Tennessee High Students Question Governor In Virtual Classroom

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Students from a Tennessee High School government and economics class earned their way into the school’s first virtual real-time question-and-answer session Monday with Gov. Phil Bredesen.

Citing the high academic performance of the class, Education Commissioner Timothy Webb e-mailed an invitation to be one of four classes across the state to watch a live education budget hearing in Nashville and ask questions afterward via e-mail.

“You all are the first,” Anna Booher, THS social studies chairwoman, told the 40 students about their opportunity to use the virtual classroom. “We’ve just gotten the capability to do this. This is a maiden voyage.”

In Nashville, Webb sat across from Bredesen and Department of Finance & Administration Commissioner Dave Goetz and spelled out the basics of a proposed departmental cut of more than $20 million in fiscal year 2009-2010.

Next year’s recommended $4.91 billion budget reduces by 3 percent money spent on the State Board of Education, Tennessee Early Intervention Services, the Governor’s Book from Birth Fund, training and professional development, as well as other programs.

“Obviously, we’re having a very tough year,” Bredesen said from multiple high-end, large-screen TVs inside the classroom. “But I’m going to break my back to maintain the BEP [Basic Education Program].”

The BEP is the funding formula through which state education dollars are generated and distributed to Tennessee schools.

At the conclusion of the hearing, which mainly was a summary of the department’s need to go on a financial diet, THS students e-mailed questions to the governor. Bredesen, Webb and Connie Smith, assistant commissioner of accountability, teaching and learning for the state education department, addressed their questions.

A camera positioned behind the governor’s laptop revealed the names and identified several THS students and their questions, including one submitted by Michael Balaban, 17.

“Why isn’t high school education more career oriented, and could extra funding be devoted to developing a program that would still be student friendly?”
Balaban listened as Bredesen spoke.

“When I went through the BEP 2.0 process [Bredesen’s 2007 overhaul of education funding], one thing I took away was the needs [to begin a career] are very close to what you need to enter college,” he said. “I really think a general prep course is more valuable than a very specific course path.” After the session, Balaban said he didn’t necessarily agree.

“I don’t buy that completely,” he said. “Everything we learn here is geared toward ACT and SAT scores, but colleges are looking more at your GPA [grade point average]. The SAT is useful, but wouldn’t you [employer] rather have someone with a high knowledge in a specific area? If you look at the first two years of college, you’re repeating basic courses anyway.”

The governor also read a question from THS student Isaac Sharrett, 17.

“What are your plans for the future on the newly implemented Pre-K program?” Sharrett wrote.

“My plans are to try to maintain funding for that,” Bredesen answered. “I will say that there is a broad consensus [in the General Assembly] to fully fund BEP. But there is not the same consensus for maintaining the same level of funding for pre-K programs.”

Sharrett said the governor’s response didn’t get to the heart of his question.

“He didn’t really answer the question – not the way I wanted him to,” Sharrett said. “He wasn’t very specific.”

Students from Bradley Central and Walker Valley High, both in Bradley County, Madison Academic Magnet School in Madison County and West High School in Knox County also participated.

Bredesen’s civics lesson kicked off his seventh round of open state budget hearings. When he took office in January 2003, Bredesen made a commitment to provide state residents with unveiled entry into the budget process and an opportunity to see how their tax dollars fund state government.
The governor took more than 25 questions during the 45-minute session.

“These budget hearings are designed to give high school students a chance to see how the process works,” he said.

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