The Editorial Put Austin Charter Schools in Public Realms talks about how Charter Schools should be moved into public schools and become one. So then charter school students can benefit from the sources that public schools are offered and that public school students could use better teachers and higher standards. They think that charter students will raise the test and academic ratings for schools that are almost ready to close down because of it for example Pierce and Garcia Middle school two of many that are low performers could benifit from adding charter students to their public school.

After reading this Editorial a couple of times, I'm not too crazy about the idea. Yes public schools could use higher standards and more academic resources and ideas but I don't think that combining charter and public schools is a good idea at least for right now. If you want to raise TAKS ratings and so forth you have to ask yourself whats the reason for the scores being so low in the first place. Another thing you have to think about once you combine these two schools together is will it cause rival just as it did when students from New Orleans moved to Austin and joined public schools. How well are public students going to accept the students from charter schools like KIPP Charter School. Some might accept them just fine but then alot of the students might think that the KIPP students think their smarter than them or be jealous because they don't have the attention that the others do which might start problems.

The author of this article doesn't go into depth enough arguing her opinion. She mostly describes how it will benefit public school ratings but what else is it going to do? Ok it will benefit KIPP students by allowing them to have the facilitlies and sources to better their learning but how will it affect the indivisual students in public schools. The author also doesn't provide the reader with enough information on charter schools and other things to make the reader have a better understanding of the arguing point, so they can possibly argree with her.

The Article Central Texans finding it hard to pay fines, taxes in tightening economy by Marty Toohey in the American Statesmen talks about how Montemayor and other Texans are asking for paymnent installments to pay their fines and taxes because of the economy. Because of the way the economy is going right now many Texans are having trouble paying their fines and taxes when their barely making it from paycheck to paycheck as it is. Montemayor is a young 24 year old with a pregnant girlfriend, whose hours at HEB were cut in half and had to take on a second job to afford the bills but still was barely making it, until one day he was pulled over for speeding in a school zone. The fine was worth a one week pay. Montemayor new if he paid it, he would be behind on his bills and is now asking the court for an installment plan. The rate of Texans asking for an installment plan has increased 36% within one year from 2007 to 2008. The municipal court also allowed so many poeple to contribute to community service rather than paying a fine. More and more property owners are asking for payment plans and even officials from Travis county and others are asking property owners to set up an installment plan. The economy is just making it tough for Texans to pay their fines and taxes right now.