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PHIL LOSSIFER
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Mr. Ford's article was interestin', except his premise that increased state fundin' will help reduce local tax levies is wrong! Monies come from a common pot: the taxpayers. Regardless of it's source, state or local levies, taxes over the years haven't decreased, but rise each year through addendums by findin' other ways t' raise money. Money received from other sources is diluted through administrative costs. After forty years of hearin', readin', an' talkin' 'bout education it's apparent we are not receivin' much of a bang fer our buck. Quite the opposite, it seems school boards dictated to by administrators seem intent on buildin' new facilities, promisin' new programs which're never developed. Why? A'gin, needin' more money. Those who've read this column over the years know m' position on education. Many m' age wouldn't been successful without good primary education. But, conversations with parents an' teachers over these years show the system isn't functionin' as it should. Money won't solve the problem of compartmentalizin' children for socio-economic, or personal pique. Nor will it solve discipline problems whose responsibility lies first with parents an' secondarily with institutions responsible for youth's education. Undisciplined societies cain't survive, an' current method of so-called discipline doesn't teach children for HKU (Hard Knocks University) when they graduate. Responsibility t' society is a primary thrust, not do yer own thing at the expense of ever'one else.
Administrators should use their energy t' improve schools from the bottom up. Utilizin' existin' funds with teachers' input whose expertise is dismissed by elitist think tank experts unfamiliar with classroom realities! Education happens in classrooms, not though bureaucratic gurus' decisions, distant from classrooms. Money doesn't fuel ambition among people. Dumbed-down subjects don't properly prepare students requirin' colleges' remedial course for students.
Mr. Ford's article states financial relief generated by CFE will have beneficial effects on school districts. These funds will be only temporary salve on bleeding' ulcers of inadequate fundin'. Within a short time these extra funds will be dissipated through mandated administrative costs unrelated to actual instruction. Additional fundin' will be needed months, years later. That's the way things work!
Conversations with school board personnel, including' Midlakes, shows there's little school boards kin do financially due to high fixed costs of operation. Sal'ries, plant operation, etc. are these costs. It seems incongruous administrators sal'ry level exceeds teachers' level by a factor of three or four times. There's a tendency t' have multiple administrators whose stipend dilutes actual instructional funds. Tragic part of voter rejection of district budget or buildin' programs is pupils are utilized for re-vote petitions for music, art or athletic programs. The emotional aspect of this cain't be stressed enuf, often pittin' parents aginst their children. No hassle on this, hear it too often! Reality!
Reality states taxpayers're tapped out. Problem'll worsen long as those closest t' the problem refuse t' start at the base an' work up. Give classroom teachers s'port they need, not bureaucratic barriers. 'Nuff sed? No, but it's a start!
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