It’s All About Money

Education and money appear to be joined at the hip. Teachers need more money. Principals need more money. Superintendents need more money. The town needs more money to build another school. And your taxes continue to go up and up and up. This never-ending quest for more money for the government school system needs to end. The solution to fix any of the problems this system has continues to be the same: We need more money.

Are we, the taxpayers, surprised that the additional money we pay year after year in higher taxes does not fix the problems inherent in this government bureaucracy? We shouldn't be.

We need to elect people to our state and local governments, especially our boards of education, who are committed to offering innovative and practical manners in which to educate our children. Local control needs to be regained, and by local I mean the most local level there is when it comes to children—parental control.

Don't forget, it’s the taxpayers, many of whom are parents, who pay the ever increasing property taxes—approximately 75% of which goes to funding the local government school system. Just imagine the education you could provide for your child with 75% of your property taxes to spend as you see fit. And if you don't have children, that 75% could be spent any way you like. Part of this money could even be donated to a scholarship fund or other charitable organization.

Parents should be able to pick and choose the best method of instruction for their own children. They should be free to pick from the available options of government school, private school, or homeschool. These choices would be much easier to make with more of your own money left in your own hands to decide how to spend as you determine best. Lack of sufficient funds leaves many parents no choice but to send their children to the local public school.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to get to choose which school your child would attend? Let’s say there were ten different schools in your town—a mixture of public, private and parochial. If you had the majority of your tax money in your own hand, you could pick the school that appears to be the best match for your child. Perhaps the school focuses on the arts or science or math, in which your child has a strong interest and ability. Perhaps the school focuses on the type of moral upbringing you feel to be important. Perhaps the school focuses on child-led discovery and natural learning. So, you take your own money and register your own child in that wonderful school. And, as with any private financial transaction, if you find out that the service offered is not what you expected, you are free to pick another option, searching to find the right match for your unique child. You would not be required to become a repeat customer if the needs of your children were not being met.

It’s time to start thinking outside of the box. If money wasn't an issue, where would you want your children to attend school? Don't settle for less than the best educational option for your children.