School funding still leaves some children left behind.

In March of 2006, Daniel Pink published a book titled A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future that discussed the importance of fine arts education in schools. Senate Bill 3 had lawmakers confused as to why the arts programs were to be stripped from the curriculum and left it up to the students to waste their electives on any fine arts course.

This bill was actually one of the biggest school reform rewrites since No Child Left Behind. While there is a slight concern for how this change will effect the students, there are other concerns about how to fund this bill. With her Sentate Bill 982, Senator Leticia Van de Putte has suggested reinstating "Robin Hood", limiting recapture to districts wealthier than AISD. Colleges are suffering from a similar complaint: high admission costs and restrictions. Senator Judith Zaffirini proposed Senate Bill 1443 limiting tuition increases in universities by 5% a year; the bill was unanimously approved by the senate. This bill is now en route to the House, where it will meet Senate Bill 175, which caps admissions under the top 10% at 50% for incoming freshman.

Education is probably one of the biggest subjects I hear tossed around when it comes to debates about government funding. I subscribe to the school of thought that, when it comes to college especially, the rich man and the poor man can attend but the middle-class man has to practically sell his soul. Legislators seem to be taking steps to even this predicament out but, as the author of this article states, it could become a "decades long financial commitment".

Abortion-Ultrasound Comment

After reading Politically Provoked's comments on the abortion-ultrasound bill, I would have to say that I agree with her on the subject that the opposition of the bill is not the risk to women's health, but more an opposition to the guilt trip that government is trying to place on these women for their decision.

I, myself, am pro-choice. I don't go around screaming that out at people but, if anyone asked me, I would admit to it. I believe that women should have the right to decide whether or not to bring a baby into this world. It could be for such reasons as the baby's quality of life will severely suffer due to poverty, improper living conditions, unhealthy/abusive environment, etc... Like Provoked, I think it wrong to attempt to guilt these women into rethinking their decision to abort the pregnancy. It is my opinion that most of these women have already considered the emotional and physical trauma they will be subjecting themselves to by making this decision. To pour more salt into the wound, so to speak, seems a little crass to me, much like a parent guilt tripping their child for not calling every week.

I can understand the concern for women's health when it comes to abortions. It's a brutal process and can take its toll on a woman's body and mind. But, like I said, I can't imagine there is any woman in this country that hasn't weighed all of her options before deciding to terminate her pregnancy. For the government to question her decision seems a little like meddling to me.