THIS EDITION Volume 21, No. 2 February 27, 2003

Front Page

Robin Hood is not being used to improve the academic environment

The Robin Hood Program is designed to take money away from rich school districts and give to those poor districts that cannot afford a well-rounded curriculum, textbooks or extracurricular activities for students. So what is the problem? The problem with the 21st century Robin Hood is that it takes away money from schools with many academic, sports and fine arts programs. It causes public education to deteriorate and the worst part is that the districts that receive the money are not held accountable when the funds are not used on improving academics.

The future of education happens today. It is happening right now. To excel in any facet of life, people must have education as the basis for all lines of work. But what if the government decides that everyone in the state deserves a right to have an equal education and, in order to accomplish this ideal, money must be taken from school districts that are “rich” and their wealth redistributed to the deserving poor?

The idea behind the Senate Bill 7 was to close the gap between rich and poor school districts. When the legislature passed Senate Bill 7 in 1993, it divided the districts into two sections: Chapter 41 andChapter 42. If districts are classified as Chapter 41, the State of Texas declares them rich districts. Each school district is entitled to retain $295,000 in property tax per Weighted Average Daily Attendance (WADA). Depending on how much the district makes in property tax, the annual payment to Robin Hood varies.

For example, in Coppell, Robin Hood forces the school board to eliminate and/or reduce educational programs like literacy, Spanish and transportation for children. Coppell’s quality of education is deteriorating and the number of programs the district has to offer is decreasing. Coppell is now challenged with funding the students’ needs in a most unconventional way. Privately funding new ways to keep educational programs running, every student in the district now pays $150 annually to participate in activities such as choir, band, color guard, football, volleyball and all other University Interscholastic League (UIL) activities.

Students must also pay an annual fee of $50 just to park at Coppell High School. The number of music and art instructors has been reduced, as well as the majority of foreign language, orchestral, gifted and talented programs, and many elementary school programs. Further, classroom size has increased dramatically due to the reduction in the number of teachers. Coppell is just one of the many school districts that are failing to fully educate their students because the money used to fund teachers and programs is being given to other school districts.

If Robin Hood was being implemented in a way that the money was to be used for the sole purpose of improving academics, the argument would be different. But, Robin Hood is not helping to improve the academic environment. The thief is being used to build new stadiums, football fields, extra roads, and the State of Texas does not care what the receiving districts do with the money – only that they get it.

Many programs are being created to fight Robin Hood, and most without success, but some show enough promise to “keep the sun shining through the storm.” For example, programs such as the Texas Lottery for Education has raised over $3.6 billion that is invested to raise capital for schools. A voucher system is another idea that may prove useful.

The State of Texas believes that everyone has the right to an equal education. But the State of Texas is also doing very little to help improve academic education. The government is acting in its own interest instead of the interest of education and the well being of the student.

Robin Hood has created many issues in the past, continues to create more today, and will create more tomorrow. A solution is crucial, especially with the decline of public education. Lawsuits in the Supreme Court and districts continue the fight for educational justice.

It is ironic that, even in the legend, Robin Hood dies. The hero bled to death. As for today, the government and the receiving school districts continue to bleed Robin Hood of its purpose and money.

As all legends must come to an end, so must this one.

(Chase Hamilton is a first year student at NLC, majoring in performance and physical therapy. He is a student in Dr. Bob Seeley’s English 1301 class.)