Competence-based Certification

A classmate of mine posted an interesting and well-written article on competence-based certification in Texas on his blog.  It can be found here.  I really enjoyed reading the blog post for many reasons.  First, I had not heard of these new, modified regulations for certification, nor had I really thought about the increased need for such workers.  Secondly, the grammar and structure of the article made reading and understanding his ideas simple.  Lastly, I'm glad to know that red-tape is being cut down and qualified workers are receiving certifications needed to further their careers. 
I have at least two suggestions for the author of this blog post.  The first is that he could make his personal opinion on the matter clearer.  While he did a good job reporting the facts, I couldn't clearly tell if he was in support of this new competency-based certification or not.  He didn't speak against it at all, so I believe he is for it.  But he also didn't make clear arguments for it either.  Additionally, I would have liked to know about his sources.  He has great information, but I don't know where it came from at all.  His ideas would carry more weight if I knew they were backed by strong sources. 
Thanks for the blog post and for informing me on an interesting new development in Texas policy.

Texas schools need more than Two-Cents!

In a recent blog post my classmate Simona R. Dehoyoz wrote about her passionate belief in funding education in Texas.  She works with the Texas Secretary of State and it encourages me to know that someone in that office is so adamant about state funding for education for our children.

She uses persuasive language to argue that public education is of utmost importance to our state if we want to continue to be great in the future.  A current battle that is being fought, which she references from an article in the Statesmen, is between Texas school districts and the Texas legislature.  The constitution provides for funding for public schools and the districts argue that the legislature is failing to uphold the constitution.

It would be interesting to hear how Ms. Dehoyoz proposes funding public schools to the extent that she believes they should be funded.  One proposition I would suggest, and I think that she would agree, is to cut back on testing.  While it's important to know how our students, teachers, schools and districts are performing, over-testing creates unnecessary burdens (financial, paperwork-, and stress-related) on teachers, students, and administrators.  Testing is expensive, and so I believe it should be done at a minimum.

I like the author's strong stand with school districts for educating our children.  I think her post could have made stronger arguments had she included more facts about the current state of education in Texas in addition to her heartfelt admonition that education must be a priority.

Two-Cents about Voter ID Law

My husband and I were recently discussing the voter ID law, and we agreed that, for us, showing an ID in order to vote would be no big deal.  We routinely show our IDs on various occasions such as flying, which my husband does weekly, and enjoying an alcoholic beverage at a restaurant.  We are tied to our IDs in many ways, and so showing an ID to vote would not in any way hinder our ability or inclination to head to the polls.  In fact, I DID show my ID when I voted a couple weeks ago because I didn't have my voter registration card.  It was no problem.

However, there are citizens who have less need for IDs in their lives because they don't drive, consume or buy alcohol, fly in airplanes or choose to participate in other activities requiring a government-issued identification.  That is their choice.  Voting is a RIGHT as an American citizen.  There should be NO deterrent for citizens to exercise their right at the polls.  The only requirements for voting are that one is an American citizen and a registered voter.  Some people, such as the author of the blog, "The Eyes of Texas are Upon You", in the article, "Texas Voter ID Law", worry about illegal immigrants finding a way to vote.  The process of registering to vote is in place in order to validate the citizenship of those who wish to vote, which makes showing an ID at the poll unnecessary.  Now, IF voter fraud was a substantial problem in Texas, then reform would be necessary in order to protect our rights as citizens.  I think that reform could include showing a form of ID in order to REGISTER to vote, but still would be unnecessary to show at the polls.

Furthermore, how would you feel if you lost, or even worse--your ID was stolen, the day you headed to the polls.  By having a voter ID law in place, you would have "lost" your right to vote when you lost your ID.  Maybe it wouldn't take long for pick-pocketers to affect poll outcomes by "stealing" people's right to vote right out of their pockets.

From Reconstruction until the 1960s various tactics were employed in order to deter certain voters from exercising their right to vote - poll taxes, literacy tests, intimidation.  These were all deemed unconstitutional and because of that ruling, we live in a more fair country and our rights are shared more equally among all citizens.  Let's not inhibit citizens who are given the right to vote by requiring that they first pay fees to obtain a government-issued identification card.

Getting off track...

Walking home from school the other day, I was severely disappointed and annoyed when I looked up and saw a shiny, new chain-link fence obstructing my path.  I was aware from reading an article on the KXAN website last month that a D.C. transplant with some mysterious agenda was scheming to make my walking-commute to school a hassle.  She finally got her way.  Ms. Jessica Tunon apparently lives AND works in buildings directly overlooking the Union Pacific train tracks that pass through downtown Austin.  Haunted by some vauge personal connection to a suicide involving a train, this woman has made it her agenda to inhibit pedestrians from walking across the downtown train tracks. 
 

Here are my thoughts on the issue:
 

First, we can't base the safety of the general public upon a crazy person's choice of suicide method.  If we do, then we need to disallow the public to cross bridges, drive cars, and possess guns, rope, tylenol, and kitchen knives.  This isn't realistic.
 

Secondly, while tresspassing on train tracks is a risky activity, it is far less risky than walking near a road.  In the past three years in Travis County there have been 4 casualties involving pedestrians and trains, only one of which was a fatality.  In 2011 alone, 22 pedestrians were killed by cars in Austin.  When I walk to school, I'm taking a risk--mostly by walking on sidewalks and crossing intersections.
 

Thirdly, I do realize that it is illegal to cross train tracks anywhere other than designated pedestrian or roadway crossings.  I also know that it is illegal to drive faster than the posted speed limit, to pass through an intersection without coming to a full stop at a stop sign, and to park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.  But there is nothing PREVENTING me from breaking any of those laws.  While it would be nice if there was something blocking me from parking near a fire hydrant that I didn't see, I'm really thankful that my car is able to drive as fast as I choose to make it go.  As a citizen of Austin, I have the responsibility to choose to obey the laws.  And to suffer the consequences if I choose not to.  The city of Austin should not prevent me from choosing to walk across the train tracks.
 

Additionally, and this is my biggest complaint, Austin is a growing and changing city, especially the downtown area.  When I left Austin after high school, practically no one lived downtown.  Now that I've returned and ten years have passed, thousands of people are making downtown Austin their home--and loving it!  If Austin wants to welcome more urban-dwellers it has to become a safe and convenient walkable city.  Building a 1,800-foot barrier through town separating Lady Bird Lake with its beautiful hike-and-bike trail, the YMCA, Zach Scott Theatre, and the weirdness of south Austin from downtown, Whole Foods, and my ACC campus of choice is ridiculous. 

Finally, if the city of Austin is really concerned about the safety of its pedestrians, which I do really believe it is, then the $22,000 invested into this fence should have been used to repair and improve sidewalks, crossing signals, and crosswalks.  And maybe a one-way ticket for Ms. Tunon back to D.C.  Just kidding, I'm a friendly Texan and I welcome out-of-staters to our great city.  They just need to learn that we Texans use fences to keep our cattle on our land, not our walkers off of railroad tracks!

Help our kids!

State agency doesn't have enough workers to protect abused kids

There is a severe backlog of Child Protective Services cases, according to this article, and the reason for such a backlog is that there are too few caseworkers. The author calls for extreme measures to be taken in order to remedy the situation.

The author hopes that this article will effect state leaders (among them Dr.Kyle Janek, Texas Health and Human Services commissioner), either directly or via concerned citizen readers who respond by making their voice heard on the issue.

It makes sense that this is an issue that the left-leaning Austin American Statesman Editorial Board brings to its readers. It highlights very clearly a severe lack of funding in social services at the state level. And it pricks the heart of any citizen who cares for children (which tends to be most mentally and emotionally healthy readers). It is interesting that the other news source cited for supporting facts is the Houston Chronicle, which is also known as a liberal newspaper.

In addition to the Chronicle, the author cites CPS officials as sources for information.  A respected newspaper and a primary source build the trustworthiness and credibility of the article. 

The argument is well reasoned.  There are too many backlogged CPS cases.  This is unacceptable because it means that there are children who are not receiving the care and protection that they need.  It appears that the backlog is due to too few workers.  There are too few workers due to high employee turnover.  Low wages and heavy caseloads cause employees to leave for better jobs.  Therefore, Texas should hire more CPS caseworkers and pay them better.

The author proposes this solution by citing a similar tactic utilized by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission in relieving backlog in food stamp processing.  The disconnect however, is that fixing the food stamp backlog provided the state with millions of dollars in federal funding.  Fixing the CPS case backlog will provide the state with a few hundred more kids in Child Protective Services.  As much as readers may love kids and care about their protection, money motivates state leaders more than pretty much anything.  Especially in Texas.

I absolutely agree with the need to relieve backlogged CPS cases.  However, I don’t see Texas making the necessary steps to solve the problem the way this author suggests.

New School in Town

I was surprised to learn that the University of Texas at Austin did not have a medical school.  I actually grew up here and am somewhat familiar with the university (though I chose to attend a small liberal arts college out of state).  I must have assumed that such a large and well renowned university would have a medical school.  The re-naming of Brackenridge Hospital to "University Medical Center at Brackenridge" furthered my assumption that UT was producing MDs.

According to the Austin American Statesmen, it may not be long before there will be a new breed of doctors in town--a Longhorn breed of doctors.  The sum required to make this proposed medical school a reality? $4.1 billion over 12 years.  Where is that going to come from?  A number of places, actually.

Seton (a not-for-profit healthcare network in central Texas) has pledged $250 million toward building a new medical school and is expected to provide $1.9 billion over the next 12 years to fund the new UT school.  That's 46% of the projected costs.

Philanthropic donations will account for some of the additional funding, though how much is unknown at this point.  

The University has pledged to contribute at least $25 million per year out of their endowment and an additional $5 million for 8 years for laboratories.  But there is a stipulation... "local community sources" must contribute $35 million each year.

Federal money is expected to be allocated to the new medical school since the new school will benefit Medicaid.  But what is one determining factor for how much federal money can be expected?  Local tax dollars.

That's right, there will most likely be a vote soon to see if taxpayers are willing to endure a property tax increase in order to fund the new UT medical school.  Central Health is a county taxing authority that provides healthcare for low-income residents.  According to the recently released spreadsheets outlining funding for the new medical school, Central Health will be responsible for $35 million per year. 

There are no doubt obvious benefits to Austinites for a UT medical school.  But let's not get excited about surgeons donning burnt orange scrubs until we take account of what it will cost us.  And until we decide it is a good investment.  One reason that state funding is scarce is because new medical schools are being developed in south Texas, El Paso, and as close as Round Rock, where Texas A&M University has already begun starting a medical school.  

I encourage you to look into this issue so that when it's time to vote in November and you have the chance to vote on property tax increases, you can vote as a thoughtful and informed citizen.  Reading this article will give you a basis from which to further investigate the matter.

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/ut-medical-school-would-cost-4-1-billion-2428683.html?cxtype=rss_ece_frontpage