Are We Crippling Our Youth With the Easy Way Out?

In the opinion section of The Texas Insider, in an article titled "Let's Be Honest About the Cost of Education", dated 10/01/15, Bill Hammond, CEO of Texas Association of Business, discusses the conflict of the funding for our public school districts.  

I gotta say, one minute I think this guy is truly an idiot, then the next, I half ass agree with him on some (if not most) points.  So, I wonder if this guy is wishy-washy himself?  He points out the "pitifully low rate of college readiness of our high school graduates, how they are at 27% (ACT Report), and 31% (SAT Report), but yet seems to be against any kind of raise in funding.  It is a well known fact that the school districts are unfortunately, ridiculously underfunded.  

The part of his article that I begin agreeing with him, is when he first says, "If the Supreme Court decides that the school finance system should have the goal of college readiness, then the high court also should consider ruling that the state put back into place the requirements that will generate far greater numbers of graduating students who are ready for college or career." 

Then, he proceeds to point out the deficiencies in the school systems.  He points out 6 different areas/points and says that maybe they should be "examined" "for cost savings and reduce the bill."  I may not agree with the cutting the bill part exactly, but I have to say that he does point out a few good points.  For one, he says, "Since the state rates over 90% of the schools as acceptable, regardless of whether their students are on the path to being college ready and indeed takes no action if they are not, the courts ought to examine that fact for cost savings and reduce the bill."  What he saying is definitely something to look into, as all too often even when a child is not passing, the teachers will pass them, because schools are funded based in part on the passing/success rate of that particular school.  

I get that he is saying that if the classes and resources obviously aren't being used (due to lack of requirements in the students), then why not just cut them all together to save money.  However, I don't think that is entirely the best solution to the problem all together, to get the end result that is most desired.  Which is that of college readiness and future success of our up and coming generations.  Although, I do think he was on to something when he mentioned the part of the high courts reinstating the previous requirements, to help achieve the desired results!  I believe that would definitely be a GREAT place to start!  

I think where the state went wrong is to stop "requiring so much of students."  They should be pushing them and requiring them to do better, and if they are falling short of doing EXACTLY that, then they are really doing our children a disservice to say the least!  That being said, if funding is cut in such a significant way, I believe that we are taking away from the students that want to succeed and excel in their studies and their futures.  Then again, they are kids!  What do the majority of them know about their futures?  If they are anything like myself and over half the kids I went to school with, they have no idea what they want to do with their lives or no aspirations to succeed in high school for that means?  They are just worried about the next boyfriend or girlfriend they are going to get, or the football game Friday night!  That is why us as the "responsible adults" in their lives (directly and indirectly) need to take action and make the decision for them, guide them and put any and all tools in their reach and at their disposal!  Not take all resources for success away!  I think that we have enabled and crippled today's youth by not requiring so much from them!  If you set the requirements higher, then perhaps they will naturally set their own bar higher?