Arg 31 government spending and residents attitudes on public schools -o
The following appeared in a letter to the editor of Parson City's local newspaper.
In our region of Trillura, the majority of money spent on the schools that most students attendthe city-run public schoolscomes from taxes that each city government collects. The region's cities differ, however, in the budgetary priority they give to public education. For example, both as a proportion of its overall tax revenues and in absolute terms, Parson City has recently spent almost twice as much per year as Blue City has for its public schoolseven though both cities have about the same number of residents. Clearly, Parson City residents place a higher value on providing a good education in public schools than Blue City residents do.
Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed to evaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken or strengthen the argument.
G1: In our region of Trillura, the majority of money spent on the schools that most students attendthe city-run public schoolscomes from taxes that each city government collects.
G2: The region's cities differ, however, in the budgetary priority they give to public education.
G3: For example, both as a proportion of its overall tax revenues and in absolute terms, Parson City has recently spent almost twice as much per year as Blue City has for its public schools even though both cities have about the same number of residents.
C1: Clearly, Parson City residents place a higher value on providing a good education in public schools than Blue City residents do.
G1- background
G3 provides example for G2
A1(G3): recent records are typical- need more records in the past
A2 (G3): the difference in tax revenue and the number of students
A3 (G3): the amount of money spent on education is an accurate indicator of the value residents place on education
Conclusion: Parson City residents value good public school education more than Blue city
residents
information about the spending records in the past 10 years
- maybe Parson spent much less in the past but increased its spending only more recently
- the money spent by Parson was for infrastructure that would not be recurrent (the expense will decrease once the projects are completed)
information about spending per student and spending per teacher
- maybe the demographic structures of the two cities are different
- Blue may spend more money per student
to what extent the quality of education depends on the amount of money
- maybe Blues funding is sufficient; extra money may not be helpful
- other factors may be more relevant; parents participation in PTA; libraries and other facilities for students
to what extent the residents could influence how money is spent
- maybe the residents are not heavily involved in negotiating the budgets
likewise, Blue City government does not spend at much money on education does not indicate that the residents do not value public school education
- There are other ways that the residents can contribute to the public school education, such as donation