June 1, 2017, South Portland (ME) Press Herald: Maine House Republican leader: Education spending must be efficient, effective http://www.pressherald.com/2017/06/01/maine-house-republican-leader-education-spending-must-be-efficient-effective /
As enrollment in our public schools declines and costs steadily climb, Republicans are working to adapt our fragmented public education system. We must provide assurance to Mainers that taxpayer money invested in education is targeted to truly benefit Maine students….
We must reshape Maine’s education overhead and infrastructure to efficiently and effectively serve our declining student population. Our school infrastructure was created for an enrollment of 250,000 students. Today, our student population is below 180,000 and dropping. …
We recognize that rising costs for special education are driving increases in spending at the state and local level. We stand ready to address the rising cost of special education while increasing access to services.
Childhood Lost
Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world. Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students. Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).
Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.