Tim's lob:
"Why are education dollars so scarce?"
I sincerely hope that all the schoolchildren and everyone else who rallied
to the cause yesterday are realizing more and more that the cost of WAR is
eNORM!ous. Not only is the USA not helping to educate close-minded,
would-be terrorists overseas, we are now unable to educate our own American
children. This will no doubt lead to American close-mindedness and a new
breed of St. Pauli terrorist, or at least revolutionary.
The irony and hypocrisy are nauseating. To restore funding for education,
transportation, and the million other things that are suffering because of
the billions of dollars being spent on The Killing Oil Fields, people of
all parties and all nations need to pressure the American president, via
Senators, Congresswomen, and the Mayor of St. Paul, to stop the bleeding
(literal and economic) before we end up in an irreparable mess.
I've had enough of playing the role of Global Bully. It's the DOD, not DOO
(as in Offense). If a policeperson were to beat ANYone into submission,
you can be damn sure they'd be put on "administrative leave," so how can we
justify what we are doing in Iraq? Would a Bushist please explain this to
me? Talk about cruel and unusual. No, I am NOT a bin Laden sympathizer -
I want him caught and tried so we can get on with it. Whatever happened to
that Most Wanted deck of cards anyway? Now I am forbidden to carry my
Zippo on board any aircraft in case the genii at the TSA are unable to find
the explosives and fuse in my boots! Where's a bullet train when you need
one?
I fail to see how having a nation full of uneducated young people will
ensure, let alone spread, freedom.
Everything I need to know about war and peace I learned at Withrow
Elementary School, ISD#834. We made stuff out of construction paper, not
deconstruction paper; we smoked peace pipes, not war bongs; Leah sang
"Imagine" (I guess that was at Lily Lake...), not "Bomb's Away;" we played
Four-Square, not Battle Ball; ... It was all very mellow and wholesome and
cheap. (I forgot my point...)
Thanks to all the patriots who rallied at the Capitol. It looks like you
had as many if not more than were at the Schmidt Brewery rally! Get ready
for History Matters next week...
A. Hine
W-II P-VI
You say you got a real solution, George,
Well you know,
We'd all love to see the plan.
You ask me for a contribution,
Well you know,
We're doing what we can.
But if you want money for people with minds that hate
All I can tell you is brother you have to wait...
Andrew M. Hine
Corporate Research Materials Laboratory
3M Center 201-1W-28
St. Paul MN
55144-1000
USA
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Tel: (651) 733-1070
Fax: (651) 737-5335
Lab 201-W110
Tim Erickson
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> To
Sent by: "St. Paul Issues Forum"
[EMAIL PROTECTED] <[email protected]>
forum.org cc
Subject
02/28/2005 11:32 Re: [StPaul] Scarce Education
PM Dollars
>Do list members feel that they understand how the
>Saint Paul schools spend existing funding? Are there
>things we could do better with the dollars we have?
1) Do list members feel that they understand how the St. Paul schools
spend existing funding?
Barely, but more than I understand how the Libraries, Public Works,
or City Council spends its money. I don't think its reasonable for me
to fully understand the school budget (I've tried). As I citizen, I
can't reasonably attempt to fully understand how even a small portion
of my tax dollars are spent.
However, as I walk around the schools and deal with district staff, I
don't see unreasonable amounts of waste. I do see lots of very
dedicated individuals doing really important work under very
challenging circumstances. I do have a very good sense, that our
district is being asked to do more with less money. Many of the
"increases" in school funding have been shell games, giving with one
hand while taking with another.
As a parent, its very clear to me, that schools are already doing
more with less, but that its exacting a toll on the system. We cannot
stretch the system indefinitely or it will break.
2) Are there things we could do better with the dollars we have?
I suppose. There is always room for improvement. But, there are also
many things that we should be doing, that we aren't at all, because
we don't have the dollars. We must also recognize that as public
institutions, schools have a mission to serve everyone, even when at
times its not very efficient.
The question about "could we be spending our money better" isn't
always a very helpful question at a district level. I would suggest
that a significant amount of "misspent" money, is money spent on
things that the district is required by law to do.
As someone who deals with the district quite a bit, I think, I'm
generally impressed with the work that is being done and the value
that we are getting for our money. On the other hand, I'm unimpressed
with the financial commitment that we are making as a society to fund
education.
My question:
Why are education dollars so scarce?
Best wishes,
Tim Erickson
Hamline Midway
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
-------------------------------------------------
JOIN the St. Paul Issues Forum TODAY:
http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/
-------------------------------------------------
POST MESSAGES HERE: [email protected]
To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit:
http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul
Archive Address:
http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
-------------------------------------------------
JOIN the St. Paul Issues Forum TODAY:
http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/
-------------------------------------------------
POST MESSAGES HERE: [email protected]
To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit:
http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul
Archive Address:
http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
