Drug use among students is an area that always merits attention, but there’s something else about pot and schools to be concerned about.
The papers are buzzing (sorry) with stories about how confusing the new medical marijuana laws are and many generally feel the law is being misapplied, misunderstood, flat out confusing, scoffed at, or all the above.
Brian Heller in today’s Flint Journal has a great article titled, “Will interpretation of badly written pot law hurt sick?” There have been many others in the same vein.
What does this have to do with schools? Well, as we know Gov. Snyder and other Lansing education reformers are interested in mandating school choice among all Michigan public schools regardless of where students live, an effort that many view as an affront to local control.
When pressed for details responses from Gov. Snyder and other like-minded legislative leaders, if they aren’t being silent or dodging the question, they’re giving conflicting answers.
Senator Phil Pavlov on Devin Scillian’s “Flashpoint” news program said that the proposed legislation must be written so local districts cannot “game the system,” presumably meaning to dodge the ability to accept out of district students.
However yesterday the Lansing based MIRS reported that Gov. Snyder said, “The school districts and the schools decide if they have openings. If they say they have no openings, we’re not requiring them to say they have spots (available).”
Those are two very different sentiments from the two key players in this effort. Those would be what most would call “the details” and this is the concern.
Will this already confusing, conflicting idea rolled into bill form be as poorly written as the now controversial pot law? Will we be expected to interpret the bill as Sen. Pavlov envisions it or as Gov. Snyder does?
The fact is this is a case of, oddly enough, the normally small, less intrusive Republican party seeking unnecessary legislation that, should it be introduced, is very likely to yield confusion, misapplication… Forget it, just read the outcome of the pot laws above.
98% of traditional public school systems participate in Schools of Choice programs already to some degree or another. The number of students participating in traditional public school or charter school choice has increased 70% in the last several years. 40% of all Detroit Public School resident/eligible K-12 students choose out of DPS and attend a mind-boggling 182 different school districts. Choice is abundant and on the rise. Why does Lansing seek further interference undertaken by a group of lawmakers with a history of adopting confusing legislation?
Not a good combination. Of greater concern is whether they are being crazy, or crazy like a fox. Recall another whammy of legislation – Proposal A. Most everyone agreed that the School Aid Fund it established was intended solely for K-12 schools.
But oh no, said Governor Snyder. That was never stated explicitly in the law. The law says I can raid it and fund higher education.
Gov. Snyder, if you think you can continue to fool the people of Michigan, particularly those of us who care about true public education and value local control, well… you’re stoned.