I saw this chart earlier today...
This represents change over the last 5 years...
With a 40.3% reduction in state funding over the last 5 years (3rd most nationwide), it's evident Jindal has not been very friendly to higher ed in Louisiana...
I saw this chart earlier today...
This represents change over the last 5 years...
With a 40.3% reduction in state funding over the last 5 years (3rd most nationwide), it's evident Jindal has not been very friendly to higher ed in Louisiana...
Last edited by Dawg06; 04-22-2014 at 12:01 AM.
Now on to the lower level education institutions. Louisiana, with it's ridiculous number of colleges and universities, and our country as a whole have been throwing crazy $$ at education (liberal I might add) for decades with terrible results nationwide. The lazy dumbing down of American students, "you can't fire teachers for bad performance" syndrome and teachers unions have stifled true valued learning. Find the best places to spend it (like TECH and excellent performing 1st-12th grade educational institutions) and move on and cut other wasteful overspent programs.
3rd? Only 3rd? Bobby still has time to get us to #1, baby!
And Tyler, while I agree there are some bad teachers, for the most part, they ain't the problem. Too much bureaucracy! Shouldn't be anything in DC, other than MAYBE a small department to monitor progress nationally, and to be a clearinghouse of information, a place where states can share best practices, etc.. And in state capitals, BR, again, no more than a monitoring function to assure all school districts are at least meeting minimal standards.
Then, after that, the BIGGEST problem by far are stupid school boards. I've known of elected school board members who did not even hold a high school diploma.
As for higher ed, we've had this discussion and you know my opinion, put MBAs in charge.
See Page 27.
http://www.sheeo.org/sites/default/f...3_04172014.pdf
It looks like we've gone from above the national average to below the national average.
Louisiana's expenditures per FTE were $9,239 in 2008. The national average was $7,924.
Louisiana's expenditures per FTE were $5,515 in 2013. The national average was $6,105.
So do you think Louisiana's +16.5% over the average was a good investment? Look at La. universities performance compared to other states and tell me we are/were investing it correctly... Now the nation as a whole has taken a 23% cut, with Louisiana being above that to get us down closer to national average (-9.6%), we definitely needed to go on a diet to reduce the fat, and really all that's happened is the weak (ULM, Grambling, LSUxes) are getting more inconsequential and I think will eventually fade away and their resources consolidated to help the stronger institutions survive.
A good investment compared to what?
I do think education (primary and higher) is one of the best investments Louisiana can make. Investing in education is investing in our future. At the current funding levels, our universities cannot compete with institutions in other states.
But like I've posted many times, Louisiana has too many universities per capita. As a result, our FTEs are tiny compared to other states. Several colleges should be reduced in scope and mission, and some institutions should be shuttered. I believe in consolidation of primary and higher education in Louisiana. I also believe that technology is changing and will significantly change the way education is delivered in primary and higher ed into the future. How quickly will those changes occur? I don't know. Maybe quicker than we think. Eventually, I believe institutions that do not have a strong traditional undergraduate body, a graduate school with a backbone of American students, and major research initiatives will struggle to survive. The only question is if and when the state will cut bait. It will be a political nightmare if and when they cut bait. If they don't, our schools may be starved to death, and it's survival of the fittest.
Louisiana educates Texas's workforce.