Joomla! site syndication http://www.lppa.org Wed, 14 May 2008 13:09:45 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.lppa.org/images/M_images/joomla_rss.png http://www.lppa.org Joomla! site syndication http://www.lppa.org/Press_Releases/Report_Card_on_Schools___more_money_is_not_the_answer.html Libertarian Party analyzes government school spending against SAT scores Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania3915 Union Deposit Road #223Harrisburg, PA 17109www.lppa.orgFor Immediate Release: May 6, 2008Contact: Doug Leard (Media Relations) orMichael Robertson (Chair) at 1-800-R-RIGHTS / chair@lppa.org Harrisburg, PA – The Philadelphia Inquirer recently released their 2008 Report Card on the Schools which again indicates that government schools cannot spend their way to success.School districts in the five-county southeast Pennsylvania region increased spending 2% from 2007 to $12,819 per student. Meanwhile, SAT Math Verbal scores continued a gradual decline of 5 points to an average of 956 per student. Since 2003, spending per student has increased 35% while SAT scores have dropped an average of 16 points per student.The results from individual schools highlight the inability of more and more tax dollars to enhance school performance. Since 2003, the three schools that have increased spending the most are Chester Upland (92%), Bristol Township (66%) and Norristown (50%). Meanwhile, their SAT scores are down 39, 41 and 45 points respectively.The schools that have exercised greatest control on spending are Radnor (6%), Methacton (10%) and Owen Roberts (11%). Their test scores are unchanged, up 52 points and down 1 point respectively. Montgomery County Libertarian Chair, James Babb declared “the cost of education continues to rise while quality declines. This is the inherent problem with any product or service provided by government. The only way I know to improve quality and reduce costs is the free market. I trust parents to make good choices about their children’s future much more than politicians.”The Report Card supports Mr. Babb’s point regarding the cost / quality advantage of the private sector. Despite the burden of competing against a large government monopoly, the average cost per student of a private/parochial school in the region is $10,651, 20% less than a government school. The average SAT score is 1152, 194 points above the average for government schools. Libertarian land value tax author, Harold Kyriazi, adds “School administrators without the power to fire incompetent teachers and exclude disruptive students, and parents without the power to withdraw their tax dollars from underperforming schools, virtually guarantees a bad outcome. On the other hand, we know that healthy competition, and genuine educational choice for parents and control for administrators, would guarantee that the best schools and teachers rise to the top.”Michael Robertson, LPPa Chair, notes “it has been sufficiently demonstrated that overall, performance has been declining while costs increase in the current public education system. It is clear that increased funding is not directly proportional to improved academic performance in Pennsylvania's public schools. State and federal mandates make it increasingly difficult for parents and local school boards to address issues of concern. Playing a shell game with increased earned income taxes and more sales taxes to perhaps allow for some property tax reductions does not address the problems of public education in our Commonwealth. Until this system changes the quality of public school education will continue to suffer as costs continue to rise”The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in Pennsylvania and the United States. More than 200,000 people across the country are registered Libertarians, and Libertarians serve in hundreds of elected offices. Please visit www.LP.org or www.LPPA.org for more information. Press Releases - Press Releases Tue, 06 May 2008 19:49:59 +0100 http://www.lppa.org/Press_Releases/Libertarian_Party_of_Pennsylvania_announces_Executive_Board.html LPPa elects new Board at recent State Convention Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania 3915 Union Deposit Road #223Harrisburg, PA 17109www.lppa.org (/) For Immediate Release: April 1, 2008Contact: Doug Leard (Media Relations) orMichael Robertson (Chair) at 1-800-R-RIGHTS / chair@lppa.org (mailto:chair@lppa.org) Malvern, PA – The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania (LPPa) elected a new Executive Board at their annual convention in March. Elected to the Board were State Chair: Michael Robertson Eastern Vice-Chair: David Jahn Western Vice-Chair: Berlie Etzel Treasurer: Chuck Boust Secretary: Alan Yottey Michael J. Mik Robertson works as a geologist with an environmental consulting firm. He and his wife Maggie along with three-year old daughter Claire have a farm in Clarion County where they raise certified naturally grown produce. Mik is vice-president of the Clarion County Association of Township Officials. He formerly served on the multi-municipal planning committee which prepared a comprehensive plan for the future of their township and adjacent borough. He is Vice-Chair of the Libertarian Party of Clarion County. David Jahn lives in Glenolden with his wife Peg. After serving in the United States Air Force, he pursued a career in industrial construction and currently works as a project planner and project management consultant. He has managed multi-million dollar construction projects at power houses, refineries, chemical plants, and paper mills. A former LPPa State Chair, he has also served on his local planning commission and zoning hearing board. Berlie Etzel is a retired math and science teacher. He graduated from Clarion State College and served as a Lieutenant in the US Navy. He has been active in politics for 45 years, and a member of the Libertarian Party for almost 30 years. He served as LP of Delaware State Chair for several years before moving to Clarion County. He served as Ashland’s Township Auditor and is currently the township’s Constable. He is a delegate to the May LP National Convention in Denver Colorado. He and his wife, Rochelle, have three children and six grandchildren. Chuck Boust lives in Newville on a small farm that he purchased in 1985. He graduated from PennState in 1973 with a B.S. in Animal Science. He worked for the Department of Defense for thirty years and retired in 2005. Mr. Boust and his wife, Letha, have two teenage children. Alan Yottey is a project manager and business analyst. He has earned his PMP (Project Management Professional) certification. He specializes in information technology projects. Alan has an MBA from Penn State University and a B.A. in Philosophy from Penn State. Alan has been active in Toastmasters for more than twelve years. He has been Area Governor (Area 12, District 38) and is Past President and Webmaster of his club. Other interests include current events, business, the arts, writing, and fitness. Restoring liberty to the United States and taking it to the world are keen interests. Alan lives in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. “With our new Board in place, we are looking forward to the continued growth of the Libertarian Party in Pennsylvania, indicated Mr. Robertson, “and will renew our efforts to restore individual liberty and limited, efficient government in our commonwealth.” The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in Pennsylvania and the United States. More than 200,000 people across the country are registered Libertarians, and Libertarians serve in hundreds of elected offices. Please visit www.LP.org (http://www.lp.org/) or www.LPPA.org (/) for more information. # # # Press Releases - Press Releases Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:38:54 +0100