Comments on: Cutting the hand that feeds us… http://www.fairfieldvoice.com/2009/11/13/cutting-the-hand-that-feeds-us/ A community blog for the city of Fairfield, Iowa Sun, 05 Sep 2010 20:47:03 -0500 hourly 1 By: Mark Cohen http://www.fairfieldvoice.com/2009/11/13/cutting-the-hand-that-feeds-us/comment-page-1/#comment-5320 Mark Cohen Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:17:55 +0000 http://fairfieldvoice.com/?p=2448#comment-5320 Wow, I hadn't heard about that one. Yes, what the schools are charged with, and what they take on is pretty incredible. As you so eloquently put it, education is foundational and as such, it would sure be nice for there to be REAL recognition of this as it relates to budget priorities. Wow, I hadn't heard about that one. Yes, what the schools are charged with, and what they take on is pretty incredible. As you so eloquently put it, education is foundational and as such, it would sure be nice for there to be REAL recognition of this as it relates to budget priorities.

]]> By: Mark Cohen http://www.fairfieldvoice.com/2009/11/13/cutting-the-hand-that-feeds-us/comment-page-1/#comment-5322 Mark Cohen Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:32:27 +0000 http://fairfieldvoice.com/?p=2448#comment-5322 I think you're right Will for what else can they do? In Denver they did a lot of fund raising with families - which really got old considering that we pay taxes for that. And worse yet, the schools that were in the most well heeled neighborhoods got more money thus increasing the gap between the haves and have-nots. As I mentioned to you offline, but I think it bears repeating to a wider audience, I still believe in public schools and regardless of where you are, if you (the parent) are actively involved that you can get your child the education they deserve. As it relates to the nutrition piece, my wife and I noticed that the soda machine in the lunchroom at the high school has healthy drinks. SO, barring corporate sponsors *shudder*... I think you're right Will for what else can they do? In Denver they did a lot of fund raising with families – which really got old considering that we pay taxes for that. And worse yet, the schools that were in the most well heeled neighborhoods got more money thus increasing the gap between the haves and have-nots. As I mentioned to you offline, but I think it bears repeating to a wider audience, I still believe in public schools and regardless of where you are, if you (the parent) are actively involved that you can get your child the education they deserve.

As it relates to the nutrition piece, my wife and I noticed that the soda machine in the lunchroom at the high school has healthy drinks. SO, barring corporate sponsors *shudder*…

]]> By: Will Merydith http://www.fairfieldvoice.com/2009/11/13/cutting-the-hand-that-feeds-us/comment-page-1/#comment-5321 Will Merydith Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:26:53 +0000 http://fairfieldvoice.com/?p=2448#comment-5321 I was thinking about this some more today and I believe that the budget shortages will only put more pressure on schools to bring in corporate sponsorship in the form of food services and advertising. My biggest concern over putting my daughter through the public school system is the lack of education and practice (in the lunch room) around nutrition and healthy foods. I was thinking about this some more today and I believe that the budget shortages will only put more pressure on schools to bring in corporate sponsorship in the form of food services and advertising.

My biggest concern over putting my daughter through the public school system is the lack of education and practice (in the lunch room) around nutrition and healthy foods.

]]> By: Annalisa Miller http://www.fairfieldvoice.com/2009/11/13/cutting-the-hand-that-feeds-us/comment-page-1/#comment-5318 Annalisa Miller Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:13:49 +0000 http://fairfieldvoice.com/?p=2448#comment-5318 I read an article in the NY Times a couple weeks ago about schools trying to support kids that are newly homeless due to severe economic challenges. On their already limited budgets, schools are trying to provide transportation, meals, counseling and beds for these kids! It's outrageous that an institution so fundamental to a child's foundation and support system should have it's funding cut. I am so saddened to read this, I just don't understand what kind of logic can lead to these decisions. I read an article in the NY Times a couple weeks ago about schools trying to support kids that are newly homeless due to severe economic challenges. On their already limited budgets, schools are trying to provide transportation, meals, counseling and beds for these kids! It's outrageous that an institution so fundamental to a child's foundation and support system should have it's funding cut. I am so saddened to read this, I just don't understand what kind of logic can lead to these decisions.

]]> By: Mark Cohen http://www.fairfieldvoice.com/2009/11/13/cutting-the-hand-that-feeds-us/comment-page-1/#comment-5306 Mark Cohen Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:33:40 +0000 http://fairfieldvoice.com/?p=2448#comment-5306 Understood and the cash reserves idea is a good one. However, that's still a short-term fix. The mindset in this country is that when the going gets tough, cut education. I can hear the pundits now, "well that's because there is so much waste in the public education system, and they can learn to make do with less, get innovative, yadda, yadda, yadda" Yeah, well, I'm sure that there is waste just as there is in EVERY institution - public and private - but that's not the point. The point is that we have this mentality that it is OK to cut back on education. Perhaps it's because they education lobby doesn't take enough Senators to Pebble Beach? Enough of my own rhetoric. I think that the education system is not in the best of shape when kids have to share books (not in Fairfield - I don't think - but for SURE in Denver.) And yes, it can probably use some help as it relates to managing, budgeting, etc. The bottom line for me though is that I just can't even see the justification for cutting into education AT ALL. WHAT is more important? Can you ask Senator Schmitz that Jimmy? ;-) Understood and the cash reserves idea is a good one. However, that's still a short-term fix. The mindset in this country is that when the going gets tough, cut education. I can hear the pundits now, "well that's because there is so much waste in the public education system, and they can learn to make do with less, get innovative, yadda, yadda, yadda" Yeah, well, I'm sure that there is waste just as there is in EVERY institution – public and private – but that's not the point.

The point is that we have this mentality that it is OK to cut back on education. Perhaps it's because they education lobby doesn't take enough Senators to Pebble Beach?

Enough of my own rhetoric. I think that the education system is not in the best of shape when kids have to share books (not in Fairfield – I don't think – but for SURE in Denver.) And yes, it can probably use some help as it relates to managing, budgeting, etc. The bottom line for me though is that I just can't even see the justification for cutting into education AT ALL. WHAT is more important? Can you ask Senator Schmitz that Jimmy? ;-)

]]> By: Will Merydith http://www.fairfieldvoice.com/2009/11/13/cutting-the-hand-that-feeds-us/comment-page-1/#comment-5305 Will Merydith Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:06:38 +0000 http://fairfieldvoice.com/?p=2448#comment-5305 It's hard for me to see whether this is a shortfall due primarily to loss in tax revenue, OR a shortfall due primarily to transfer of tax dollars from public domains to private (i.e., bank and corporate bailouts). Do you have any clarity on this James? It's hard for me to see whether this is a shortfall due primarily to loss in tax revenue, OR a shortfall due primarily to transfer of tax dollars from public domains to private (i.e., bank and corporate bailouts). Do you have any clarity on this James?

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