Speaking before the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, Palatka Rep. Joe Pickens urged the members to put before voters a constitutional amendment that would address what critics say are unreasonable, unflexible standards for the state's previously approved class size amendment.
"I'm not here saying we can't afford it, but I think we shouldn't afford. it," said the Republican, pointman on education issues in his chamber. "I think we could spend the money giving teachers higher salaries."
He asked the commission to "ask the voters...for something much more practical, and much more reasonable."
Meanwhile, House Rep. David Simmons' committee just put together proposed legislation to make the class size calculations more flexible.
Get inside the world of Florida education with St. Petersburg Times staff writer Jeffrey S. Solochek and the rest of the Times education reporting team. We'll bring you up-to-date information about the latest education trends, fads and news and dig deep into Tampa Bay area school issues.
Come on Legislature. You put the question before the voters. The voters said "Class size limits." The Legislature was given enough time to come up with the infrastructure to implement class size limits. The Legislature should have assessed the taxes to pay for the classrooms and Teachers. It is a case of "shoulda, coulda, woulda and placing blame." If Educators were to run the schools like the Legislature runs the state the Legislature would be "taking over the schools and showing the Teachers how it's done." Perhaps some Teachers could run for the Legislature and return the favor.
Posted by: John | March 18, 2008 at 12:15 AM