There are very few people that actually enjoy paying taxes. So it is no wonder that when mill levies come up, there is a very vocal group saying they are not needed. However, many of these levies are necessary for the greater good of everyone. For instance, without taxes we would not have police or fire departments. But require their services just once and the taxes are worthwhile. Unfortunately many people do not hold education levies in as high regard as they do the emergency services levies.
In about a month there are two education levies that will come up for a vote where I live. One of the levies is to get the schools up-to-date with their technology, the other is to hire more teachers so the already overcrowded classrooms can get a break. Both levies together will cost most people less than $2 per month, but there are many people who do not see them as necessary. Even if I had no kids and never planned to have kids, I would always vote for education levies.
The reason is that properly funding education will benefit everyone. It is known that children who attend schools that are well funded (not excessively funded, there is a difference) will perform better. This means smarter children who will one day be running our cities and country. These children that are being educated now are the ones that will be serving you food, maintaining your streets, stocking the shelves at your favorite stores, and working on your cars when they breakdown. By properly funding schools, children will have the base they need to go on to get advanced degrees and do great things with their lives. But it is not all intangibles. People moving to the community will look for which schools are the best. Better schools help to increase property values. Exceptionally talented people, such as doctors and other professionals, will seek to have their children attend a well funded school to encourage their talents as well. By paying just $2 more per month in taxes, the schools will be able to train children to do great things.
If educational levies do not pass, and continue to be voted down, schools have to go without certain services and repairs. Have you ever tried to learn in a room with a constant temperature of 50 degrees? Without the levies the classrooms become overcrowded. Have you ever tried learning in an area with a lot of background noise? Not only does learning suffer, but if the overcrowding solution is not fixed, the district loses its accreditation, that means the degree is not recognized when the child goes to apply for college. Without passing levies, we are saying the next generation should have fewer opportunities than we had.
You would be hard pressed to find anyone who will suffer because they pay $2 more per month. It could be ten times that and few people would actually notice. Unfortunately, many people have gotten the idea that any education levy goes toward administrator’s and teacher’s pay (although these people work hard and deserve a pay raise). Quite frankly in order for everyone to have a prosperous future, whether you have children or not, school levies need to be passed. This investment in our future will help make everyone’s life better, and personally I find it much easier to deal with intelligent people than with stupid people. $2 per month is a small price to pay to make our future happier.
Have you recently had an education levy on your ballot?
I used to agree with you. Then I got to looking at the quality of education the kids are getting. In a word, the educational “system” is an embarrassment. Sinking more money into a losing proposition is a waste of good money.
The current administration and unions are staunchly against the major changes that are desperately needed. Why are we not teaching kids using computers and software that they can use to advance at their own pace? Why are we not separating the bright kids from the average so that we can educate all the kids to their actual potential? Why are we not encouraging alternative school systems so that we can try different educational methods and see what works best? Why, oh why, are we encouraging every kid to go to college when we need so many electricians, plumbers, truck drivers, etc?
What passes for teacher education is obviously not working, as it is anything but the best and brightest who go into education. Take a look at how many teachers have no grasp of their own subject matter that they are supposed to be teaching, and who can’t even write a grammatically correct sentence or paragraph.
Sorry. I’m not up for throwing more money in a rat hole until the rats are willing to make changes.