The undeniable fact is that our public schools are in financial crisis and it has been in one for many years now. The easy solution is first to blame someone, some organization or some administration for this muddle. Check, we have plenty of blame to go around and deservedly so. With that done, what is next? The next step is to close schools, shuffle grades around, layoff staff and eliminate costly programs. Check, this has been done and continues to be done to the great consternation of the parents, students and teachers.
These steps are the predictable options. They are the reflexive reactions to the situation. To add, these are only temporary measures that may ease the demands for now but offers no permanent solution since the formula used to fund our schools is fundamentally flawed. The majority of the funding burden rests on the backs of homeowners. Everyone knows that homeowners have been pushed to the brink of financial collapse.
With the cost of things today, homeowners cannot and should not be obliged to carry the burden of a world class education system.
Some people on the political right have decided that schools should be funded by private enterprise. This is also terribly flawed because of the regular ebb and flow of the economic cycle of boom and bust. If our schools were to be funded this way, it would not be too long before one could tell the difference between those that were educated during the good times and those that went through the lean years. Besides, no one wants to send their kids to "Wal*Mart ™ High School" that is tarted-up with ads like a racecar.
The solution is to create a single state-wide school district that is funded primarily by the state. The disparate city school committees could easily be merged into a single state school assembly to oversee the system. This would alleviate the financial burden from the municipalities and homeowners.
There are inner-city schools in dire straits in this state that require extensive attention and money. These failing schools cannot be allowed to divert resources needed in other parts of the state. What to do with these sub par schools? Federalize them. Have the federal government take them over and fund them. If the federal government can spend billions of dollars a day on two wars on the other side of the planet, it can afford to take over a high school or two.
In the global market place, America's only hope is a world class education system. Someone once said do not tell me what your values are, show me your budget and funds and I will tell you what you value. Education is our utmost priority and should be funded as such.
Because I am limited to one diary a day I must also mention the passing of one of my favorite writers, Arthur C. Clarke who has died today at the age of 90.
Arthur C. Clarke was the last living member of the Big Three of Science Fiction. The two others being Isaac Asimov and Robert A. Heinlein.
Rest in peace, Arthur.
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