Yet another report shows little educational progress in Maine. Some blame the state for not funding the required 55 percent. But it’s not what we spend; it’s how we spend it.
Education is about challenging students, with high expectations for their academic performance and development of a work ethic.
Administrators expect less of students who receive free and reduced lunch: the soft bigotry of low expectations. In RSU 10, there were 10 towns, three high schools, declining enrollment and many free-reduced lunch students. Several schools received F in last year’s state grading.
Yet the state actually provided more than 60 percent under the funding model (wealthier districts received less). We taxed ourselves, additionally, more than $3 million, with no measurable effect on educational achievement.
One elementary school has had pre-K for more than a decade, with no demonstrated educational progress. RSU 10 students suffer from low expectations, too many high schools, lack of challenging programs and frequent introduction of expensive programs and technology that aren’t evaluated.
Students should learn to work, to prepare themselves for successful citizenship. The expectations that all schools hold for students must rise to this goal.
An outstanding area where Maine is challenging youth is career and technical programs that motivate students to acquire necessary work habits and skills that prepare them for work or college.
There are several routes Maine officials can take to improve the educational outcomes of Maine students and prepare them well for the adult world.
More money alone is not the answer.
Judith Berg, Buckfield
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