Bigger isn't always better

Apparently Texans aren't so enamoured with the "Everything's Bigger in Texas" philosophy as i'd thought. Sure, Texans like big steaks, like big cars, and like to think of themselves as the biggest state in the US. (only in land size) But where they're not the biggest? On educating thier children. What? That can't be possible? With the state that has UT-Austin, Texas A&M, and Tech? Well, apparently the only things Texans like in small quantities are SAT scores. Texas is an astounding #49 in SAT verbal scores and #46 in SAT math scores. Out of the 50 states in the US. I know some children have difficulty testing, but come on Texas! You're supposed to be the best!

Well, it's ok. I mean, you have the highest amount of people in school. You have the highest amount of schools open. I mean, you have to have the highest amount of people graduating....no, wait. You don't. Texas is ranked #50 out of 50 states for having people over 25 with a high school diploma. (the number is 78.3% of people over 25). Oh well. It's not like that other 21.7% of Texans will actually need that diploma anyway, right? I mean, it's not like it'll effect their ability to get a job, and to earn higher wages. Then again.....maybe having a diploma is a good thing. In reality, high school graduates generally earn almost $15,000 more annually in 2004 than people who haven't graduated from high school. Does $15,000 make a difference? I think so.

Well, take comfort Texans. One thing about your school system has gotten bigger; the amount that people have to pay. The tuition for public universities increased 61.4%. Yes, you now have to pay 1.5 times the money you did before just to go to the same school! It doesn't get any better if you went to a Community College: their tuition went up 51.3%. Well...Texans always say bigger is better...maybe this time, bigger tuition for the same amount of schooling isn't the best thing.

But wait! The higher education is worth the price! Texas has the best colleges in the nation! Well....no. Not really. In reality, UC Berkeley is ranked #1. Where does Texas weigh in? Not until #15. California has three schools in the top 10. (UCSD, UC Berkely, and UCLA). The only ranked colleges? UT-Austin and Texas A&M. (A&M is 24th) So...not only are the colleges more expensive, but only two in the entire state are ranked in the top 100 in the nation? Well, at least they're good values...well, two of them anyway. Rice and Texas A&M make it onto the list. Behind Stanford, Harvard, MIT and CIT. Oh well....at least Texas is consistent.

By this time, if it's not already obvious, something needs to be done about the education system in Texas. The first thing would be to try to get more kids graduating from high school. Even if they never go onto college, having a workforce with at least a high school education is much better than having one with no education at all. Another thing Texas needs to do is to try to get the tuition it's schools charge under control. Having tuition go up over 50% in 4 years isn't just high-it's ludicrious. "But where will the money come from?" you ask? "Why can't they just get by with what they have?" Well....here's an idea. Income Tax. Texas has none. Wait-i know what you're going to say. "You just want to take my hard earned money." Well...yes. And pay for things that go for the common good. Unless you'd rather Texas stay permanantly in the basement with the lowest percentage of people over 25 with high school diplomas. But hey, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.