. Perot had been charged by Texas Governor Mark White with promoting and developing an educational reform package called HB 72. The most controversial element of the measure came to be known as “No Pass, No Play,” which meant if students did not maintain passing grades they were not allowed to participate in extracurricular activities, an existential threat to football, the national sport of Texas, A collective tremble passed across the land, but the reforms were all adopted by the predominantly Democratic legislature.
Perot was, justifiably, proud of his input and participation, though the attempt to equalize funding for public schools, named “Robin Hood,” had varied impact. The idea was to take money from wealthy districts and share it with the poorer communities.....
jamesmoore.substack.com
Now, the Texas education system is financed by hood robbin'. |
