Just Paul
Friday, November 04, 2005
I know that there are Bible Study Groups based on the Bible and lessons taught on the Andy Griffith Show. I have no doubt that life lessons can be learned from the interaction of Andy, Barney and Aunt Bea. I think the best gift that Andy brought into our home was Bluegrass Music. Sure, on Sunday nights you could experience Opera, Broadway or even Rock and Roll by watching Ed Sullivan, but Andy gave us Bluegrass. The music from the front porches of people living a simpler life. Thanks Andy!
Thursday, November 03, 2005
My Thoughts On Public Education
I am a parent of a high school student in a relatively small rural community. Like so many other communities in our state and probably the country, school budgets are tight. As is common at this time of the year, the voters of the community are being asked to vote on a levy referendum to support the rising cost and needs of the students. Equally as common this year are the letters both for and against a levy referendum.
The letters that frustrate me the most are the letters basically accusing our school officials of being idiots. These letters attack the school officials for not working within a budget, for funding arbitrary projects and maintaining unnecessary programs. School board members are voted into office to manage our schools for the greatest benefit of our youth. It is the job of the school board to scrutinize every expenditure. The board must weigh the benefit and need of each program to justify the monies allocated.
Letter writers refer to the fact that they have growing expenses. Those very same expenses are growing for our school district at the very same rate. Transportation and heating cost quickly come to mind. Diesel prices are over a dollar a gallon higher than what I pay to gas in my car. The old school buildings can hardly be an example of energy efficiency. Teachers and support staff want a fair wage like everyone else. Books and equipment must be replaced.