Kansas views on unlicensed teachers, Brownback’s executive order, mental health, Kobach, KU gold medal
Unlicensed teachers – The Kansas State Board of Education voted to free the six school districts participating in the Coalition of Innovative Districts from the state’s teacher licensure requirements. Those districts have indicated they will be judicious with the freedom to hire unlicensed teachers, and will limit its use to situations in which it proves difficult to hire a licensed teacher for a specific subject or when the district is developing an innovative program outside the scope of the current licensure options. That position, coupled with the fact the state board has reserved the right to approve or disapprove the hire of each unlicensed teacher, should be enough to convince most people the districts won’t be staffing their schools with people who lack the ability to impart knowledge to students. Let the districts innovate.
Some supporters of the licensure waiver for public school teachers say it wasn’t designed to remedy a teacher shortage. Maybe not, but they should acknowledge how supporting the teaching profession and K-12 school funding would improve the educational landscape. And how doing otherwise only will help fuel the exodus of good public school teachers – just as right-wing forces promoting corporate-driven education would prefer.
Executive order – Gov. Sam Brownback’s executive order effectively does nothing to further protections for religious organizations that wasn’t already covered by the U.S. Constitution and affirmed by the Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage. It does, however, throw up a red herring designed to incite fear and worry in the hearts of those who feel slighted or somehow offended by the court’s ruling. The executive order is a worthless string of words that has no tangible value.
Mental health – The soul-searching over the dire implications of overcrowding at the Osawatomie State Hospital should extend to Kansas’ entire mental health system. Advocates argue convincingly that it is overburdened and underfunded at nearly all levels. A system that at one time was well-regarded and innovative is staggering from high demand and too few resources.
Health compact – Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach wrote a letter to members of Congress urging them to sign off on a health care compact that Kansas legislators and our brilliant Gov. Sam Brownback signed onto last year. The compact aims to let Kansas and eight other misguided states sidestep federal health regulations of the Affordable Care Act. It is another red herring, giving state officials something to wave around and say they did something about Obamacare. Voters should be very leery of Kobach. His track record speaks of nothing but unbridled ambition and no substance.
KU gold medal – Congratulations are in order for the University of Kansas men’s basketball team for delivering to the United States the gold medal in the World University Games. No doubt the gold medal will heighten expectations for the coming season. The extra practice and games theoretically provide the Jayhawks an advantage. But before we start talking about the 2016 Final Four, it’s appropriate to take a few moments to recognize this unique Kansas team on the worthy achievement of winning gold in Korea. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!
This story was originally published July 19, 2015 at 7:07 PM with the headline "Kansas views on unlicensed teachers, Brownback’s executive order, mental health, Kobach, KU gold medal."