Fact, according to Webster is: 1: DEED; esp CRIME
Myth, according to Webster is: 1: a usually legendary narrative that presents part of the beliefs of a people, or explains a practice or natural phenomenon. 2: an imaginable or unverifiable person or thing.
Opinion, according to Webster is: 1: JUDGEMENT 2: a belief stronger than impression and less strong than positive knowledge 3: a formal statement by an expert after careful study
Aldous Huxley wrote, “Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.”
Our case study today involves education in the State of Utah. As we can expect, in any endeavor spending public monies; rhetoric, “data” and “facts” are thrown about more to confuse the masses than to disclose truth. It is critical that the learned mind be able to research, explore, and discuss facts vs myth or opinion.
State Senator Madsen (R-Lehi): "I don’t think we just accept because people say it, that we under-fund education. I think that’s a myth." (SL Tribune, Jan 13, 2012)
Well, Senator, here are the facts. Please remember the definition of a fact, in particular section 2 of Webster’s dictionary 2: the quality of being actual
The state of Utah funds education in the annual session. Utah, the “family values state” is dead last in per-pupil funding. It is a FACT, Senator, not a myth.
Utah’s expenditure per K-12 student is $7,056. Dead Last. The United States average, sir, is $11,099. Facts, Senator, not myths.
And Senator, to use another of section 2 definitions from Webster: Myth: 2: an imaginable or unverifiable person or thing. It is a myth, Senator, that Utah admires education of our youth. Look at the facts, Senator.
The per-capita income in the United States is $40,584; the per-capita income in Utah is $32,585. (80.2% of US average.) Utah is at 63% of the national average on per-pupil expenditure. Where do you and your colleagues spend Utah’s money, Senator? Oh, now I remember…a payment to a contractor who threatened to file a well-deserved lawsuit for the rebuild contract of I-15 through Utah County. Lehi, isn’t that in Utah County, Senator?
Senator, our teachers are not overpaid, in fact they are underpaid. Utah teachers, on average, earn $46, 571. This takes into account the teacher that started this year, and the teacher that started 40 years ago. The average teacher’s salary in the United States of America is $56,069. Only two states average pay is lower than Utah: North Dakota and Missouri. There is not an overabundance of administration, in fact the citizens of Utah should be proud that the state is within the leanest of administrative costs, being 40th in administrative costs per student enrolled. And Senator, do not talk to me about ‘efficiencies,” Utah has a student/teacher ration of 22.4/1. But Senator, this “S/TR” is NOT a good method of measurement. Consider this fact:
This ratio of students to teachers
must not be confused with “Average Class Size,”
which is the number of students assigned to a
classroom for instructional purposes. Class size and
student-teacher ratio are very different concepts and
cannot be used interchangeably. According to recent
studies, the difference between student-teacher ratio
and average class size in K–3 is 9 or 10 students
(Sharp 2002).
Senator Madsen, you and your fellow elected “representatives” of the citizens of the State of Utah should be at worst, embarrassed and at best pilloried, for the travesty that is education funding in this state. You, sir, and your comrades (known implication intended) are nothing but puppets for private schools, vouchers, and lack of full education. Public education, provided for, and paid for by, the citizens, is the best defense of liberty, according to Thomas Jefferson. You, sir, insult the citizens of this state with your lack of total support of public education.
Source for all educational statistics:
Rankings and Estimates
National Education Association
December 2010
Source for population and income statistics U.S. census 2010
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