The One Where Texas Took Over The Largest School District In The State
As far as I’m concerned, they can pry public education from my cold, dead body.
Micro Rage
That the four strawberry plants and two tomato plants I bought and thoughtfully placed on top of my garden beds did not plant themselves and shriveled due to inattention and lack of water.
Macro Rage
For non-Texans/non-political Texans, every other January through May is a particular circle of hell known as TX Lege. Our government meets every other spring. Some people might argue they should govern more frequently. I’d argue we’d all be better off if they’d only meet every decade. In a week that seemed to bring unrelenting bad news, both personal and political, I got a notification on my phone from the Houston Chronicle with the headline, “State takeover of Houston ISD by TEA could come as soon as next week, Mayor Sylvester Turner says.”
Like a weary parent that just saw their toddler smear spaghetti on a white couch, I wanted to sigh, “I guess we can’t have nice things.”
The thing is that public education in Texas isn’t even particularly nice. After a quick search, I saw one report that lists us as 34th in public education. Quite frankly I was surprised we weren’t fighting for the bottom.
It is no secret that the GOP-led government of Texas is gunning for public education, something that has been reported over and over, and was the cover story in last month’s Texas Monthly.
I’m rationing my rage on this one. I think the work will be long and hard, but I am here for the fight.
A Small Thing
Sweatpants, cozy socks, and slippers. They are my daily uniform, and they make me feel so good about life. I do not understand people that must get dressed to be productive. The junkier my clothes, the better my output.
A Big(ger) Thing
(Very Houstonian-focused this month.) There is a community information meeting on Monday, March 6th (tomorrow) at 6:30pm. Event organizers include NAACP Houston Branch, LULAC, Houston Area Urban League, AFL CIO, HFT, Greater Houston Coalition for Justice.
I shared last month, but Community Voices for Public Education has a petition and a fact sheet.