Looking at the 1968-1969 personnel directory for the El Paso Independent School District we can piece together how the staffing levels have changed from then to today. There is a lot of talk about how the central office has grown bloated.
Let’s instead examine the situation in the high schools first. Alphabetically Andress is the first high school in the district, so let’s look at it.
In 1968-1969 there were a principal, an assistant principal, a coordinator of instruction and guidance, a student activities manager, and four counselors–a total of eight. Other than office staff and custodians the rest of the employees were classroom teachers and coaches.
Today the district’s web site tells us that they have a principal, four assistant principals (one for guidance and instruction), an at risk coordinator, four counselors, two education diagnosticians, a high school literacy coach, a high school campus athletic coordinator, a military family liaison, a CDL lab monitor, a parent involvement assistant, a student activity manager, and a transition to career specialist–a total of nineteen.
Yes societal changes and mandates may have required these positions to be created. I am not trying to blame the administrators. My goal is to point out the changes.
Are our children better educated today?
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
How many students were at Andress in 1969? How many gangs? How many special ed? How many students had parents at home that could drop everything and come to the school at a moments notice? How many students had single parents? How many students were abused at home? How many students were second language learners? How many students were pregnant? How many students in 1969 went to college after graduation form Andress? How many students were living in poverty?
You can pretty much compare any organizational chart from any company / school district / organization and do this exact same exercise if you do not keep the context in mind.
How does the organizational chart of Sierra Medical Center compare now to when it opened? Is health care better?
How does the organizational chart of UTEP compare now to 1969? Is the quality of education better at UTEP now than then?
Are our children “better educated” today than in 1969?
What is your criteria? That is such an open ended question that one could point to any of a number of statistics or factors and prove both Yes and No to that question.
Clarify the question. Then it can be answered.
In the meantime, read Diane Ravitch’s excellent book that I think answers your question. It is called “Reign of Error.”
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