SLOG has certainly gotten to be boring.
Haven't looked at it for a while and it looks just like Seattle WEEKLY or Crosscut.

@1 feel free to provide a link so we know youre not another lying troll. I'll be waiting.

You can't just call the opposition assholes and expect people to follow suit. I haven't read the rest of the endorsements, but if your arguments are as vapid as this, why bother?

Like 80% of Washington citizens, I voted Yes for 1351.

We like our State Constitution and we want Education fully funded FIRST, not after you give away tax exemptions to corporations.

@4 I see you're new here.

I am not an asshole but the money spent getting this on the ballot would have been better spent getting knuckle draggers out of the legislature. Assuming Democrats don't take over both chambers, where will the money get cut to cover 1351.

The state will have about the same pool of money in 2015 but an extra billion will be allocated to cut class sizes. Where do we get it? Mental Health services? Closing corporate tax loopholes? Funny how people think that will happen magically with the Pam Roach's of the state clinging to a bit of power. I guess we could get it from Nutritional assistance. Maybe we can get it from State Public Health programs? Heck, we could cut transportation funding further and shift that to lowering class sizes.

The money is going to have to come from somewhere. Odds are it will be some other program that people in favor of 1351 would like to see expanded not cut.

The idea that passing 1351 without increasing revenue is not going to cause harm is silly.

But, but....The reformistas at the League of Education Voters doesn't endorse 1351! Which is precisely why I voted Yes.



P.S., Given LEV's endorsement on 1B on the city preschool initiative, I voted NO.

If this thing doesn't have a funding source then it's yet another waste of time and money. If the Supreme Court can't force the legislature to spend more money on education, what is this initiative going to accomplish?

What @9 said. Just another feel-good initiative that accomplishes squat.

Also, most studies show that class size has minimal effect on how well kids learn.

Oh, and it doesn't get much more immature than calling people who disagree with you "assholes."

@8
"But, but....The reformistas at the League of Education Voters doesn't endorse 1351! Which is precisely why I voted Yes.

P.S., Given LEV's endorsement on 1B on the city preschool initiative, I voted NO."

Ditto and ditto.

HOWEVER, 1351 could be a useful tool if it passes.

Because some in the Legislature were going to continue to drag their feet on McCleary.

Or pit public education against social/health services.

Or use McCleary funding passage to leverage for other things (one rumor I've heard - to get mayoral takeover of Seattle schools, nice, huh?)

BUT if 1351 passes, well, that's a bridge too far and I believe between McCleary and 1351, it would force the Legislature to find a REAL revenue stream for this state. Either end some real big tax breaks or (quietly now) an income tax.

Imagine if a right wing website said that congress was so corrupt, they should be in prison raping each other.

Just imagine what SLOG would say about that.

Of course, the right wing website would just say, "We were using hyperbole to make a joke! Lighten up!"

Then the writers at SLOG (Herz and Constant, ahem) would say, "Yeah, right. Too late. We know how you think, now."

Just imagine. Because the folks at SLOG obviously can't.

The initiative doesn't include a funding source because it can't.

There is an odd quirk in the initiative process in WA. An initiative can not contain more than one thing. In the past, the state courts have tossed initiatives that contained something like this along with a funding method because that counts as two things. You could propose a separate companion initiative that creates a funding source, but you can't include the funding source in the same initiative.

Yes, because I-728 worked SO WELL. The definition of insanity, anyone?

Class size does have an impact, but not when it's a half-assed job like I-728 was prior to being dumped by legislators.
Tennesee STAR report summary with phase 1 & 2:
http://futureofchildren.org/futureofchil…

Anecdotal - ask any teacher about class size. The majority will say it makes a big difference in their ability to get around to every kid. Most students will agree, especially in elementary.

Common sense - say it takes 20 min to grade a test/essay
20 min times 20 students - 400 minutes, or about 6 1/2 hours.
20 min times 30 students - 600 minutes, or about 10 hours.
20 min times 40 students - 800 minutes, or about 13 hours.

Which class will get better feedback and a quicker turnaround on their tests/essays?

Lol. I'd be impressed if your average test/essay received more than 10 minutes of attention.

I'm voting against any unfunded class size progressions until they've resolved McCleary. I don't want the leg to complain to the courts about a moving yardstick before we put them in jail.

www.washingtonpolicy.org/.../citizens-gu...











Have a peek asshole!