Meet my next neighbors: the Conservative Liberals. This couple has a yard full of signs supporting every Democrat running and two cars full of bumper stickers espousing views left of center. Unfortunately, one sign you won't see in their front yard is a sign supporting our school levy.We got into a conversation once about school funding with this couple. You might think they are retired or don't have children in the district. Nope. They just don't think they should pay for what other people's kids do. And I quote them, "Parents who have kids who play school sports should just pay the full price of that sport and not expect others to cover their costs." I felt like saying, "What would Obama do?" but I held my tongue. There is no talking sense into some people. Considering I have kids in special ed, the gifted program, sports, choir and band, I guess our family is guilty of using too much educational dollars!
Maybe these people are just odd when it comes to their children. They are also opposed to sex education in the schools and complain about book choices every summer. And the mother also told me that she 'opts out' when her kids bring home permission slips to watch movies that have a PG-13 rating. I don't really have a problem with how anyone wants to raise their kids, but show some consistency.
Eh, I'm sure they've got it all worked out to their own satisfaction. (I'm not a big fan of the sex ed, either - 'Here's how you roll a condom onto a broomstick', and such; but I do realize that puts a burden on me to communicate my own thoughts on the matter. . .)
ReplyDeleteI had one of my neighbors harangue me once over how unfair it was that I should get tax deductions for all my kids, while single him didn't get any. . .
Craig - The thing is, our district is already ultra-conservative with the sex ed anyway (to the point of scaring the kids into thinking they are going to get an STD from sex no matter what), so I'm not sure what these people's issue with it really is. To add to the mix, they are also anti-religion, so homeschooling probably isn't an option for them either!
ReplyDeleteThe old "let them pay for what they use" argument is a tired one. Sports kids should pay for their uniforms. And the stadium. And the bus to games. Band kids should buy instruments, pay royalties on music, etc. Etc. Etc.
ReplyDeleteI've seen it a million times. And it all suddenly changes when their kid wants to do something extra...or god forbid...really needs something extra.
I think when we all pay into the system to support the system, it is one version of "it takes a village". We all need to support the schools for the benefit of all kids.
But some people will never see it that way. They want it all about just what they use.
So maybe they are ready to pay for the snow plows to come remove the snow from the part of the street that runs in front of their house? Hmm...I bet not.
It sounds as if there is no consistency whatsoever in their thinking, some people you can't reason with no matter what you do so any attempt is a waste of your time.
ReplyDeleteI applaud you for "using too much of the educational dollars" and by doing this shows me that you actually care about your kids and the educational process rather than looking for another cause to add to your bumper sticker collection.
Don't know what it's like where you are, but in OurTown, there is actually a group of 'hippie-type secularists' (if that's too many stereotypes crammed into too small a space, you'll let me know, won't you?) who home-school. It ain't just 'religious nuts' (dang it, there goes another one). . .
ReplyDeleteEm - I totally agree with you. It reminds me of how the senior citizens always support the police/fire levies (because they want an ambulance at their door pronto if something should happen), but they won't vote for the school levies.
ReplyDeleteJimmy - Thank you for your kind words. We believe extra curriculars teach our kids just as much as academic studies, sometimes moreso in real world application.
Craig - LOL....I know I was generalizing about home schoolers. Something about the movement doesn't sit right with me, but that's for another post!
maybe you should just drop a subject, le's say science, to make up for your family's engorgement of the education dollar.
ReplyDeleteand seriously, do your kids really need text books....I mean they do sports and all
You need to quit talking to your neighbors. :)
ReplyDeleteThe children of a community will one day be its doctors and teachers and leaders ... or they will be the occupants of its jails. Funding the school systems is actually self-preservation for the entire community, regardless of parenting status.
ReplyDelete(And don't even start me on the sex ed issue since our feeble-minded district only has abstinence class.)
JK - I know my daughter would be happy to give up Economics next semester to improve the school's financial crisis.
ReplyDeleteRhonda - Sometimes, it can't be helped. And they are really nice people; it's just their inconsistencies that bother me.
Agent - Education should always be a top priority!
The word, self-centered, comes to mind.
ReplyDeleteI get so tired of hearing that argument, that these days when someone wants to blather about how they shouldn't have to pay, I just look at them, and ask if their parent's paid 100% of the real cost to educate them.
ReplyDeleteSo far, it's invariably been the ones that used all those "extra" dollars when they were in school, that bitch- so when they think of the uniforms, buses, services that they didn't have to pass up...
Well, it'd be nice to say it shuts them up but of course, it doesn't. Makes me feel better though!
Russ - Amongst other words.
ReplyDeleteSailor - Sometimes all you can do is try to make yourself feel better. That's why I blog about it!
I have to say that Secret Agent had the best comment...these kids will be our leaders someday...and we need to hope they are productive, law-abiding people regardless of who 'pays' for them..
ReplyDeleteBest of both worlds... must make voting confusing for them.
ReplyDeleteif they want a la carte educational expenses i am sure they can find a nice private school where they will pay through the nose for every single activity. idiots...
ReplyDeleteInconsistency?
ReplyDeleteHave I ever told the story of my cousin's wife and capital punishment?
It's a must read .....