Autumn has arrived and the school year is well underway.

As students begin seeing results from their efforts in the classroom, their parents and communities are starting to see results from HB 2506, the education bill passed earlier this year.

The $175 million school finance bill included funding for master teacher bonuses, technical education programs, and higher education. It also included the largest property tax reduction the state has seen in more than 15 years.

These measures are producing tangible relief for many Kansans: 204 of our Kansas public school districts have approved mill levy reductions as a result of this legislation.

These property tax decreases mean that Kansans can keep more of their hard-earned paychecks to save, spend or invest as they see fit. And this, after all, is one of the primary purposes of good government: to protect the people’s rights to what they have earned through their work.

State government must balance this goal with its other core functions, too, including the responsibility to fund its public education system fairly.

HB 2506 is helping us do just that by ensuring the proper equalization of those dollars, because all of our children deserve an excellent education, regardless of which school they attend or what part of the state they live in. In the process, this legislation not only benefits students and teachers, but homeowners and businesses as well.

I am thankful that the Legislature took swift action to pass this bill. Our state has great public schools, and this legislation ensures that we will continue to excel in education.

For too many years the Kansas economy was static with a significant number of people leaving Kansas and a smaller number moving into the state. It was time to address the static economy and move forward with a new aggressive approach to provide Kansans a brighter future.

One strategy was to reduce the tax burden on Kansas families and businesses, particularly job creating small business. We have also been aggressive in retaining and attracting large businesses to our state.

We reduced tax rates for all income levels. Since 70 percent of Kansans use a standard deduction, instead of itemizing, we enlarged standard deductions for married filing jointly and single head of households. We retained the largest earned income tax credit in the region and provided a food sales tax credit. Kansas went from being the second highest income tax rate in the region to the second lowest.

While it will take time to realize the full results of this policy, along with other actions, there are several positive indicators of improvement.

Kansas has gone from a 6.8 percent unemployment rate in 2011 to a 4.9 rate as of August, one of the lowest in the nation and beating the national average of 5.9 percent, a good indicator of job growth. Kansas is second in the nation in job growth from new and expanding businesses, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In the last quarter of 2013, Kansas saw a large increase in our Gross Domestic Product, which surpassed the national average and all but one state in our region according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

According to the Kansas Business Conditions Index, produced by Creighton University Dr. Ernie Goss, a leading and respected source of economic analysis the Kansas economy expanded to a healthy and nine state regional high in September beating Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Oklahoma.  Likewise, from August 2013 to August 2014, wages expanded to a healthy and regional high and are expected to remain healthy for the last quarter of 2014.

So many times multi-year projections are used to talk about state revenues. Projections more than a year in the future are like trying to predict the weather on any long range forecast; the projections are likely to be inaccurate. As an example, in 2012 when the tax policy was passed, it was projected at the end of fiscal year 2014 we would have a $242 million deficit. Two years later we ended fiscal year 2014 with $434 million cash on hand. A stunning $676 million positive swing in revenue!

We are only three months into fiscal year 2015 and we have taken in over $1.3 billion in state general fund tax receipts and are 1.7 percent or $23 million under estimates.

The Governor is committed to managing a fiscally responsible, efficient state government while funding our core responsibilities.  Kansans now have more money in their pockets to spend, invest or save. We believe the private sector, including Kansas families, know best how to handle their hard earned income.

Nick Jordan is Kansas Secretary of Revenue.

Bruce Drinkman is a successful organic dairy farmer who milks 50 cows with his wife, Mari, near Glenwood City, Wis.

Despite his 34 years of experience, the two-year drop in milk prices and four years of drought have meant no profits or savings. Last fall they were denied credit from their bank to purchase seeds to plant 55 acres in grains and corn this spring. To continue farming they cashed in Mari’s retirement account but the farm was placed into foreclosure around Christmas.

After repeated attempts to refinance the farm with other banks, farm credit services and Farm Service Agency (a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture) they were turned down by all, and did not even attempt to obtain bank credit this spring. Fortunately Bruce was able to obtain credit from a vendor to buy seed, and at the end of April he and Mari filed reorganization bankruptcy, the only means they knew to preserve their farm, home and livelihood.

American Gothic, 2010A recent survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago indicated that 11 percent of Wisconsin farmers with existing lines of credit may not have credit extended next year; this is especially significant because of the a 56 percent decline in net farm income in 2009. Dairy farmers have received prices far below their costs of production for nearly two years. With eroding equity, many are in immediate danger of losing their farms.

Farmland is so valuable that local (but often not locally owned) banks call in farm loans at the first opportunity, destroying families, communities, and regional economies. Farms entering foreclosure are listed publicly, further devastating owners while notifying speculators and investors of chances to take advantage of distraught landowners.

Something is askew. As the number of unemployed nationwide remains around 10 percent and the USDA holds summits on revitalizing rural America, why are experienced, efficient farmers receiving ridiculously low prices for their products, forcing family members to seek scarce off-farm jobs to support them? Why are banks and USDA denying them access to credit to continue their operations? Are these institutions conspiring to close farming operations in order to give investors the opportunity to purchase their land for a fraction of its worth?

A posting on Farmland Forecast, read by farmers, agribusinesses, investors and speculators interested in agricultural land, stated that “Midwestern U.S. farmland provides investors the best opportunity…Farmland may be [cheaper] in other regions of the world, but…may not have the same soil quality, transportation infrastructure, or government that supports property rights.” When an elderly couple with no heirs interested in or able to afford the farm decides to sell; when a younger farmer sells after incurring too much debt from low prices and rising input costs, there’s probably a corporate investor ready to buy. The land may be flipped to developers when enough profit can be made or planted in commodity crops (such as soybeans and corn) used primarily for livestock feed or ethanol production.

Sadly, many people who would like to engage in farming remain landless but are forced to rent or accept tenuous land use arrangements with no guaranteed long-term security. Speculators and investors only make matters worse by driving the price of farmland out of their reach, making less land available for the profitable production of fresh, local, and sustainable produce, eggs, milk, grains, and meat.

It appears that the people who depend on their land for survival and provide us with food–farmers, ranchers, fishers and laborers–are more expendable than people sitting behind a desk trading stocks, land, and communities’ futures. The solution to this situation is two-fold. First, restructure the pricing system to be fair and just for people producing or harvesting our food. Second, require banks that received Troubled Asset Relief Funds (TARP) to supply credit to and work with small businesses (including farms) in their communities. Demand this from your government. Otherwise, when farmers are forced off their land because they can’t profit from their labor or access credit for annual inputs, who will provide us the wonderful bounty of summer–watermelon, sweet corn, BLTs, and strawberries with whipped cream?

Lisa Griffith is membership coordinator of the National Family Farm Coalition, where she also works on local food issues. www.nffc.net.

Farms and ranches offer children a unique environment in which to live, play, work and grow up.

With all the excitement and whirlwind of activities, potential hazards lurk around every machine shed, tractor, silo and grain bin.

Like a moth to a flame, belching diesel smoke, the roar of engines and rubber wheels on tractors, combines or silage cutters draw children to them. And like fire, they can be dangerous.

Such equipment can cut, crush, trap or kill children. It can harm the ones we want to protect the most – our children.

Childhood farm injuries and fatalities most often occur while children play where farm activities are going on, or the youngsters are innocent bystanders.

Each year, hundreds of children are killed, and thousands more are injured in farm-related incidents, according to National Safety Council statistics.

Children younger than 10 years old experience one of the highest rates of pediatric farm-related injuries, says Holly Higgins, Kansas Farm Bureau safety director.

“In an ideal world, parents should keep children away from farming activities and environmental hazards associated with farming and ranching,” Higgins says. “Never invite children to ride in the tractor. Stress that your youngsters stay away from machinery. Don’t let them play or hide under or around machinery like tractors.”

Education and awareness are the key ingredients to help make the farm a safer place for children to play, Higgins says. Brushing up on some of the potential hazards can also make it safer for parents.

While barns, grain handling facilities and big buildings can be fun to play in, children can fall or be exposed to harmful substances like chemicals and electricity.

Explain the dangers associated with stored grain. Stress that grain can entrap a person almost immediately. Children should never play around, or in grain that is stored in bins, trucks or wagons. Emphasize that it is difficult, or can be impossible, to pull a child out of grain if he/she becomes trapped.

Discuss with your children the potential dangers involved with farm animals. Remind them that while animals are fun to be around they can also bite, trample and stomp.

Tell your youngsters the signs that show an animal may be dangerous. Some of them include pawing the ground, snorting, raised hair and ears laid back.

“Animals – even friendly ones – can be unpredictable,” Higgins says. “Have children stay away from large ones. Emphasize they stay away from animals with newborn or young. Tell them to remain calm, speak quietly and move slowly when around animals.”

Wide-open spaces can provide children with ideal playgrounds. However, this isolation may also lead to difficulty finding help in the event of an emergency.

Remember, it is important youngsters have a safe place to play. Ask them to identify safe play areas. Talk about areas away from farm machinery, animals, manure pits and silos.

Carefully define safe boundaries. Let children know where they can and cannot play.

Safe play areas remain the best alternative to bringing children into the worksite. This is especially important when off-farm child care is not available.

Keep your youngsters safe while they play on the farm.

John Schlageck, a Hoxie native, is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas.

Hello everyone!

This week is going to be crazy busy and I have a few more things to add to your list of to-do’s.  Let’s just jump right in!

Today (Monday, for those who are already lost) you can catch the EHS JV Football game right here at home.  The Railers will take on LaCrosse with a 6pm start time. At 3:30 today, the WGS Site Council will meet in the WGS Library.

This week is National 4-H week and our Ellis Sunflower 4-H Club is celebrating by showcasing some of their projects at Equity Bank and Golden Belt Bank.  Stop in and check out the accomplishments of these area youths.  Also, be on the look-out for Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat on Sunday.  This awesome program is organized by your Ellis Sunflower 4-H Club!  If you would like to explore 4-H, the Ellis Sunflower 4-H Club meets at 7pm on the first Monday of each month at the Ellis United Methodist Church.  New members are always welcome!

Tuesday-The EJH Railer Volleyball team will travel to Phillipsburg for regular season play, with the match to begin at 4:30pm.  The EHS Girls will play host to TMP at 5pm.  It will be Senior Night at EHS, so make it up to the High School to support your Railers and congratulate the Senior Girls, as their HS Volleyball run nears an end.  The Foundation will meet at 5:30pm at the Alliance Office.

Wednesday-The FCCLA kids will travel to Hoisington at 9am for a conference.

Thursday-At 10:30am, the Alliance will treat a group of individuals from Norton to the fun of the Storybook Walk.  If anyone has an hour or so and would like to help with the fun, please let me know!  Thanks in advance!  The Cross Country Team will be in Phillipsburg for a meet beginning at 4:30pm and the EHS Volleyball team will take on Plainville and Norton in Plainville.  The Junior High Volleyball ladies will host Norton beginning at 4:30pm and the Football boys will take the field against the Blue Jays at 6pm.

Friday is Homecoming and the EHS Railers are going to Trash the Tribe!  Get your floats and parade entries all dolled up for the EHS Homecoming Parade at 2:30pm.  The band will be marching and the King & Queen candidates will be waving to the crowds!  At 5pm, the Ellis FFA Chapter will host their annual BBQ.  Burgers and Country Sausage Sandwiches, chips, cookies and drinks just waiting for you to dig in to!  Crowning Ceremonies are set for 6:30pm and the big game kicks off at 7pm.  Get there early to get a good seat and settle in for some Railer Football action!  Later after the game, all EHS Students are invited to 5th Quarter at the EUMC.

Saturday-There’s no stopping in the activities around town!  The EHS JV & C-Team Volleyball ladies will be in action at Hays at 8am, and the Junior High girls will be traveling to Phillipsburg to the MCEL tournament beginning at 9am.  The Milestone Dinner, honoring our 80, 90, and 100 year old community members, starts at Noon with a group picture, followed by a delicious meal prepared by the D of I Ladies.  The Milestone Dinner is held at the Knights of Columbus Hall.  If you need tickets or need to reserve a spot for your loved one, please call Dena at the Alliance office or Opal Flinn at 726-4432.  At 4:00pm, your Jr. Railers (4th, 5th, & 6th grade) Football boys will be opening their tournament play, at home,  against Plainville.  If the boys win on Saturday, they will play again at 4:30pm on Sunday for the Championship, if It’s a loss, then they will play at 2pm.  Announcements will be made on Saturday.  The Homecoming Dance will culminate the evening from 8-11pm.

On Saturday, the AHSGR (American Historical Society of Germans from Russia) Kansas Round-Up of Chapters will -take place at Whiskey Creek in Hays.  There will be great presenters beginning at 9am, with registration starting at 8am.  The Keynote Banquet will begin at 6pm.  If you would like more information call Kevin Rupp at 785-656-0329.

Sunday-Jr. Railer Football, time to be announced on Saturday following their first game.  At 4pm, volunteers with Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat will be canvasing town collecting non-perishable food donations for the Ellis Food Pantry.  ALL DONATIONS WILL STAY IN ELLIS!!!  If you are not going to be home but would still like to participate, please leave your donations on your porch for pick up.  Thank you in advance for your donations!

Monday-The Ellis County Health Department will be giving flu shots at the K of C Hall from 9-10am.

Well, like I said, no shortage of things to do!  If you are a football fan, Ellis is the place to be this week-5 games all here in Ellis within 7 days!  As always, if I’ve missed something, please let me know.  Please also see the attached flyer for the Cottage Lane Pumpkin Patch.  Head out there to get your pumpkins and get in the fall spirit!

Have a great rest of your day!

Dena

Dear Dave,
My husband makes about $35,000 a year before taxes, and we have one child. We’ve also got a mortgage and $60,000 in student loan debt. About a year ago, my husband started work on a master’s degree, because he thinks he wants to teach when he retires.

He quit school after the baby was born, because he didn’t think we could afford it any longer. I think he should finish the degree. Otherwise, he’s just throwing away the $10,000 we’ve already got invested in the program. What do you think?
Amanda

Dear Amanda,
You guys need to clean up the mess you’ve made before he goes after his master’s degree. You might be able to justify it if the degree immediately raised his income, but you two can’t afford to make investments in vague educational goals right now.

If you want to call it throwing the money away, then yeah, throw it away. But I’m not sure the money has been wasted. The classes he has already taken are complete and on record, so why can’t he finish the degree somewhere down the road? You guys have done a poor job of planning, and now you need to climb out of a big hole before you do anything else.

The point is not the $10,000, Amanda. The point is that you’re barely making ends meet. You’ve already got a house payment and $60,000 in student loan debt hanging over your heads, not to mention the added expense of a baby in the house. The last thing you need is to go even deeper into debt for something he won’t even use until retirement. That’s just silly.

I’m all for education, but you’ve got to plan things and get a better payback on your educational spending. That’s when it becomes an investment. But he doesn’t need to even think about a master’s degree until you guys have first straightened out your finances!
—Dave

Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and business. He has authored five New York Times best-selling books: Financial Peace, More Than Enough, The Total Money Makeover, EntreLeadership and Smart Money Smart Kids. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 8 million listeners each week on more than 500 radio stations. Follow Dave on Twitter at @DaveRamsey and on the web at daveramsey.com.

While all the noise is about the coming election, Statehouse insiders are looking at spreadsheets on revenues and wondering what’s going to happen once all are elected, have their new business cards printed up and have to figure how to run things.

The best guesses so far are that for the remaining nine months of this fiscal year (which started on July 1), there’s going to be enough money to keep the lights on, the school district payments made, most of the business of the state … well, in business.

So, figure that the state is going to stay in business at least while the new legislators are getting acquainted with lobbyists and sorting out the local after-hours restaurants.

But when either a new or re-elected governor takes over, he is going to have four, maybe five months to either raise revenues for the coming fiscal year or find ways to cut spending that won’t badly inconvenience the voters who elected him.

And, insiders are already looking at a fascinating legislative session coming up.

So far, Democratic candidate Paul Davis, who has more than a decade of Statehouse legislative experience, isn’t talking much about new plans or new programs. He’s talking about suspending a scheduled income tax reduction schedule that is already in state law.

Republican Gov. Sam Brownback so far is talking about how everyone is having a good time as taxes are reduced, and released a Road Map 2.0 brochure that is mostly nice things—think vanilla—that don’t cost much money.

But it’s going to be the Legislature that is going to have to do the heavy lifting of either reducing state spending or raising taxes from that “other guy,” not you.

Now, what don’t you want the state to do anymore? Inspect crops? Manage programs for the poor? Build or repair highways? Finance schools?

This is where it is going to be interesting. Because the state constitution prevents the state from running a budget deficit—a pretty good idea from a century ago, when we presume people paid cash for their houses and horse-drawn wagons—the budget for the upcoming fiscal year becomes ground zero for legislative debate.

Does it split Republicans from Democrats? Probably not. Don’t look for Republicans to want to raise or even delay cuts in taxes. Don’t look for Democrats to want to reduce spending on the poor, the school kids, the roads, or even state employees who haven’t seen a raise in several years.

Those stances are pretty well defined, and at this point, there aren’t enough Democrats and middle-of-the-road Republicans to pass tax increases or even delay tax cuts unless there is a major change of landscape in the House and even then, the Senate is rock-solid/hard-core keep the tax cuts coming and find spending to cut.

So, what’s the best “insiders” guess?

Look for a budget of haircuts and under-under-the-table shifting of money.

Remember that $130 million that the Kansas Supreme Court last year ordered the Legislature to appropriate to school districts to equalize the state aid to those districts? Well, with shifting within the education budget, closing programs, combining programs and such, the final pricetag game in at less than $80 million. It wasn’t pretty, but with some shifting and shuffling of money that most Kansans who aren’t school finance technicians didn’t have a clue about…it got done.

Look for that sort of thing next session. Lots of shuffling of funds that most of us don’t know about, lots of borrowing inside agencies.

And, probably some “looks like a tax, but we’ll call it a user-fee” business, too.

So, enjoy the election and then, maybe, try not to pay too much attention to what happens next…

Syndicated by Hawver News Co. of Topeka, Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report. To learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit www.hawvernews.com.

My hometown, St. James, Mo., is located on I-44, halfway between St. Louis and Springfield. My family lives squarely within “Cardinal Country.”

I’ve attended games at both the old and new Busch Stadiums, I’ve listened to the games on the radio, I watched Mark McGuire hit his record breaking home runs, I rooted for Albert Pujols and then rooted against him when he defected to the Angels…and I’m not even a hardcore fan.

My sister, for instance, has gone to World Series games, owns multiple jerseys and had her bachelorette party at a Cardinals game. She’s a real fan.

No one, and I mean no one, in my neck of the woods roots for the Royals. You never see a Royals T-shirt or ball cap, you don’t read their scores in the newspaper and you don’t find their games on local news outlets. The Royals aren’t rivals of the Cardinals per se, like the Red Sox or the Cubs, they’re just that “other team.”

Major League Baseball is to Missourians what college basketball is to Kansans. Even though I went to Mizzou, I don’t mind routing for KU, but it would be treason and a near-sacrilege for me to root for the Royals over the Cardinals. In recent weeks, I’ve heard much ado about the Royals and their hot streak this season. They’ve even made it into the playoffs — along with the Cardinals. Though I know many of you – maybe even most of you – would be rooting for the Royals in the event of a Cardinals v. Royals World Series, please know that my allegiance will not be swayed.

While I will certainly have baseball on the brain this month, I also have several programs on the horizon. This October, I’ll be hosting two “how-to” programs: a cooking class for green bean and dumpling soup on the 9th at 5 PM and a scarf tying class on the 21st at 4 PM.

Please view the library’s calendar at www.hayspublib.org or call me at (785) 625-9014 for more information these programs.

This month also brings to fruition a project I’ve been working on for most of my employ here at the library. For almost a year and half, I’ve been working on a short film with the Kansas Humanities Council about a community “Turning Point” – the formation of the Hays Arts Council.

Hays was one of just four communities in the state chosen for this project. The other communities selected were Olathe, Kinsley and Ulysses. The writing, scanning, filming and editing are all done and now it’s time for the fun part — the premiere!

The Art of Change will premiere on Oct. 17th at 6:30 PM at the Robbins Center on FHSU’s campus. There will be a short reception featuring local musical ensemble Tx3 and refreshments by Gella’s Diner and Lb. Brewing Co. Following the reception, the film will premiere along with the other three Turning Points films. Don’t worry! Each film is only about 7 minutes long, so the premiere will only take about half an hour.

Following the premiere, Mayor Henry Schwaller and local artist Dennis Schiel will be leading a discussion on Hays and the arts. I am so looking forward to this event and I’ve got my fingers crossed for a fantastic turnout. The entire evening is free to attend, so if you’re not busy, I hope to see you there! Turning Points is supported by the Kansas Humanities Council through a generous gift from Suzi Miner in memory of Kansas historian Craig Miner.

The Kansas Room is located in the basement of the Hays Public Library and is open from 9 AM to 4 PM Tuesday through Saturday, and by request.

Through his most famous essay, Robert Fulghum attributed his time in kindergarten for teaching him all of the important life skills he needed to be a successful adult. While he made some valid points, I respectfully have to disagree.

You see, I grew up on a farm, in a rural agriculturally dependent community, with friends who also lived on farms. Our fathers were not the only farmers, so were our uncles, grandparents, and, in some cases, our siblings.

As the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce prepares for our annual Farmer’s Appreciation Dinner on Oct. 16, I can’t help but reflect on my childhood and how so much of my actions, attitudes, ethics and beliefs were molded by those farming influences.

Thus, I believe, all I really needed to know, I learned from a farmer.

For instance, some things I learned:

• It isn’t just good manners to wave at all passing vehicles; it is downright rude not to do so.

• Fancy vacations are OK, but nothing is more exciting, adventurous or thrilling than a successful bountiful harvest.

• The needs of others always come first, whether it is feeding the livestock, protecting the family or looking after your neighbors.

• You work hard at doing the best job possible, but once you do all you can, you step back and let faith take over.

• Protect the quality of your handshake, your word and your reputation because they are the most important items a person can possess.

• Don’t forget to take time to relax and enjoy the company of others. Our lives are more enriched when shared with those we love.

My farming background continues to serve as the foundation I lean on professionally and personally.

I look forward to thanking all area farmers for what they contribute to our local economy.

Media bias favoring a tax-and-spend philosophy prevents civil discussion of serious education issues in Kansas, as evidenced by a Hays Daily News editorial entitled “School Efficiency.”  The editorial promotes a report published by the Kansas Center for Economic Growth as evidence that schools are underfunded and says the report should be “scrutinized closely” by citizens.   Kansas Policy Institute has closely scrutinized the report but it’s pretty obvious that the Hays Daily News has not.

Close scrutiny of the report reveals that KCEG bases their conclusions on little more than opinion and false premise.  KCEG executive director Annie McKay says schools can’t be expected to perform “…without the resources they need” but their report simply assumes that more money is needed.  The truth is that no one knows how much schools need to meet the Supreme Court-mandated Rose standards while also making efficient use of taxpayer money.

KCEG merely says districts had less buying power in 2013 than in 2009, but it doesn’t require close scrutiny to know that, at $12,781 per-pupil, 2013 spending was well ahead of inflation since 2005.  Spending in 2009 was driven by court-ordered increases but we now know that the cost study presented to the courts was deliberately skewed to produce inflated numbers.  The Supreme Court no longer uses actual cost or Base State Aid to determine adequacy, a fact that KCEG and school districts refuse to accept.

School districts were also spending a lot more than necessary in 2009 (and since).  Every Legislative Post Audit study says districts could operate more efficiently, and some districts have told the on-going K-12 Student Achievement and Efficiency Commission that they know they are inefficient.  Districts haven’t even been spending all of the money given them by taxpayers, having used $430 million since 2005 to almost double their cash reserves.

Some of KCEG’s findings are based on a survey of school superintendents but the report does not disclose how many, and which, districts were asked to participate, how many actually responded, and the survey document and responses are not made available for review.  Several quotes critical of school finance are attributed to superintendents but KCEG unbelievably does not disclose their identities!

Some of their claims are sourced to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and former state budget director Duane Goossen, both of which Kansas Policy Institute has proven to  be guilty of making  spurious claims.  Other KCEG claims are merely based on “analysis of data.” KPI asked to see their “data” but predictably, KCEG declines to make it available (as do their allies at CBPP every time we’ve asked).

The Hays Daily News would rightfully crucify Kansas Policy Institute if we tried to perpetrate such a sham but KCEG gets away with it because the Daily News agrees with KCEG’s conclusions.  Knowing that media won’t question the work if they agree with the conclusions only encourages such bad behavior.

Enormous funding increases between 2005 and 2009 didn’t improve outcomes on independent assessments.  KSDE even admitted earlier this year that achievement gaps for low income students are actually getting worse, even though funding dedicated to help those students increased seven-fold since 2005.

These misleading declarations that schools are underfunded have nothing to do with education; rather, it’s all about money and politics for KCEG and their media enablers.

Dozens of Colorado high school students decided a few days ago to demand a complete education about American history — and they had to walk out of class to make their point.

According to reports in The Denver Post and the Los Angeles Times, students at nine high schools in Denver suburbs have left classes at times “to protest what they see as the school board’s attempt to censor advanced history curriculum.“

Several newly elected school board members in Jefferson County pledged during election campaigns to revise school curricula. The students — along with parents and teachers, the reports said — were protesting a new board member’s proposal to form a review panel to promote “patriotic material, respect for authority, and the free-market system.” In turn, the truth-testers would avoid material about “civil disorder, social strife or disregard for the law.”

The proposal to tinker with the Advanced Placement (AP) class subject matter reportedly has been tabled for now. But how would such a content review play out?

OK, most of us would agree with no positive spins on fraud or murder and such. And who wouldn’t want students to learn about patriotism, America’s positive values and to grasp the economics of how our society operates?

But what to do with events such as the Boston Tea Party, clearly a shameless example of “civil disorder” and an obvious “disregard for the law”? And then there is the problem with how to deal with the history of abolitionists, who kept upsetting the prevalent respect for laws that kept slavery on the books between 1776 and 1865, causing a good deal of “social strife.” And of course, the Civil War itself encompassed a lot of incivility.

Purifying-panel participants also might find it necessary to rip out the pages in their history book about the men and women who campaigned for women’s suffrage — which included criticism of male-centric laws and disruptive demonstrations at the very gates of the White House. Clearly, the modern civil rights movement violates all three new no-nos proposed for the panel’s purview, having provoked disorder on a national scale, showed disregard for racist laws and challenged the existing segregationist social order.

Perhaps even the Tea Party vocal street marches against runaway government spending, and its angry confrontations with elected officials in town hall meetings a few summers ago, would not survive the panel’s censorious review.

In reality, this is a nation born by kicking over the existing social order: We called it the Revolutionary War. You remember that one — it’s in all the books … so far.

Very public disputes replete with marches and protest signs, and the occasional disruption of the public peace, are basic tools in our ongoing endeavor “to form a more perfect union….” By the way, those last few words are from the U.S. Constitution, a text presumably not on the Jefferson County educational chopping block at this time.

A Fox News anchor, Gretchen Carlson, recently called the Colorado students “punks” and suggested they “get out” (of the country, not classes, presumably) if they object to an America “where we have a national anthem and an American flag.” In the Vietnam era, the same slam came out as “America. Love it or leave it.”

Both views miss the point that protesting in the marketplace of ideas is patriotic, and a means over two centuries by which we keep perfecting our union. Learning about civil disobedience does not mean teaching that it is OK to commit crimes.

Government at any level ought not to be in the business of slicing out sections of our history that some find upsetting, improper or simply incompatible with their view — whether that’s a conservative or liberal take on U.S. history. We need both views, and an accurate account of history.

A sanitized, incomplete account in textbooks and classes denies students the opportunity to learn from our nation’s regrettable mistakes as well as its great accomplishments — and to aspire to do better than previous generations in both areas.

Too bad that it took students leaving classrooms to teach that lesson to adults who ought to know it already.

Gene Policinski is chief operating officer of the Washington-based Newseum Institute and senior vice president of the Institute’s First Amendment Center. [email protected]