Reform and the Political Background of Public Education in Texas Essay

Reform and the Political Background of Public Education in Texas - Essay Example Governor Edmund J. Davis set â€Å"curriculum for all schools, grading of classes into different levels, systematic teacher certification, teacher conventions, and central administration† to improve public education (Moneyhon 393). In April 24, 1871, he legislated the board of education for public schools including the governor, attorney general, and superintendent. The board is responsible for the establishment of rules for the education system, provision for choosing and certifying teachers for their validity, salaries of staff, choose books and instruments for classroom use, guarantee â€Å"a common course of studies, and oversee the general operation of the schools† (Moneyhon 395). The teacher’s certification garnered criticism and complaints from private institutions because of the threat to their business. As a result, parents selected public schools for the education of their children. The dispute heightened when the State proposed for the imposition of ta xes. In 1875, DeGress formulated a recommendation to increase the salary of public school teachers, downsize supervisors’ jobs to avoid tax increase, and allow instructors to teach based on the three categories of teachers’ certificates (Moneyhon 410). The struggle in the political aspect between the Republicans and Democrats was evident during this year because of Democrats’ propaganda against Republicans pertaining to the expensive education system. The Democrats won, but the people suffered due to the low cost or budget in the education system. Major Reforms in Education In early 1980 and 1990s, Texas led the school reform through policies in standardizing testing and school accountability, which adheres to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 (Domina 200). Domina added that in mid-1990s, Texas aimed for higher education to improve the accessibility of education for poor and separated high schools receiving disparate education with Black and Hispanic origins. The first proposition on K-12 education system required an experiment to pursue K-16 reform model that aims to â€Å"improve the clarity and consistency of higher education signals and thereby shape the educational experience of high school students† (Domina 201). Prior to that event, the education reform bill was devised in 1981, which was called House Bill 246. It authorizes curriculum in every grade schools and district in Texas. It was followed by the commonly known as Chapter 75 that was written by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and proceeded by the State Board of Education. The bill necessitates students to master at least 70 percent to pass the grade or subject. However, H.B 72 was ratified and became a law in 1984. This bill became the standard of education in Texas, which gave priority to competent teachers in exchange of raising their salaries (Lutz 71+). Teachers must undergo professional competency called the Texas Examination of Current Administrators and Teac hers (TECAT), but they perceived it as an insult to their capability. Despite the complaints of teachers, principals, and coaches, the bill was not amended due to the threat of Perot, the overseer of Texas education system, to legislators (Lutz). Moreover, racial discrimination was an issue in the