It's Not About You

In  this local Dallas editorial, "A Sound Plan to Improve Dallas ISD," the publisher voices his opinion on the possible changes that will come to the city of Dallas. He is clearly reaching out to tax payers, to get them to understand the terrible conditions their local schools are in. He respectfully elaborates Dallas ISD Superintendent Mike Miles plan on expanding  the funding to improve their community. The publisher wants people to stop being blinded by their pocket books, but to open their hearts and realize that their adolescent population deserve far more than what they are receiving. He expresses how  Dallas schools are overpopulated, with poor facilities and an even a poorer quality of teachers. All the while he remained very respectful, and only stated facts. It is understood that in order to improve these conditions, the tax payers and school board will have to reach into their funds, but isn't that how most situations are solved? Spend an extra penny to help those who will soon have to take over the positions being held by their elders. Why not? He clearly states that the districts bank balance is sitting on a cushion of about $350 million. Superintendent Mike Miles wants to borrow $65 million to just to kick start facility and program improvements. His comment, "That's healthy, and the district can easily afford to pay this loan off quickly either through bonds or funds on hand." He clearly has a good argument with more than enough evidence proving that no matter the cost, the Dallas ISD would not get into a bind. It is to better their communities and to help these kids learn without any limitations.  He mentions that this plan would require Dallas residents to invest more into the schools, meaning it would increase the ad valorem tax rate. This action would require voters to vote on a tax rate election. He gave proof that the outcome on voting against these actions, more of their schools will fall to the same conditions as Tom Field Elementary. Dallas residents cannot allow these children to suffer because of their own clinch on their pocketbooks. He clearly believes "Mile's plan will accomplish something substantial, and the price of not doing something meaningful, even radical, to improve Dallas schools, will be more than any of them can bare." This publisher logically gets his point across, weighing the pros and cons of the situation as a whole. What better way could this have been done?

Vaccine Exemptions In Texas

On Thursday, February 5, 2014, the Texas Tribune posted an article about vaccine exemptions throughout Texas by their county school districts. Texas percentage rate is at an all time high, especially in areas such as Travis County, Lampasas County and Denton ISD. This immediately draws red flags for our Texas government because it has led to a frequency of infectious disease outbreaks such as the measles.  This article is one I think to be highly important because with these exemptions, it is putting our communities at risk for infections. It gives us information of the locations throughout Texas where exemptions are the highest. My personal translation would be, proceed to these locations with caution. Vaccinations are evidently optional, and the option is given to file a "conscientious exemption" form based on personal or religious beliefs refusing the vaccine. We get so caught up in these beliefs that we bypass the risks we're putting our people in. I strongly believe that certain vaccines should be required by law. This would strongly protect our children and families from infectious and even deadly disease.