"Education spending" in my area usually means upgrading sports faculties, or doing some other non-direct education spending. I never read about any efforts to improve teacher training. Most of us only see higher taxes with no improvement in actual education. This is one area where they continue to use the "think of the children" mantra to keep getting money, then use it for better teacher lounges, etc. The only exception seems to be in elementary education where teachers get little real support at all and have to find funding for many items the students need.
I noticed the same thing with sports programs in the last town I lived. They continually demanded levies but only seemed to to put in new sports complexes.
I have to say, the town council where I live has done a very good job with the school system. Hell, it's one of the reasons we bought a house here even though we don't have kids - good schools equals good resale value. Then again, townsfolk here are actively involved in the budget review process and in holding officials accountable. So there's that.
(post is archived)