社評0308 休斯敦学区正面臨接管

休斯敦学区正面臨接管

由社區及教師們組成之群眾預計近日前往德州政府所在地奧斯丁示威抗議,反對州政府接管休斯敦學區 。這塲拉鋸戰將是休斯敦教育史上面對最大之挑戰。

特納市長對此表示極大之不滿 ，並將參加反制行動 ，在此同時，休斯敦地區選出之州參議員艾威拉多.威特邁在參議院中提出了1662 提案，反對非政府接管休斯敦學區 ，是否可能成功尚是未定之天。

目前休斯敦學區共有二十萬學生，二萬七千教師，是全州最大學區，全國排名第八名。

我們同時在檢討學區為何被州政府強制接收，其中最重要之因素是辨學不力，學生素質下滑，學區委員也經常出事，這些問題已經有四年多之歴史 。

近年來 ，包括休斯敦在內之美國大都會區 許多居民都是較貧困的少數族裔，其中以拉丁裔及非裔佔有多數 ，更重要的是這些地區之稅收顯然較少 ，也造成學區經費不足 ，待遇過低 ，留不住好老師自然會影響到學區之素質。

學區之未來有係於整個社會之發展教育乃百年大計 。我們建議全體市民必須注重學區之發展，大家要集思廣義來拯救我們的下一代。

Houston Independent School District Is Facing A Takeover

A group composed of politicians, teachers and community leaders is expected go to Austin to demonstrate against a state takeover of the district. This is the biggest challenge in history for Houston's education system.

Mayor Sylvester Turner expressed great dissatisfaction with the prospect of a takeover and plans to participate in a counter-action. 

At the same time,  State Senator Whitmire and other senators joined in an action to sponsor Bill 1662 to oppose the State's takeover of the district. 

Whether any opposition will be successful or not is still in doubt. 

At present, there are 200,000 students and 27,000 teachers in the Houston Independent School District which ranks number one in Texas and eighth largest in the nation. 

In recent years many residents in the metropolitan areas of the United States, including Houston, are poorer ethnic minorities made up of Latin American and African communities. The tax bases are much lower and the tax money is less than average. The situation prevents the hiring of good teachers and lowers student quality. 

We are urging all community leaders to get involved in the crisis that threatens our local education system. We need to save our next generation.