Education: Money Over Mind

The school district of Aldine, Texas, on the outskirts of Houston, is a spectacular example of money over mind. Two years ago, the Aldine taxpayers' association got full control of the seven-man school board, and nothing but penny-pinching grief has resulted since. The Aldine district (pop. 45,000) has had three school superintendents in two years, turned over 9% of its students to Houston to save money. Last summer the board cut the proposed school tax from $1.58 per $100 property assessment to $1.35. Result: the town's twelve schools (9,000 students) temporarily lost accreditation: after their paychecks stopped last month. Aldine's teachers...

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