TN TAX BATTLE: David Coffey: Untold facts on education in Tennessee

While Tennessee twists slowly in the wind for another three weeks and the Legislature's Finance Committees meet, one thing seems certain: the 102nd General Assembly is trashing Tennessee's reputation.

Letter-to-the-editor writers lament Tennessee's standing as last in education. Some even threaten to leave the state. Their concern is understandable. If I believed what they do, I would lead a crowd through the streets with torches.

But they have not been told the full story. The Associated Press and others have not told a balanced story. An exception is The Tennessean's detailed series on the budget.

Here's the truth about education spending in Tennessee: it ranks respectably among the states in what matters. Bricks and supervisors don't teach. Teachers teach. Tennessee ranks respectably in how teachers are compensated. Top teachers must be well paid. For example, the average Tennessee teacher salary for the most recently compiled year (1999-00) is $36,328, basically for a 10-month contract. This ranks 31st among the states. Not last, not near last, but number 31, topping many more prosperous states.

This unbiased news is from the American Federation of Teachers (Table I-4) (www.aft.org/research/survey00/salarysurvey00.pdf). But that credible state position does not consider the financial environment of Tennessee. More fairly, as a percentage of the state's per capita income, Tennessee teachers rank 29th among the states (Table I-6).

And most fairly, ranked after considering the cost of living (Table I-7), Tennessee's teachers move to number 24. Well, well, you have never heard that, have you?

So douse the torches. Face the facts that Tennessee is doing a credible job compensating teachers. And teachers are the proven way to student excellence.

This is not to say all is well. The Legislature has also failed to pass a credible, workable charter schools bill. That which has been filtered through our faulty legislative system seems fatally flawed, likely by intent. The charter school bill gives no air to breathe new life into schools. Every exception to a rule must be pre-approved. All such schools sunset (lose their charter) in 2008. It seems unlikely any can thrive with these crippling limits. But the burning issue at this moment is the excessive budget, based on an income tax. And whatever the outcome of the income tax campaign, the result will be the same. If the income tax finally passes without being constitutionally limited, we hand our financial futures to our politicians.

If it fails and anything close to the DOGS (basic services) budget passes, we all move into a dark age for Tennessee state government. Most other options have been methodically eliminated in raw displays of political power. Many in the Legislature would consider the session a failure. On that their public would agree.

But even as we twist and fume about the Legislature's inability to function, remember Tennessee is still humming, a beauty to enjoy and see (ranked third most scenic in America by Overdrive Magazine), and a great place to live.

Perhaps someday we will see a Legislature and an administration that will work in concert.

David Coffey is an Oak Ridge businessman and former member of the Tennessee House.

We had no problem with the quality of education in Munford. My gripe was with the "good ole boy" attitude that affected so many other elements of life (particularly government). An interesting analysis would be comparatives of rural and city. Looking only at Shelby County, (not Shelby County School system) the terrible performance of Memphis city schools masks the good job being done in Germantown, Collierville and Bartlet.

good point, as you know, wages and salaries in Tennessee, as well as real estate, are lower than in a lot of places. Also, apparently the state numbers are not so meaningful, as teachers salaries vary greatly from county to county (Knox county being depressed, probably by all the graduating students choosing to remain) Some teacher friends tell me that a number of their co-workers have moved to Georgia for an immediate pickup of 15-20K.

IF the funds were MORE wisely spent, teachers in TN would be better paid. In Memphis their school board choses "pretty" schools at nearly double to cost of Shelby Co schools. Over putting those funds into the teachers pay, equipment, books, etc. One glass curtain wall $132,000 by an OUT OF STATE artist. I'm sure the students really cared about how pretty their school looked.

There was a story at the beginning of the school year about a brand new Middle TN (multi-million dollar) school building opening and the teachers were moaning that because of budget problems, the school library had NO books! Now, who was the genius that signed off on the big, expensive building but didn't give a thought as to what to put into it?! Poor planning or corruption or both?

Sounds like that district has the same clowns that the Memphis city school board has on it. Spending nearly double to build the same size school that Shelby Co spends. Gotta make them "pretty" so the students will have high esteem. Then bemoan the lack of money for pay raises, equipment and books.

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