100,000 Teachers in Texas Laid Off But Millions

given to Formula One racing.

"While it is true that states coast to coast are hurting, and there are plenty of examples of misplaced funding priorities to be found, I haven't heard one as egregious as Texas' plans to slash education budgets and layoff almost 100,000 teachers, all while agreeing to pay $25 million per year through 2022 to Formula One auto racing.

Investors are "building a 3.4-mile (5.5-kilometer) track to bring the event to Austin" and the $25 million government handout from the state will subsidize the costs Formula One will incur. The office of one of the project's main investors, Clear Channel Communications Inc. co-founder B.J. “Red” McCombs, told Bloomberg News that "Formula One race in Austin next year will spur $300 million of spending" and building the "$242 million track, which has begun, is projected to add 1,300 temporary jobs and pump $400 million into the economy."

What's left out of that rosy scenario is that Formula One racing is known as a sport for the uber wealthy—think the Monaco Grand Prix—and attempts to get it going in other American cities, like Indianapolis and Las Vegas, have been complete failures.

German teacher Ewa Siwak, who teaches at Bowie High School in Austin and is being laid off said she has "to wonder why the state of Texas is all over funding for this racetrack and not the school-funding crisis."

Indeed.

Sure, that $25 million a year won't pay the salaries of all the teachers Texas plans to pink slip, but it could "pay more than 500 teachers an average salary of $48,000." It definitely sounds like there are some screwed up priorities if the state is funding a race track backed by wealthy corporations and individuals instead of education."

http://www.good.is/post/screwed-up-priorities-texas-to-layoff-100-000-teachers-while-giving-millions-to-formula-one-racing/

Don't know what to think about life any more. :crazy:

is that I recently watched a documentary showcasing dirt poor coffee bean farmers in the Ivory Coast. Most have chosen to sell their farmland so their kids can obtain an education instead of working on the farm. This one farmer said that the education is a worthwhile investment even though the return comes later down the road. I was stunned that they understood the value of education so much, but I think since they earn an honest living, they could see how Globalization has engulfed them. As a result, education is the only shinning avenue of light that can be reasonably pursued.

Sad to see Americans value education so little, and it is not just a cycle of poverty that is being created. It is also dragging down everyone else with them which is repugnant.

We try our best. And some of us can't leave for various reasons. Plus, there is a lot to love here. But it is hard being "on the other side" so to speak.

your state has been victim of extreme redistricting. I remember when the Dem. legislation flew out and went into hiding, to stop the madness.

we would not have Medicare if it were not for Lyndon Johnson.

One in my school was with me, and he was crying. Two children and a wife, not knowing what to do next. This young man is an excellent teacher, too.

Goodhair is a piece of shit loser that lied and should be rotting in prison for state abuse.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=175x18750

Corbett has slashed funding for schools and universities, but has $25 mil. to renovate a baseball stadium.

will be even stupider?
Hard to believe, but it looks like that's where they're heading by laying off teachers.