RANT! (question #744)

[Kid Glock]

Where is al the money from the casinos going? I thought the education system was supposed to get a cut of this. Maybe they should up the cut, as the casinos seem to be making plenty to keep building more and more of them. Just my penny of a thought.

As has been stated, Indian gaming funds weren't designated for non-tribal education although some donated monies probably do exist.
Liquor by the drink, parimutual horse racing, state lottery was advertised as paying for public education. Where's that money at or did someone lie to us?

 

[vvvvvvv]

Not true. Sure some of it goes towards indian interests, but I know the Cherokee Nation donates tons of money to schools and other things that aren't to benefit indians only. For example, the little town of ochelata got new paved roads and bridges with Cherokee money. The Caney Valley School system for Ramona, Ochelata, and Vera has new computers as well as other things because of Cherokee money.

Not all of the tribes do that, and they probably justified it as benefiting their people, too.

It's still up to the tribes to determine what to do with that money. The post I replied to made it sound like they were required to send a certain amount of that money into the state coffers earmarked for education.

 

[vvvvvvv]

As has been stated, Indian gaming funds weren't designated for non-tribal education although some donated monies probably do exist.
Liquor by the drink, parimutual horse racing, state lottery was advertised as paying for public education. Where's that money at or did someone lie to us?

The lottery has put more than $350 million over the last 6 years. That's just under $60 million per year.

The state budget for education has been between $3 and $3.5 billion each year during that time.

1-2% of education funding is made up by the lottery.

Did you really think that it would be even 10% of education funding?

 

[Harley1953]

Not all of the tribes do that, and they probably justified it as benefiting their people, too.

It's still up to the tribes to determine what to do with that money. The post I replied to made it sound like they were required to send a certain amount of that money into the state coffers earmarked for education.

Is it not correct in saying that the tribes are under no obligation to remit ANY casino funds to the state for any purpose??.. They just now do that in some cases as "good neigbhors"(my words).

I believe SOME tribes have agreed to remit some funds from smoke shop sales to the state but it is NOT earmarked for education, just the general revenue fund.

Bottom line is that Indian tribe moneys CAN NOT be budgeted in any form for Ok State Revenue, Correct? At any rate, casino money would not figure into the education funding "discussion"...

 

[Kid Glock]

Did you really think that it would be even 10% of education funding?

No, I didn't but I recall it being advertised as such.

 

[sigsilly]

When they were pushing the lottery in this state, it was going so solve all our education problems.
Well, it didn't.
It wouldn't matter if the educational bureaucrats in this state had control over 99.99% of the state budget, they would scream MO' MONEY, MO' MONEY, MO' MONEY.
Education is a huge scam in this state with thousands of more educational administrators than we need.
They want more buildings, so they can hire more administrators, so the present administrators can put in for more money because they have more buildings and more administrators under them, etc.
HELL NO on 744!

 

[SoonerBorn]

No, I didn't but I recall it being advertised as such.

No, it always said "up to 10%". Which mean's it's could be as little as 1%.

 

[TerryMiller]

Having been a school board member in my past, I am all for good quality education. Unfortunately, over the years we have seen a decline in the quality in Oklahoma. That decline HAS NOT COME as a result of low funding.

Regardless of what some want to say, throwing money at a problem doesn't solve the problem. There are numerous examples of that in various school districts around the country. (Washington D.C. comes to mind right off the bat.)

We as citizens need to look at things carefully rather than judge by "sound bites" designed to shift the blame. Someone posted earlier that administrative salaries are a lot less than many would believe. Before believing that those salaries are the "big problem", check to see what they are making for what they do.

As for teachers, try firing one, regardless of how bad a teacher they are, after they have obtained tenure. And, perhaps while looking at things carefully, we compare the percentage paid to teachers in relationship to the individual school budget, not on what other states are doing. I think most of us would agree that in a business, the largest expense can be salaries of employees.

There is NOTHING about state question 744 that is logical or even promising. This is just an attempt to get more money for an industry that is failing. If they really want to help education, perhaps the OEA should work towards getting rid of the dead wood within their own ranks.

While I am on this rant, let me add that we should also get the Feds to disband the federal Department of Education and get the state to take a real hard look at the state's department of education to see that what is being done to educate children in Oklahoma is quality actions. And, be careful what is done to make the curriculum "interesting". Flocabulary, as has been introduced into the OKC school district, is not quality.

I was listening to the radio today and heard the story of a little girl, one of only two in her class that passed a test, who was forced to take the test over and over. The teacher was making EVERYONE retake the test until the poor performers could finally pass. The teacher didn't want the poor performers to "feel bad" so EVERYONE had to retake the test.

Yeah, I know. That is anecdotal, but it is an example of terrible teaching.

Sorry for the rant.

ABSOLUTELY NO ON 744

 

[vvvvvvv]

No, it always said "up to 10%". Which mean's it's could be as little as 1%.

I would be willing to bet that 10% was based on every Oklahoman buying a lottery ticket every week. Or something close to that.

I don't know, though. I was worried about chasing women and dragons when I was 17-18...

 

[Harley1953]

VERY well stated Terry Miller......