As has been said repeatedly, “more money does not guarantee a good education.” It seems that this is a difficult concept to grasp for some people.
The young people currently rioting in many American cities did not arrive at their “know-nothing” condition due to inadequate funding in the Public School System. They became that way because the Public School System has failed … in spite of huge amounts of money that are allocated to public education.
In recent months, DUSD has allocated funding for food giveaway programs, free day-care services, a district-wide mail-out of expensive glossy magazines designed to glorify DUSD and finally just a week ago, another mail-out of flashy color postcards.
When DUSD’s budget has contingency funding for such PR projects, I don’t see how [a previous letter writer] Kelsey Royer can characterize a “no” vote on the override measure as “stripping our public schools of all but the bare minimum.” The fact that DUSD has extra funding for such measures is a telltale indication that DUSD does not need more money. When it comes to spending other people’s money, modesty is not one of DUSD’s strong points.
Another consideration is that sponsoring food giveaway programs and free day-care services are activities that ought not to be sponsored by the public school system. Clearly, DUSD’s agenda includes more than education.
Such activities represent further intrusion of government-run institutions into our society. Taxpayers are already subsidizing numerous programs for the poor and needy without our public school system getting into the act. Churches and charitable organizations are also present to help in these areas. The latter are, and always have been, proper entities for charitable endeavors in our society.
The arts, music and sports are a part of our society and can offer enjoyment and valuable experiences in one’s life. However, the notion that the public school system must involve itself in an extensive way in these activities is just not valid. Elementary school students can have recess, secondary-school students can have gym class, all students should have access to an elective course in basic music/art-theory, etc.
In my own educational experience, intramural sports met every need I had for involvement in athletics while providing ample time for my academics. Expensive stadiums with elaborate lighting systems for night games, new facilities dedicated to “music education and/or “the arts” or any other non-academic activities are unnecessary for a meaningful primary and secondary education.
Elaborate facilities and resources for such activities are “nice,” not necessary. It seems that DUSD wants to become an “entertainment” center when it should concentrate on being an education center.
Does one need the public school system to become a successful musician? Does anyone remember Elvis Presley or John Denver? Elvis came from a dirt-poor family. He was able to develop and hone his musical skills without the involvement of public education.
John Denver came from a modest family. He, too, rose to the pinnacle of musical excellence without the assistance of public education. There are numerous amateur athletic leagues throughout the U.S. for every major sport: Little League, Pony League, Babe Ruth league, etc.
American public education thinks too highly of itself when it tries to insinuate itself as a necessary component to success in sports, music, the arts, etc.
I have a MS degree in mathematics. I have taught college level math for a number of years in more than one four-year degree-granting college/university. In all of my years in academia, both as a student and as a faculty member, I have not seen a positive correlation between academic performance and involvement with sports, music, the arts, etc.
Kelsey Royer says there are “ample studies” showing such a correlation. It would have been helpful if at least one example of such a study had been provided. My personal experience, although anecdotal, is that there is no positive correlation between academic performance and involvement with sports, music, the arts, etc. In fact, if any correlation exists, it would likely be a negative correlation in that many students neglect their academics due to the distraction of extracurricular activities.
At some point, it would be nice if there were even just a slight indication that DUSD understands it places a financial burden on property owners with each additional override or bond measure. Such measures are over and above the basic property taxes that have already been allocated to DUSD. Once the first override was approved, even though it was supposed to be temporary, the camel had its nose under the tent.
Once the camel’s nose is under the tent, there is no turning back. The camel always wants more. Next, comes the bond measure. If a bond measure is approved, DUSD will spend the money within two or three years while property owners will be paying it off for 22 years.
Does anyone really think that there won’t be another and another and another bond measure while property owners are still paying off the first one? Does anyone really think that DUSD will ever say they have enough money or that they won’t keep coming back for more? DUSD obviously thinks property owners are its own personal piggy bank. Will any of this money guarantee a better education for the students?
Editor’s Note: Mr. Lasco has previously written letters to the Surprise Independent under the moniker “Mortimer Snerd.”
