I live in Santa Monica. This article seems to infer that Malibu parents don't care about the kids from the less well off schools. This is NOT true. The District has in the past completely ignored the voices of Malibu parents who are more environmentally aware in areas like PCB contamination and pesticide use. Santa Monica and Malibu are also bifurcated. Only 1 road will get you there, and 1 bus, which runs along the winding, gridlocked PCH-you can't walk it-and parents from Malibu must drive for an hour or more to get to events. Only 1 person from Malibu is on the Board (Craig Foster) as most of the students are from Santa Monica and because a small group of Santa Monica politicians rule the City of Santa Monica and also control the School District. Santa Monica used to be a quiet beach town. Now it has become Downtown Disney and more often of late is referred to as Silicon Beach, with small apartments now going for $7,000 or more. Malibu is more organic, more holistic and wants to have that stance reflected in its schools. Craig Foster, whom you quote out of context it seems, is a wonderful human being who has taken a stand against PCBs and pesticide use, along with Board Member Oscar de le Torre. They are generally the lone voices when it comes to protecting the kids in our school district. I'm glad that SMMUSD voted to share donations with all schools. It makes complete sense. This is not why Malibu wants out. They just want a voice and more of a sense of community.
11
When we tried to redistribute the PTA fundraising, the parents started a parents groups not controlled by the schools and 3/4 of the fundraising went there
5
Has anyone studied the distribution of volunteer hours by caregivers? I would guess the "wealthier" schools have an inordinate and unequal amount of involvement by the persons responsible for the care of the students. If the money they give is redistributed, why not the volunteer time?. Money only goes so far. I would say the caregiver hours are much more valuable. Any volunteer time should be pooled with individuals assigned schools and classes by the district. The inequality of income is only one factor. We have to also break the tie of the caregiver to the student and have the state administer this resource as well.
1
I've been dismayed with the way taxes are distributed among school districts for a while now. I don't have and am likely to never have kids so when I pay my hefty property taxes every year, I do so with the hope my $$ will help all children, not just the ones in my affluent neighborhood. Every kid deserves a chance to learn. Yet, if one is not a parent, we never hear how that money is being used, for who, and for what programs.
11
Teachers' unions are absolutely opposed to pension reform. Where is their generosity? At least half of any new education money, regardless of where it comes from, pays for pensions. The kids in the richer districts have it good because their parents pay colossal property taxes. If those parents aren't crazy about coughing up more money for somebody else's kids, they have no reason to feel selfish or guilty about that.
10
Even worse....the pensions are insanely great, beyond even what people get in Scandinavian "uptopias". Most taxpayers have NO CLUE what teachers get - a 6 hour day, guaranteed by union contract -- early retirement at age 52 (30 years and out!) which is 15 years EARLIER than everyone else -- a pension worth $3 MILLION EACH, guaranteed by the state -- 90% of full final salary as that pension, plus all unused sick and vacation days at maximum final pay rate -- tenure at 3 years, regardless of skill or talent or performance -- then you can never be fired, for ANY reason -- 100% free, gold-plated health insurance for LIFE -- don't have to pay into SS or Medicare -- oh and a 180 day year, minus 8 snowdays, which is a holiday or two every month and 11 weeks summer break, 3 weeks at Christmas and a week at Easter too -- every legal holiday and then some -- the shortest work week and work year in the world.
Teacher unions oppose EVERY reform and standard of quality or discipline or behavior in teachers. Ever hear of "rubber rooms"?
Teacher unions oppose EVERY reform and standard of quality or discipline or behavior in teachers. Ever hear of "rubber rooms"?
7
Maybe rather than resenting the relative security teachers enjoy--for which they work many, many more hours than the 6-hour day for which you claim they're contracted--our energies would be put to better use by trying to bring the rest of the 99% in the U.S. back from the brink. Why shouldn't everyone have decent health insurance, secure and adequate retirement funds, and reasonable working hours (reasonable--like 40-50 hour weeks, which is what most teachers work)? Teachers are highly skilled and educated professionals, and the beating they take for doing a very difficult job is unconscionable. Such outrage!
30
One of the best ways to help poor schools is to equalize funding for schools at the state level so poor districts receive the same amount of money from the state as the rich districts, instead of it based on local property taxes that ensure poor districts have less money than rich ones.
17
Our children attended Franklin Elementary during 2011-2013 years. Even with enormous parental donations either directly to the school, or the district pot, the school and the kids are all suffering from lack of state funding. There aren't enough teacher assistants to allow for small group work in every classroom (particularly the younger classes, K and 1st grade where the disparity between readers and reading learners can be huge). There is only Art available one lesson per month, instead of once per week or twice as in the rest of the country. Science is non existent and PE is cursory. Its a crime and its not the fault of the schools or the parents. The whole of California is suffering and the fix is not asking parents to dig deeper into their pockets, its about making changes at policy level.
13
92% of Students performing to standard in English, 94% in science and 85% in math is hardly 'suffering'. Peeling paint at Franklin has not had a detrimental effect on the students there. While the facilities, programs and support being distributed to others who don't live north of Montana in multi-million dollar homes is immeasurable.
I don't know why people in this community do not see the benefit in helping the ENTIRE community.
Attitudes like this make it disheartening to stay here but the other schools need the support. So we'll stay at Franklin.
I don't know why people in this community do not see the benefit in helping the ENTIRE community.
Attitudes like this make it disheartening to stay here but the other schools need the support. So we'll stay at Franklin.
8
I am currently reading a book called
" The Power of Kindness".
There are indeed benefits in pure altruism.
I thought that the kids of the wealthy be
realizing such gesture from the parents is extraordinary that
can lead to spiritual growth. I recommend the book.
It is helping me.
" The Power of Kindness".
There are indeed benefits in pure altruism.
I thought that the kids of the wealthy be
realizing such gesture from the parents is extraordinary that
can lead to spiritual growth. I recommend the book.
It is helping me.
4
I live in a relatively "rich" school district with a public school population that is 2/3rds Hispanic and 1/3 other. My children attend the neighborhood school in our upper middle-class area. The ratio of these two groups is 53 to 48. Back in the 70's when the schools were redistricting to be racially balanced many white parents fled. My neighborhood school decided to make redistricting work. And it was successful. Parents did a lot of fundraising that benefitted all the students. Some of the money benefited after school activities for parents who needed after school childcare some went for enrichment and some for aides. It's been working ever since.
I'm grateful for prop 13. It allows retired folks to live in their homes and pass them along. I'm grateful that my kids found a way to move back to their old neighborhood and that my grandkids can walk to school. I'm grateful that it is the same vibrant multicultural learning environment it was when they went there. They will attend the same senior and junior high schools - both vibrant and multi-cultural places.
I'm grateful for prop 13. It allows retired folks to live in their homes and pass them along. I'm grateful that my kids found a way to move back to their old neighborhood and that my grandkids can walk to school. I'm grateful that it is the same vibrant multicultural learning environment it was when they went there. They will attend the same senior and junior high schools - both vibrant and multi-cultural places.
1
I am OK with homestead exemptions that let elderly homeowners stay in their homes -- but why let them "pass it along"? Why should their children, grandkids, GREAT grandkids get an artificially low tax rate, based on an evaluation from 40 years ago?
15
A sign of the times. It seems that the key word in any conversation about communal responsibility is "mine". It is foolishly shortsighted. but, then, we shouldn't be surprised. Look who we elected on every level of government.
9
One of the most BASIC needs for young children is to be talked to, daily- the affluent and predominantly white parents speak to their children constantly, as babies on up. Culturally, many other groups do as well.
Unfortunately, the amount of words African American children speak at 3, 4 and 5 is much lower.
Therefore, I believe the public school system in the poorer districts should be educating PARENTS, many that are young unmarried mothers, to speak to their children all of the time, read to them, go to the free public library in their area and give their children the leg up that they really need when they begin school.
Unfortunately, the amount of words African American children speak at 3, 4 and 5 is much lower.
Therefore, I believe the public school system in the poorer districts should be educating PARENTS, many that are young unmarried mothers, to speak to their children all of the time, read to them, go to the free public library in their area and give their children the leg up that they really need when they begin school.
12
You know: that makes no sense to me, that allegation (that black children hear fewer words spoken). It defies all logic.
Do black people talk less than white people? Are young black women sworn to vows of silence? Come on! they are as talkative as anyone.
I think this is a PC way of saying "such groups don't use high-falutin' PC language as much as white affluent people" -- not that they talk less or use fewer words!
Listen to any rap music today: it is a black American art form, and immensely creative and colorful use of language. That did not grow out of a culture that was silent or didn't have the gift of language.
Do black people talk less than white people? Are young black women sworn to vows of silence? Come on! they are as talkative as anyone.
I think this is a PC way of saying "such groups don't use high-falutin' PC language as much as white affluent people" -- not that they talk less or use fewer words!
Listen to any rap music today: it is a black American art form, and immensely creative and colorful use of language. That did not grow out of a culture that was silent or didn't have the gift of language.
6
Each year all the children take an IQ test. Students are divided into cohorts -- 90th percentile, 80th percentile, etc., based on the results of the tests.
The top 20% get sent to federally funded boarding schools run by the most gifted teachers for advanced education in the classics. These students may choose the post-graduate professions such as theology, medicine, and the law.
The rest of the students remain at home and learn a vocation such as small engine repair, plumbing, or baking. They become contributing members of society.
In May of each year the students retake the test, given that IQ varies over time for each person.
The top 20% get sent to federally funded boarding schools run by the most gifted teachers for advanced education in the classics. These students may choose the post-graduate professions such as theology, medicine, and the law.
The rest of the students remain at home and learn a vocation such as small engine repair, plumbing, or baking. They become contributing members of society.
In May of each year the students retake the test, given that IQ varies over time for each person.
3
Is anyone really surprised that the wealthiest people in america want only to help their own children but not the children of the people who clean their homes and mow their yards? We have become a society of self interested people who can't think beyond their unused oversized kitchens. Perhaps our 1% to 10% bunch might do some forward thinking and realize that many of these needy children who live across town may one day attend the same high school as their beloved off spring. Putin, I mean Trump and the movie "get out" really tapped into our selfish inward society. Be careful for what you wish for....several of the best places like Palo Alto can't find low income workers willing to take care of their children and seniors as they've been priced out of town. What goes around comes around...quicker than you think. We are no longer one of many but many ones. Republicans and liberals both buy their masks and school supplies at Target.
11
we've always been this way. People under 25 think that greed and indifference are new. Liberals have been complaining about this stuff since the 1700's.
4
My god.
I don't believe, but sincerely hope there is a god, a moral decider in the universe that judges you when you die, decides if you were a nice person or not, if you were the kind of person who earned themselves a place in the Judeo-Christian construct of heaven, who lived a life of giving, and loving, and taking care of the poor, and young and old and afflicted and in need. Who judged living by the Golden Rule. Who you had to stand before and justify how you spent the fortune that life on earth bestowed on you.
Even if they don't believe, how they could lie on their death beds and know they were done, and feel certain their lives meant something, that they had done what they could do to leave this earth a better place than they had found it - put others before themselves - and have peace.
Your lives matter.
I don't believe, but sincerely hope there is a god, a moral decider in the universe that judges you when you die, decides if you were a nice person or not, if you were the kind of person who earned themselves a place in the Judeo-Christian construct of heaven, who lived a life of giving, and loving, and taking care of the poor, and young and old and afflicted and in need. Who judged living by the Golden Rule. Who you had to stand before and justify how you spent the fortune that life on earth bestowed on you.
Even if they don't believe, how they could lie on their death beds and know they were done, and feel certain their lives meant something, that they had done what they could do to leave this earth a better place than they had found it - put others before themselves - and have peace.
Your lives matter.
3
Oh, I get it. The whole problem with our Government Indoctrination Centers (Public Schools) is that children from less affluent districts do not benefit from French Horn and Water Polo classes! Not! The problem is right where it has always been. Less time teaching the basics and the Democrats' deluded belief that "throwing ever more money at the problem" will fix it. Studies have shown that schools that spend less per student often times outperform those that spend more. The elephant in the room is the breakdown of the nuclear family, where single parent homes prove that children need a stable home life in order to succeed in school. The hypocrisy of the Democrats' love affair with teachers' unions, that continuously fail our children by keeping unqualified teachers and administrators, is never more obviously displayed then when individuals like the Obamas send their own children to the most expensive private schools, instead of supporting public ones.
8
Wow. Just checked my property tax bill. We pay $6,000+ per year to support our local public schools. We do not have children, never have, never will. Do I complain? No, because I want to live in an educated society. I am more than willing to help other people's kids succeed. I guess you can call that my "opportunity to put my money where my heart is."
26
They get more public money through Title I funding, money for free breakfast and lunch, and now they want private money. I don't think so.I wouldn't give one dime to a general fund. Californians already pay exorbitant taxes to support every welfare program on the planet. It is the same in NY. Now they want a cut of the donations. These parents needs to do their part and provide for their own children for a change.
12
A former managing director in the financial industry who believes that donors have to "get something" when they donate to a charitable organization is confusing the words "donate" with "buy for yourself." He and his ilk are exhibit A for the greed that infects the 1%. How sad that people like him are elected to a school board.
21
Schools are a good test of people's convictions. I'm sure if you were to ask, in the abstract, any parent in Malibu whether they believe poorer kids should be given equal opportunities, they would say "yes." But when the question is funding for their own kids' schools - the answer can be quite different.
.
I don't think people are to blame for this; I don't think it speaks badly of us. As a parent, it's natural to want what's best for your child (for parents in Malibu would want money raised in their PTA, to pay for things at their children's schools). But it is an interesting phenomenon; an interesting window to the truth about ourselves.
.
I don't think people are to blame for this; I don't think it speaks badly of us. As a parent, it's natural to want what's best for your child (for parents in Malibu would want money raised in their PTA, to pay for things at their children's schools). But it is an interesting phenomenon; an interesting window to the truth about ourselves.
8
That's the reason why I never believe polls about racial issues. People tend to give PC answers in abstract but their real feelings only show up when it touches them directly.
For example, in 2000 the media kept referring to polls showing record approval of interracial marriage, yet barely 57% of voters agreed to remove anti-miscegenation laws from Alabama's constitution in a referendum (a majority of white voters wanted to keep it in the books).
For example, in 2000 the media kept referring to polls showing record approval of interracial marriage, yet barely 57% of voters agreed to remove anti-miscegenation laws from Alabama's constitution in a referendum (a majority of white voters wanted to keep it in the books).
7
The reverse is also true.
For example, Ohio senator Rob Portman used to be a staunch opponent of gay marriage until his son came out as gay... It's funny how suddenly those "deep-seated Christian beliefs" aren't that sound when it affects them directly.
For example, Ohio senator Rob Portman used to be a staunch opponent of gay marriage until his son came out as gay... It's funny how suddenly those "deep-seated Christian beliefs" aren't that sound when it affects them directly.
9
Time for bussing. Send half of the kids now going to Edison out to Malibu, half of the kids now in school in the 'Bu to Edison. Assignment by lottery. You're a Malibu parent and your kid's at Edison, you'll gladly cough up for the programs that will give your kid what you think he or she should have. Too bad that it will also benefit the Edison kids who live in the neighborhood. Just grit your teeth.
13
It's also called private school OR local funding of education to preserve the social-economic divide. Unfortunately, elitism ultimately leads to a soft, ignorant, and selfish aristocracy and a lot of death and misery for the masses. Better to mix - all backgrounds and abilities - there is something to learn from all.
5
So much for that "Becoming a parent makes you a better person" tripe.
14
I live in a middle class school district. My property taxes are high but that's fine with me. My kids go to an excellent school and have superb teachers. And I most certainly hope my taxes are helping other kids besides my own. I don't need to know that every cent goes to mine alone. Some call that Socialism. Ok. I call it Christianity.
11
In Washington State you aren't allowed to fund basic education with PTA money. It cannot be during the school day or part of regular education, including instruction in subjects like computer science or PE. You aren't allowed to pay salaries of teachers either. Of course our own legislature won't fund basic education either (see: McCleary controversy). So PTAs end up finding a way around it. Ironically, our rural legislature members appear opposed to a mass transfer of funds from the rich Sound to the poor mountainous and farming areas. So Microsoft parents continue to pay private funds to educate their kids in public schools by shortening school days and getting around it via special PTA and foundation funded supplementation.
It is ridiculous, but hey, if Eastern Washington doesn't want an income tax that would bring my money to their kids, I guess I will just write that check to my local PTA. Sorry for not being sorry.
It is ridiculous, but hey, if Eastern Washington doesn't want an income tax that would bring my money to their kids, I guess I will just write that check to my local PTA. Sorry for not being sorry.
3
Having taught in affluent area, the difference in programs offered to students by the wealth of the nearest school is amazing. I understand that, what I don't understand is why we let people deduct off their taxes the money they are basically giving to their kids, and not to other kids. It is not a charity, it is buying services for your kid.
13
The parents in Malibu keep using the word "donation." I am not sure that word means what they think it means.
11
Government wealth redistribution and social engineering; what could possibly go wrong?
4
Exactly! The theft of the wealth of the middle class over the past thirty years has brought us to a dark dark place. Wealth redistribution is a disaster.
5
As I see it the problem isn't really a California issue at all.
"Nationwide, about half of public school students are eligible (for free or reduced lunch.)"
Right there- that is the problem. In the richest country on earth. Disgusting!
"Nationwide, about half of public school students are eligible (for free or reduced lunch.)"
Right there- that is the problem. In the richest country on earth. Disgusting!
18
Well, they're getting a free lunch. What more do you want?
1
Every kid should get a free lunch.
3
There's no such thing as a free lunch.
3
In my children's NYC Title I public school, the gifted and talented classes (privately administered IQ tested kids') parents raised thousands of dollars for their classes, while the non G&T (read low-income) classes barely raised a few dollars. The G&T classes existed solely (genius idea from the NYCBOE) to add diversity to a low income school but the school ended up mostly segregated. The G&T program doubled dipped, class funding from parents and federal funding from being in a Title I school. The more affluent parents rationalized that by running the PTA they were giving back, but their concerns were mostly about enrichment for their own kids.Trickle-down economics in an elementary school. Selfish in every way.
9
Truth is, we don't much care about other peoples children, and why should we? They're not our responsibility......they're just not.
I wish them well, but I work to provide for my child, he's the only one in which I'm interested in succeeding.
I have no other horses in the race.
I wish them well, but I work to provide for my child, he's the only one in which I'm interested in succeeding.
I have no other horses in the race.
5
Being unconcerned about the education of other children might work if you and your child live alone on an isolated island. However, if you anticipate your child eventually will live and work within the broader society, your child might appreciate engaging and working with other well-educated people.
7
Crossing Overhead, as you age, other people's children will become your doctors, police officers, home health aides, elected officials, plumbers, you name it. Maybe you should care a tiny little bit about their futures.
8
Yes, you do. Do you think your precious child is the only person in the universe? Who will govern locally, at the state and federal levels? Will your child be able to do all this, and provide medical care, legal advice and other services? Of course not. Your child is part of a classroom and school system that other children attend. These other kids will have a say in your future, and your child's future. If you don't think you and he/she will benefit from ensuring they have as good an education as possible, you're in for a shock.
2
It sounds like an equalizing socialist system that takes away from rich and gives to the poor. Doesn't sound very fair to me.
http://www.debateisland.com/discussion/679/pta-gift-for-someone-else-s-c...
http://www.debateisland.com/discussion/679/pta-gift-for-someone-else-s-c...
2
It is fair, when it provides a boost to the economy, safety and progress of a society. The marginal value of the dollars spent at the bottom is much greater than at the top. An educated, fed, and hopeful society is safer, and a well educated society progresses.
Unless you like the idea of a society that is walled fortresses holding back the impoverished masses. Many countries exist like this today: Haiti, South Africa, Bangladesh, Myanmar. The rich fare well in such societies... Until they don't. (Venezuela, Zimbabwe)
Unless you like the idea of a society that is walled fortresses holding back the impoverished masses. Many countries exist like this today: Haiti, South Africa, Bangladesh, Myanmar. The rich fare well in such societies... Until they don't. (Venezuela, Zimbabwe)
1
Continued from previous post:
More info:
- the school board at this district spent well above $10M in legal and expert fees fighting not to remediate PCBs at the local high school that will cost $2M to remediate as directed by a court
Now my thoughts:
Where is the article on how our education needs to change and it doesn't take more money just a change in philosophy. Search YouTube for "Ken Robinson Education" i.e. https://youtu.be/fAb9PMs8bEg
What about the story on education governance. How School boards are used by special interest groups as stepping stones for their candidates political career or for influence in non education local politics? Many candidates or current board members haven't invested any time in learning about modern education and are stuck in the ideological rhetoric of left vs right
Let's address the real issue as to how we create a public school system that is better than any private school and brings communities together than stratifying them by class.
I'm terribly disappointed that an organization like the NYTimes is not doing more substantive reporting and when a reporter does a story on a marginal issue of less than 4% of funding the story doesn't put it in context, doesn't address the real issues, and twists or omits facts to create divisiveness in the readership. Irrespective of ones political views we deserve better. Let's address the real issues in education... let's not feed the divisiveness that continues to grow in this country
More info:
- the school board at this district spent well above $10M in legal and expert fees fighting not to remediate PCBs at the local high school that will cost $2M to remediate as directed by a court
Now my thoughts:
Where is the article on how our education needs to change and it doesn't take more money just a change in philosophy. Search YouTube for "Ken Robinson Education" i.e. https://youtu.be/fAb9PMs8bEg
What about the story on education governance. How School boards are used by special interest groups as stepping stones for their candidates political career or for influence in non education local politics? Many candidates or current board members haven't invested any time in learning about modern education and are stuck in the ideological rhetoric of left vs right
Let's address the real issue as to how we create a public school system that is better than any private school and brings communities together than stratifying them by class.
I'm terribly disappointed that an organization like the NYTimes is not doing more substantive reporting and when a reporter does a story on a marginal issue of less than 4% of funding the story doesn't put it in context, doesn't address the real issues, and twists or omits facts to create divisiveness in the readership. Irrespective of ones political views we deserve better. Let's address the real issues in education... let's not feed the divisiveness that continues to grow in this country
9
When people say they don't want to contribute to public education because they don't have children, I wonder, what do they think will happen if nobody has children? Is that of no interest to them?
6
The money, time and other resources spent on after school, competitive sports is having a distorting effect on our schools and their ability to fulfill their primary mission during the school day.
The Case Against High-School Sports--
The United States routinely spends more tax dollars per high-school athlete than per high-school math student—unlike most countries worldwide. And we wonder why we lag in international education rankings?
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/10/the-case-against-hi...
The Case Against High-School Sports--
The United States routinely spends more tax dollars per high-school athlete than per high-school math student—unlike most countries worldwide. And we wonder why we lag in international education rankings?
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/10/the-case-against-hi...
7
"Well of course I'm a Christian. I just don't want any of my money wasted on those filthy, poor children! I pray for them on Sunday, isn't that enough?
7
This article brings to mind the Bel Air resident who argued he should be exempt from gardening water rules because elite wealthy people are different than the masses, with different needs, priorities and relationships with government. Malibu residents perhaps ought to feel grateful that the pooled PTA funding allows them the opportunity to participate in acts of charity and goodness, selflessness and tzedaka. Unless of course we mean, "Malibu first!"
4
If you must have PTA donations, let it be known from the get go that all donations go to the district and cannot be earmarked for individual schools. A central PTA board (or something similar) would determine where funds would go and for what.
If this were known up front, people could donate or not donate, but at least they would not be confused about where the money would go.
Of course the politics for getting onto a central PTA Board would be "interesting", but we can't change all of America in on master stroke can we?
If this were known up front, people could donate or not donate, but at least they would not be confused about where the money would go.
Of course the politics for getting onto a central PTA Board would be "interesting", but we can't change all of America in on master stroke can we?
2
"Malibu — more solidly affluent than Santa Monica — would create its own district, allowing it to keep all of its donations in its own schools."
A good plan. When I contribute to my PTA, I want all the funds going to my schools, not Santa Monica's. Sharing the wealth is not in the cards. There can be other equalizers for the poorer districts through the auspices of public funding perhaps in terms of property tax distributions.
A good plan. When I contribute to my PTA, I want all the funds going to my schools, not Santa Monica's. Sharing the wealth is not in the cards. There can be other equalizers for the poorer districts through the auspices of public funding perhaps in terms of property tax distributions.
10
Only pseudo-liberal rich Californians would act simply like any other bigots. Gee, where is the love.
1
It was bought in a hostile take over
1
This story is a great example of poorly researched Journalism that provides no substance and intended to get emotional responses (mostly divisiveness) to get views and generate add revenue. The NYT flew a reporter across the country for this? Where is the substantive story on education that addresses many of the issues raised by other commenters.
First some fact corrections
- Craig Foster left Investment Banking in 1998 and has since devoted his life to education including a Masters in education and teaching - why was he portrayed as a member of Wall Street? Do you think that was intentional?
http://linkedin.com/in/craig-foster-87299370
- as another comment pointed out the parents contributions are almost insignificant. In this case they are less than 4% of the $120M budget of this district
- somehow the reporter failed to mention that this district, before any parent contribution, is funded at over 150% of what the state sets as a minimum funding level due to a large contribution from the city of Santa Monica (about 25% of the total budget) and an additional parcel tax mentioned by a poster; yet with all these funds they have repeatedly failed to close the education gap in their district? http://www.smmusd.org/superintendent/Noguera/EquityReport040716.pdf
Is the issue really about PTA funding or how we lead and manage our school systems?
Continued on my next post. Running into the max 1500 characters
First some fact corrections
- Craig Foster left Investment Banking in 1998 and has since devoted his life to education including a Masters in education and teaching - why was he portrayed as a member of Wall Street? Do you think that was intentional?
http://linkedin.com/in/craig-foster-87299370
- as another comment pointed out the parents contributions are almost insignificant. In this case they are less than 4% of the $120M budget of this district
- somehow the reporter failed to mention that this district, before any parent contribution, is funded at over 150% of what the state sets as a minimum funding level due to a large contribution from the city of Santa Monica (about 25% of the total budget) and an additional parcel tax mentioned by a poster; yet with all these funds they have repeatedly failed to close the education gap in their district? http://www.smmusd.org/superintendent/Noguera/EquityReport040716.pdf
Is the issue really about PTA funding or how we lead and manage our school systems?
Continued on my next post. Running into the max 1500 characters
13
Nicely written piece! While it's easy to bash richer people, I found this piece to be nuanced. All public schools in California are underfunded, and while it's easy to laugh at buying yoga mats, the truth is that many millions of people care to give their kids a good education and when the state doesn't support that, they dig into their own pockets. Rich and poor alike - it's just a lot easier to see with rich parents. But I wouldn't blame them for doing this to benefit their own kid, rather than demanding that it be completely altruistic.
I do take issue with one comment, cited from an education expert:
But Catherine Brown, a co-author of the report, said that when richer PTAs paid for teachers and programs that poorer ones could not afford, students in less well-off schools fell even further behind.
True, but could we examine the *actual* impact on kids in the poorer schools? The fact that they are not doing as well as others in their district is not as important as how well they are doing in absolute terms. Does it help that there are more resources overall? Does it hurt that when they reach high school that they are in with kids from richer schools? Would love to see a study on that.
I do take issue with one comment, cited from an education expert:
But Catherine Brown, a co-author of the report, said that when richer PTAs paid for teachers and programs that poorer ones could not afford, students in less well-off schools fell even further behind.
True, but could we examine the *actual* impact on kids in the poorer schools? The fact that they are not doing as well as others in their district is not as important as how well they are doing in absolute terms. Does it help that there are more resources overall? Does it hurt that when they reach high school that they are in with kids from richer schools? Would love to see a study on that.
10
Excellent article. One point worth more attention: Title 1 schools may not get full Title 1 dollars. There is a threshold when a school performs well that funding diminishes or is outright cut. Thomas Starr King Middle School in Los Feliz is a high performing Title 1 school that does not benefit from funding.
We have a Freinds of King 501 C3 organization to fill budgetary gaps. These organizations have different governance than PTA groups.
It would be my wish that we in Los Angeles either adopt a parcel tax or an ongoing tax to make these efforts - which are monumental - unnecessary. Without this community commitment to excellent schools for all Angelenos, I would think Santa Monica-Malibu's dispersement model would work well.
As a seven year active member of Friends of groups, it is clear that the more affluent the parents, the more they use fundraising as a measure of value. Not unlike a private school's tuition, the amount raised connotes exclusivity. Talk of raising an endowment circled our elementary school. It is as if the public option that benefits all people is not as good because it does not have a price tag attached to it.
Meanwhile, the push to privatize public assests in the form of Charter Schools have threatened the egalitarian promise of a public school education in LAUSD. These operators set up non-profit foundations to run public money through. Somehow, this 'business' model is given little scrutiny and is presumed better because not public.
We have a Freinds of King 501 C3 organization to fill budgetary gaps. These organizations have different governance than PTA groups.
It would be my wish that we in Los Angeles either adopt a parcel tax or an ongoing tax to make these efforts - which are monumental - unnecessary. Without this community commitment to excellent schools for all Angelenos, I would think Santa Monica-Malibu's dispersement model would work well.
As a seven year active member of Friends of groups, it is clear that the more affluent the parents, the more they use fundraising as a measure of value. Not unlike a private school's tuition, the amount raised connotes exclusivity. Talk of raising an endowment circled our elementary school. It is as if the public option that benefits all people is not as good because it does not have a price tag attached to it.
Meanwhile, the push to privatize public assests in the form of Charter Schools have threatened the egalitarian promise of a public school education in LAUSD. These operators set up non-profit foundations to run public money through. Somehow, this 'business' model is given little scrutiny and is presumed better because not public.
4
We raised and educated our two high-achieving kids K-12 in a suburban, 3-building, Putnam County (NY) school district that was reasonably well funded but didn’t have the kinds of programs that would have benefited high achievers. The local PTA and Education Foundation were sources of decent fundraising amounts, but nowhere near what some of the California districts you describe are raising. We always did what we could to donate to both groups, and I volunteered with the PTA for many years.
Folks who could afford to do so sent their children to private schools in Westchester. We chose to send our kids to private colleges once they graduated (and we’re still paying for that), but the differences they reported once they got there were stark.
I was educated in both California and New York public schools (as well as in colleges in Massachusetts and California) and was around when Prop 13 was approved. In my view, when property taxes make up the bulk of the revenue for a school district, disparities can’t help but occur. “Local control” is the code word, but what it means is to ensure that educational opportunities will never be equal in America.
I support our former Assemblywoman Sandy Galef’s quest to fund New York schools at the state and not the local level. I’d like to see California do the same.
Folks who could afford to do so sent their children to private schools in Westchester. We chose to send our kids to private colleges once they graduated (and we’re still paying for that), but the differences they reported once they got there were stark.
I was educated in both California and New York public schools (as well as in colleges in Massachusetts and California) and was around when Prop 13 was approved. In my view, when property taxes make up the bulk of the revenue for a school district, disparities can’t help but occur. “Local control” is the code word, but what it means is to ensure that educational opportunities will never be equal in America.
I support our former Assemblywoman Sandy Galef’s quest to fund New York schools at the state and not the local level. I’d like to see California do the same.
8
If only the "emotional appeal" did not have to be limited to benefiting one's own. The benefitting of others is also very satisfying; in fact, even more so when is fortunate to concomitantly provide robustly for one's own. I imagine this ideology takes wealth of a whole different kind.
7
Many conservatives who trash American public schools use the argument that other countries are cleaning our clocks on test scores. But all the countries that are ahead of us have well-funded public schools with highly paid and respected teachers. Yet, instead of emulating success, American conservatives want to carve everyone up and use tax-subsidized vouchers to for-profit private schools and parochial schools as a solution. Why? Why not just have broad-based, well-funded public education. Then if the wealthier parents want to do something extra for their own precious darlings, no one will stop them.
12
A parent should be able to give more to their school if they want. If there is not enough money to be spread around for the basics, that is the fault of the taxpayer.
The problem is that CA has the most messed up tax system in the country due to people like Howard Jarvis who gave us prop 13 (limiting of property taxes). The result is that income taxes have shot up to the point that CA has the highest income taxes in country but are only in the middle of the pack when it comes to actual tax revenue per person (which is the pot of money that supports the schools). People like my in-laws get to pay $800 in property taxes annually on a $1.1M house while if I bought that same house, I'd be paying $11,000 or more. It is the prop 8 beneficiaries that are the ones who are selfishly hurting the poor, not some person who just wants to give to their child's school.
The problem is that CA has the most messed up tax system in the country due to people like Howard Jarvis who gave us prop 13 (limiting of property taxes). The result is that income taxes have shot up to the point that CA has the highest income taxes in country but are only in the middle of the pack when it comes to actual tax revenue per person (which is the pot of money that supports the schools). People like my in-laws get to pay $800 in property taxes annually on a $1.1M house while if I bought that same house, I'd be paying $11,000 or more. It is the prop 8 beneficiaries that are the ones who are selfishly hurting the poor, not some person who just wants to give to their child's school.
12
Political correctness run amuk once again in California. This is the equivalent of a trophy for everyone who participates. There are no winners, because that would make somebody feel bad. You contribute money to your kid's school believing that it will go to making things better in YOUR kid's school. Then you find out that some bureaucrat has taken your money and given it equally to your school and every other school in the district. What's next California, in your on going misguided exercise in removing competition from every phase of your children's lives?
13
Disparities in funding public schools within the Town of Greenwich CT is monitored by the BOE. So, it's not just CA that is dealing with this issue. Public means public. If you want to pour cash directly into your child's early education, send the child to private school. You have plenty of choices.
3
Perhaps it would be helpful if there was transparency in exactly how the money is distributed? If my son's school is doing a fundraiser for a particular project my initial assumption would be that whatever I contributed would go towards this. If this is not the case I would like to know what percentage goes towards the cause I am supporting. I suspect though, if I donated $100 and I was told only $20 went to my son's school I might reassess my contribution. I am am in favor of supporting social causes beyond that of my own child but I don't want to be 'forced' into it - I want to do it voluntarily as I do with other causes I support.
6
I agree when I make a donation, it is to a particular cause, say saving horses.
Why should someone take that money and use it for something I don't believe in or for some other cause. I imagine this is how good public schools disappear because parents work hard and save to put their children in private schools. Then they know where their money is going.
Why should someone take that money and use it for something I don't believe in or for some other cause. I imagine this is how good public schools disappear because parents work hard and save to put their children in private schools. Then they know where their money is going.
4
Santa Monica/Malibu is sprawling?! It is 15 miles end to end. And less than 5 miles deep from the coast in except in one place. It encompasses <40 square miles in total area by the map here including the island area of Santa Monica.
“Ideological” is code for anything fair or helpful to common folks.
Maybe they forgot we are all created equally? Maybe they don’t even know how that central aspect of our founding as a nation is meant to be intrinsic to each of our outlook on our fellow man?
That reference was/is meant to remind all of the upper classes everywhere that it was not rank or birthright that gave them advantage over others. It was very much the wealth and access to education and better living that gave them any of the advantages they had over common people.
This had been proven in America over the 164 years as a British Colony that all people regardless of their parentage can rise to become wealthy and wise when they are not subject to the restrictive class system & extreme poverty and deprivation as was the case for most common people in the old world.
There must be something unspoken going on here that such wealthy Americans resent that their largess benefits so many children.
Your wealth does not give you the right to buy whatever kind of life you want. You live among others many of whom helped make you that wealthy and to whom you have the social responsibility to create a good community for all of you not just an isolated place for yourself, even in Malibu.
“Ideological” is code for anything fair or helpful to common folks.
Maybe they forgot we are all created equally? Maybe they don’t even know how that central aspect of our founding as a nation is meant to be intrinsic to each of our outlook on our fellow man?
That reference was/is meant to remind all of the upper classes everywhere that it was not rank or birthright that gave them advantage over others. It was very much the wealth and access to education and better living that gave them any of the advantages they had over common people.
This had been proven in America over the 164 years as a British Colony that all people regardless of their parentage can rise to become wealthy and wise when they are not subject to the restrictive class system & extreme poverty and deprivation as was the case for most common people in the old world.
There must be something unspoken going on here that such wealthy Americans resent that their largess benefits so many children.
Your wealth does not give you the right to buy whatever kind of life you want. You live among others many of whom helped make you that wealthy and to whom you have the social responsibility to create a good community for all of you not just an isolated place for yourself, even in Malibu.
5
Exactly!
Instead of just coming up with the ways to redistribute the money, work together on fund raising. It almost seems as if you are implying the high needs schools are incapable of doing fund raising. Make it a joint effort.
Is this about privilege or is it about making an effort?
Is this about privilege or is it about making an effort?
High needs schools are in high need neighborhoods filled with predominantly high need people. They can barely scratch a living and need donations themselves- forget having then donate! Sure they can make an effort to collect donations, but it's harder when everyone is close to the poverty line.
11
Public School 87 in Upper West Side NYC, where 96% of the parents voted for Hillary wouldn't think of sharing their wealth with the Bronx.
Wonder why? The Hypocrisy is amazing.
Wonder why? The Hypocrisy is amazing.
5
This problem is bigger than PTA money allocations. PTA money is not going to solve the issues in many communities. What will solve it is parents that value education. I grew up in what the Commonwealth of Massachusetts now refers to a "gateway city." The state funds virtually all of the city's public schools' spending. It spends as much per pupil as the adjacent towns that fund most of their own school systems with high property taxes. Should residents of the city begrudge the towns because they're willing to tax themselves for the benefit of their children? The people living in the towns almost certainly pay a lot of income tax to the Commonwealth which is then allocated back to the city and towns with formulae that favor the cities.
Further, when I attended public schools in that city, my peers had aspirations, didn't belong to gangs, spoke English, were disciplined by teachers and principals without parents whining, and were expected to get to college even though virtually none of their parents had gone. There were no programs to assist "first generation" students in getting prepared and guide us through the process. in short, there was no coddling and you were expected to figure it out yourself. That is contrast to the current residents that expect two free meals at school during the school year and summer vacation, ESL programs, day care for high school student's children and think nothing of taking their child out of school for a month to return to the Caribbean.
Further, when I attended public schools in that city, my peers had aspirations, didn't belong to gangs, spoke English, were disciplined by teachers and principals without parents whining, and were expected to get to college even though virtually none of their parents had gone. There were no programs to assist "first generation" students in getting prepared and guide us through the process. in short, there was no coddling and you were expected to figure it out yourself. That is contrast to the current residents that expect two free meals at school during the school year and summer vacation, ESL programs, day care for high school student's children and think nothing of taking their child out of school for a month to return to the Caribbean.
8
This is certainly an emotional topic, when perhaps it should be a logical one.
My belief is that public school should mean equal educational opportunities. In what has become an ever more competitive society, there seems to be a deep undercurrent of protecting whatever status one has. Wealthy and even middle class parents who send their children to public school can afford enrichment outside the school day. They can take their children on educational or cultural vacations. They can afford tutors, traveling sports teams (with all the attendant costs), private music lessons, or whatever their child shows an express interest in. They are the advantaged ones.
I have the privilege of volunteer tutoring in a public school where many of the students are from low income families. A few of these children are in very heartbreaking situations. The parents are doing their very best to make sure their child/ren get a decent education, and anything I can do to level that playing field is a bonus for everyone.
My belief is that public school should mean equal educational opportunities. In what has become an ever more competitive society, there seems to be a deep undercurrent of protecting whatever status one has. Wealthy and even middle class parents who send their children to public school can afford enrichment outside the school day. They can take their children on educational or cultural vacations. They can afford tutors, traveling sports teams (with all the attendant costs), private music lessons, or whatever their child shows an express interest in. They are the advantaged ones.
I have the privilege of volunteer tutoring in a public school where many of the students are from low income families. A few of these children are in very heartbreaking situations. The parents are doing their very best to make sure their child/ren get a decent education, and anything I can do to level that playing field is a bonus for everyone.
13
"An ideal PTA system gives a parent “the opportunity to put your money where your heart is,” said Mr. Foster, a former managing director at Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse."
Yep, it certainly shows where Mr. Foster's heart is. Maybe they could build a wall around Malibu with the money!
Luckily for Morgan Stanley, taxpayers didn't get to decide to put their money where their hearts were.
Yep, it certainly shows where Mr. Foster's heart is. Maybe they could build a wall around Malibu with the money!
Luckily for Morgan Stanley, taxpayers didn't get to decide to put their money where their hearts were.
5
Public school funding needs to be equal among districts and needs to equal the fees charged by the top private schools. Until then we are failing our public school students.
2
This is insane. I don't have children, but I pay for the education of other people's children through my tax dollars.
If parents like these get to pick where their money goes (presumably these donations only allow for yoga classes because taxpayers like me chip in to cover their kids' art program) then I'd like my money to follow my heart as well -- right to the underserved school across town.
If parents like these get to pick where their money goes (presumably these donations only allow for yoga classes because taxpayers like me chip in to cover their kids' art program) then I'd like my money to follow my heart as well -- right to the underserved school across town.
8
While we discuss funding ballroom dancing, in China they are graduating 1,000,000+ engineers a year ...
8
The world needs more happy, healthy people.
Engineers are a dime a dozen-so what?
Life's pursuits are not all about computer technology alone.
Engineers are a dime a dozen-so what?
Life's pursuits are not all about computer technology alone.
3
I live in Santa Monica. My child went to pubic school here. I will not voluntarily give so much as a penny to the schools because of the odious parcel tax. I own a small condo but I pay the exact same dollar amount as someone who owns a $10 million house. I pay the exact same dollar amount as the million-square-foot office park down the street. This is grossly unfair, but it was voted into existence by the electorate -- the vast majority of whom are renters and do not pay the tax they levied on others.
12
Taxation in California in general is insane, and completely unfair. Prop 13 lets long-time homeowners (or their heirs) enjoy super-low taxes, but then sticks it to anyone who buys today.
And Santa Monica has RENT CONTROL. I actually know someone who has rented the same townhouse there since 1980 -- 37 years! -- and she barely paying more today than in 1980 -- about $900 a month for a 3 bedroom townhouse with 2.5 bathrooms, a fireplace, a balcony, etc. The true market value is about $4000! Nobody dares to move out, short of dying, because of deals like this.
And Santa Monica has RENT CONTROL. I actually know someone who has rented the same townhouse there since 1980 -- 37 years! -- and she barely paying more today than in 1980 -- about $900 a month for a 3 bedroom townhouse with 2.5 bathrooms, a fireplace, a balcony, etc. The true market value is about $4000! Nobody dares to move out, short of dying, because of deals like this.
In my southern California city, an extremely wealthy school district had parents fund-raise to come up with enough money, astonishingly, to buy an entire city block of houses and property to build a high school football field. When the district said it couldn't even afford maintenance, the parents said no problem, and promptly funded that too.
Meanwhile, my local elementary school tries every year to fund raise enough to buy each child two paperback books. They haven't yet been able to meet their goal. The school "playground" has not a single blade of grass; it's entirely dirt, no trees or bushes. For the most part whites in the neighborhood send their kids to private schools or charters.
I am sickened by the wealthy parents' apparent belief that nothing is too good for their own children, while other kids can go without because "throwing money at the problem" of low performing schools in poor neighborhoods doesn't accomplish anything.
Meanwhile, my local elementary school tries every year to fund raise enough to buy each child two paperback books. They haven't yet been able to meet their goal. The school "playground" has not a single blade of grass; it's entirely dirt, no trees or bushes. For the most part whites in the neighborhood send their kids to private schools or charters.
I am sickened by the wealthy parents' apparent belief that nothing is too good for their own children, while other kids can go without because "throwing money at the problem" of low performing schools in poor neighborhoods doesn't accomplish anything.
11
If you want more for your children, do what you need to do to provide it yourself. Don't begrudge other people being good parents and providing for their children. They don't owe you or your children anything.
8
TD, that is all fine and good until the 99% revolt. Have you ever heard of the phrase "little house, hamburger; big house, steak"? It means that the 99% will tolerate differences to some degree but when they can't even get reasonable basic goods or services, that is when revolutions start. For the last several decades, the United States has had a large sustainable middle-class but this is gradually going away. We don't want to end up like a third world country where you have huge disparities in wealth. Sure, wealthy families live with their maids, their multiple cars, and their private tutors behind gated walls but once they step out, the kids are at risk for being kidnapped and ransomed, their cars for being hijacked, Etc unless they pay for private security guards.
1
This is what taxation is for.
5
Anyone criticizing the Malibu parents is a hypocrite if they don't live a cheaply as possible (1-bed, 1 bath apartment in the seediest part of town) so that they can donate the rest to the poor.
Vacations? Car better than a clunker? That money could have gone to poor children.
Vacations? Car better than a clunker? That money could have gone to poor children.
13
How charming. And so Republican.
5
If they wish to tax parents then they should tax them. My voluntary contributions should go where I wish. If my school district needs more money they should raise taxes. If my voluntary contributions which I wish to be used to benefit my own children are appropriated, I will stop contributing. I'm sure many parents feel the same.
Maybe PTA fundraising should be outlawed. Then all schools in the district will have equal funding
Maybe PTA fundraising should be outlawed. Then all schools in the district will have equal funding
10
“I wish the kids could get more,” said Karen Clark, treasurer of the Cabrillo PTA — for example, dancing in the third and fourth grades, in addition to fifth grade. “We would do just fine” if Malibu became its own district, she said. “The Malibu community would be very generous.”
Moms are so great. They're like compassionate and nurturing and stuff.
They're one of my favorite demographic groups.
But seriously folks, the story is cringe inducing ugly.
Moms are so great. They're like compassionate and nurturing and stuff.
They're one of my favorite demographic groups.
But seriously folks, the story is cringe inducing ugly.
9
$6,000,000,000,000 for the war in Iraq.
But school children get shamed for not having lunch money.
"Let 'em earn their lunch!"
America.
But school children get shamed for not having lunch money.
"Let 'em earn their lunch!"
America.
10
Hilary would have won if she paid attention to this sort of truth but in the end she is a RINO and obsequies to money was what she chose. It didn't help that she was exposed for helping the DNC rip off Bernie.
2
The people most interested in sharing resources are the people who usually contribute the least resources. I am reminded that Abraham Lincoln was brought up in abject poverty, taught himself how to write using a piece of coal on the back of a shovel, and yet was one of the greatest people in our country's history. Money isn't the answer to obtaining a quality education. Throwing more money at a problem rarely solves the problem.
3
You mean poor people would like the rich to pay their fair share?
If money isn't the answer, please explain why the rich throw even more money at their own kids' schools, and why they are willing to pay $40,000 a year for private schools with smaller classes, top quality science labs, lots of the arts, travel, teachers with extra training, and the rest.
Have you read Jonathan Kozol' Savage Inequalities? It might be eye=opening for you.
If money isn't the answer, please explain why the rich throw even more money at their own kids' schools, and why they are willing to pay $40,000 a year for private schools with smaller classes, top quality science labs, lots of the arts, travel, teachers with extra training, and the rest.
Have you read Jonathan Kozol' Savage Inequalities? It might be eye=opening for you.
3
Did you have the same sort of education as Abe Lincoln?
1
As they say in the South, that old dog won't hunt. Lincoln lived during a time when education was beyond the reach of many Americans, and today students can't "read" law and then hang up a shingle. You may want to trust in such antiquated and, regarding this subject, nonsensical means of "educating" one's self, but most Americans today support public education and want their local, state and federal governments to do their jobs and fund it.
3
Surprise!: it's not redistribution by the government Americans are against- it's redistribution, period.
2
I'd add that it's redistribution downward that Americans are against. They seem to have no problem with redistribution upwards, and in fact just voted into office someone whose tax reform plan will redistribute wealth so that 47%of tax breaks and credits will go to the upper 1%.
8
If you think giving to charity--and I include PTA donations, then it may be time to reinstate that old socialist, liberal policy idea called funding state & local education with an equitable tax policy--so all schools have enough for the children they serve. After all, affluent parents can and will supplement their child's day with the extras, on their own dime, after the school day. That way, there will be no need for wealthy parents to waste hours of their time planning fundraisers and charity events they love. Of course, there goes the reason for many parents to join the PTA.
7
How are schools funded in CA? Do they have a version of "Fair Student Funding" -- like in NYC (where higher needs students are allocated more money on a per student basis)? In addition to Title I money to schools with concentrated poverty, that can help alleviate inequities.
It's complicated, though, when the state calculates how much money should be going to schools and then says, basically (as they do in NYC), sorry you're only getting 87% of that amount (and if you got 100%, that gets you classes with 1 teacher and 32 kids and no extra for enrichment). Schools serving higher needs student get more based on the Fair Student Funding formula, based on the idea that they need more -- but they too are only getting 87% of their state-acknowledged need. The Title I dollars they may get if they have more than 60% students receiving free and reduced lunch can help again -- but then that money isn't going for the programming that would be "above and beyond" but just to fill the basic gaps.
It's complicated, though, when the state calculates how much money should be going to schools and then says, basically (as they do in NYC), sorry you're only getting 87% of that amount (and if you got 100%, that gets you classes with 1 teacher and 32 kids and no extra for enrichment). Schools serving higher needs student get more based on the Fair Student Funding formula, based on the idea that they need more -- but they too are only getting 87% of their state-acknowledged need. The Title I dollars they may get if they have more than 60% students receiving free and reduced lunch can help again -- but then that money isn't going for the programming that would be "above and beyond" but just to fill the basic gaps.
2
I think some have lost sight of the PTA mission. It's supposed to be about advocacy. Not yoga and dance classes. The National PTA needs to address how money is being used in its name. Regarding parents who want to donate directly to their own school, maybe contact the BOE and see if there's a mechanism in place to do so. In NY, we accept private donations which can be allocated to specific schools.
1
my children have attended one of the so-called public "private schools". In the past few years, this school has turned to the parents to fund programs that will not be covered by county school board funding. Some were existing programs that were being cut, and some were new, including Chinese language instruction and a college level Philosophy class. My concern is that when we as a county decide it is reasonable to make cuts to education, but then make it possible for affluent parents to supplement funding for their own children, we are subverting the concept of public education and creating a system that will only grow more and more unequal. Those who make the argument that title 1 schools are already receiving more money per-capita are perhaps intentionally misunderstanding that statistic, if the implication is that those kids are getting more than an equal opportunity. If a school that is designed for 600 kids only draws 200, it's cost per student will be higher. If those 200 kids are on reduced lunch, vs none at your school, that cost will be higher.
If you want to make Chinese and Philosophy available in school, then find a way to make it available for all. If you just want to fund your child's education, and not anyone else's, then put your money into a private school. You may find that through generous donations, private schools are now doing a better job than some public schools at making a great education available to a broad spectrum of the population.
If you want to make Chinese and Philosophy available in school, then find a way to make it available for all. If you just want to fund your child's education, and not anyone else's, then put your money into a private school. You may find that through generous donations, private schools are now doing a better job than some public schools at making a great education available to a broad spectrum of the population.
14
Why should The People permit the private school? It inculcates reactionary values.
1
I'm not sure I follow how private school inculcates reactionary values. I am an ardent supporter of public schools, but don't think I would want to take away the right of parents to privately educate their own children.
1
"At one rowdy school board meeting covered by Malibu Patch, a local news website, a Malibu mother said the plan would “bring everybody to a mediocre middle ground that serves nobody.”"
Moms are so great.
They're like compassionate and nurturing and stuff. They're one of my favorite demographic groups.
Moms are so great.
They're like compassionate and nurturing and stuff. They're one of my favorite demographic groups.
6
There fathers too, so maybe we should talk about parents ....
2
Reading this in a Panera, where I just bought a trio of Army soldiers their lunch, I would say giving where your heart is should be feeling good helping others.
I don't like the PTA funds pooling idea though - it feels like anonymous taxes. I would suggest instead, that each wealthier school find just one partner school to help - and build a personal relationship with that school. Organize mentoring and tutoring volunteer activities in addition to donating 30 or 40% of funds raised - often volunteering is a school requirement anyway, and this makes it an important opportunity for real engagement and impact.
I don't like the PTA funds pooling idea though - it feels like anonymous taxes. I would suggest instead, that each wealthier school find just one partner school to help - and build a personal relationship with that school. Organize mentoring and tutoring volunteer activities in addition to donating 30 or 40% of funds raised - often volunteering is a school requirement anyway, and this makes it an important opportunity for real engagement and impact.
15
Your oversimplification of proposition 13's impact is unfair and inaccurate, worthy of a correction. Please see the California Legislative Analyst's report on Proposition 98 (which establishes guaranteed minimums through a sevenfold funding formula), and thirty year retrospective report on Proposition 13, specifically the AB8 allocation formula. The median teacher salary in California is over $74,000 (see CalFacts), and there is ample supplemental funding for arts education from the lottery, were it to actually be supplemental and not have the perverse effect of reducing general fund support under prop 98. Also many of the education cuts attributed to prop 13 were due to the Serrano court decision which imposed reallocation and kicked in at the same time.
To quote governor Brown, "the problem is not Proposition 13; the problem is what the legislature did after proposition 13;" namely, the legislature froze allocations among California's myriad special districts at 1978 levels, so if a school district grew in proportion to a water district or flood control district, its share of property taxes remained the same. Some jurisdictions such as the city of Colma have so much property tax they don't know how to spend it. Then in the 90s, there were three rounds of ERAF, where the state cut education three times in a complex accounting gimmick to plug holes in public pensions and PIT taxes.
The state's superintendent has said there are too many school districts.
To quote governor Brown, "the problem is not Proposition 13; the problem is what the legislature did after proposition 13;" namely, the legislature froze allocations among California's myriad special districts at 1978 levels, so if a school district grew in proportion to a water district or flood control district, its share of property taxes remained the same. Some jurisdictions such as the city of Colma have so much property tax they don't know how to spend it. Then in the 90s, there were three rounds of ERAF, where the state cut education three times in a complex accounting gimmick to plug holes in public pensions and PIT taxes.
The state's superintendent has said there are too many school districts.
9
You certainly do not have children in school in California. Proposition 13 is the biggest tax welfare to the rich we have seen in California. I can give you the address of properties valued many millions of dollars that only pay one or two thousand dollars in property taxes a year. Ridiculous.
4
I am deeply alarmed by the terrifying vision laid out by Malibu parent Craig Foster. He wants parents to be able to "put [their] money where [their] heart is," and insists that philanthropic appeals only work if they are "to the benefit of the donor." Putting aside the question of who benefits from a generally well-educated populace--namely, everyone--the idea that philanthropic actions are exclusively for the donor's own benefit is rooted in a deep, ugly selfishness. Does Craig Foster really only have room in his heart for children who sprang from his own loins? What a sad, small life he must lead.
18
highland park reaps a fortune from local property taxes before pta. highland park has elite, college level football and all manner of other sports, including things such as crew. truly a little bubble of white perfection surrounded by struggling dallas schools. and texas gov just voted to withhold state money from schools, leaving poor schools even poorer. i am disheartened to learn my cherished california practices the same selfish short-sighted arrogance.
7
I teach in Dallas ISD. The schools are struggling because of layers of corruption, waste, and financial opportunism within DISD, not because of budget cuts from the state.
Dallas ISD is also struggling because it adopts (and pays for) every single fad that comes along. Personalized learning (with expensive remodeling projects to create "program-aligned learning spaces", TFA, MAP testing (from Gates), meditation spaces, restorative justice--and all of these "require" district-funded trainings and visits to model schools, some of which are out of state. But extra teachers for reading remediation? No way! No money for that!
Instead, Highland Park invests heavily in creating neighborhood schools that kids can walk to. This builds community. They don't play racial or economic engineering games with families or staff. They don't allow TFA in or hucksters selling them expensive "choice" school plans that require kids to commute out of their own neighborhoods. Every school within walking distance of every child is excellent.
Sure, the people at the top don't get kickbacks or other perks. The kids just get a good, traditional education.
Dallas ISD is also struggling because it adopts (and pays for) every single fad that comes along. Personalized learning (with expensive remodeling projects to create "program-aligned learning spaces", TFA, MAP testing (from Gates), meditation spaces, restorative justice--and all of these "require" district-funded trainings and visits to model schools, some of which are out of state. But extra teachers for reading remediation? No way! No money for that!
Instead, Highland Park invests heavily in creating neighborhood schools that kids can walk to. This builds community. They don't play racial or economic engineering games with families or staff. They don't allow TFA in or hucksters selling them expensive "choice" school plans that require kids to commute out of their own neighborhoods. Every school within walking distance of every child is excellent.
Sure, the people at the top don't get kickbacks or other perks. The kids just get a good, traditional education.
2
Once again, Malibu's insufferable elitism rears its Gorgon-like head. Whether it's throwing up obstacles that discourage access to public beaches or denying a quality education to children outside its pristine confines, Malibu seems determined to reinforce its well-deserved reputation as a refuge for "let-them-eat-cake" deplorables. Don't be fooled by its pop-culture characterization as an enclave of Hollywood liberals -- separate and unequal schools would suit most of them just fine.
20
In my own experience I can tell which adults had better schools as children.
3
Here is a compromise solution (that may help to leave motivation to help your own school intact):
give 30-40% of all donations to the district - keep the rest in the school with a 10% optional earmark for community (afterschool, sports, arts) support.
give 30-40% of all donations to the district - keep the rest in the school with a 10% optional earmark for community (afterschool, sports, arts) support.
2
As the article noted, a few years back we in Palo alto shifted from school-based donations to district-wide donations. There was and still are a few grumblings, but the change has received general support. But there is one major difference between the PA school district and Malibu/Santa Monica: Our district is limited to one small city and all of the schools are within four miles of each other. PTA funds are different from tax revenues. Like it or not, donors to PTAs expect tangible benefits for themselves and their children -- who gives to a public school PTA when their kid has graduated or attends private school? Broad redistribution of PTA funds is not the answer to school funding concerns.
8
Why is it so hard to understand that raising children under an uneven system creates uneven opportunity and ability and means I will subsidize your life and the lives of your children in perpetuity. I don't think that is attributed to socialism or liberalism and yet I am both. Education is the foundation upon which everything else rests. If a districts parents can pay for a
Teachers salary, then let that teacher rotate among schools in the district. Malibu is so plush, they could probably find all
The schools in the district but they want to be selfish over this? Ugh
Teachers salary, then let that teacher rotate among schools in the district. Malibu is so plush, they could probably find all
The schools in the district but they want to be selfish over this? Ugh
7
Teacher rotation is routine in Japan; I think I read that teachers spend two to four years in a particular school, then are transferred. That way wealthy schools can't snap up the best teachers by offering higher salaries.
Also elementary schools in Japan, like those in Finland, set up each neighborhood school with the same equipment, books, etc. If parents want to give their kids extra, they do it outside the school framework; within that framework every kid gets the same thing.
Private inequality in this country is bad enough; when the school system itself is hooked into exacerbating it, that's tragic and immoral.
Also elementary schools in Japan, like those in Finland, set up each neighborhood school with the same equipment, books, etc. If parents want to give their kids extra, they do it outside the school framework; within that framework every kid gets the same thing.
Private inequality in this country is bad enough; when the school system itself is hooked into exacerbating it, that's tragic and immoral.
9
My daughters both attended PS 87 on the UWS. It's an amazing school filled with great kids who are lovingly supported by their parents. I gratefully donated to the PTA so that my daughters could receive more than that which the New York City DOE budget provided. Therein lies the problem. Our education system - which was once arguably the best in the world - currently ranks - depending on your source - somewhere between 4th and 14th. (I think we're closer to 14th). We need to find a way to innovate and improve our system. We need to be more like Singapore and Finland. We need to fund our children before we fund aircraft carriers. But to accuse middle class parents like us of not caring about the kids who are less privileged is just plain wrong. We work very hard to afford to live in areas that we live in so that our children are surrounded by kids and families who are like-minded and committed to their children. It's tough for many of us to dig into our pockets to donate to the PTA. Most of us are not wealthy. Some of the comments I've read here are frankly offensive. Don't blame the parents of the "haves" for the "have-nots" not receiving their due. We're doing our best. The fault lies elsewhere.
6
The fault always lies elsewhere, doesn't it?
4
I am baffled by the "bait and switch" tone of a number of comments. As if the contributors don't understand how their money will be distributed. No one is sneaking these donors' money into the hands of poorer schools. If you don't want to donate to a shared pool, then don't. Take your money and send your poor little rich kids to yoga, dance, and singing after school.
15
Prop 13 is at the root of this issue and allows many individuals and businesses to pay a pittance towards the greater good of public education. To point the finger at parents and say it's their job alone to pick up the slack across other schools (and if they don't it's selfish) seems to be re-directing from the core issue. Shouldn't this be a societal obligation not just sit on the backs of those with public school age children?
4
the selfishness of the rich is so despicable - no words
5
Hi Edda, as someone from the lower, middle income group I'd like to say that your comment on the rich is an unfair indictment. They like us pay taxes (in their case monetarily much more than we do) for government to provide resources. How they choose to spend the remainder is 100% their right which they should be able to do without judgement from others.
Messrs Gates & Rockefeller are not in your house on pay day telling you what you can or cannot spend your money on & jusging you for your choices - in the same vein, we should not be judging them or moralising on their choices.
If you believe in such a system, it has existed before - called communism & it failed.
Messrs Gates & Rockefeller are not in your house on pay day telling you what you can or cannot spend your money on & jusging you for your choices - in the same vein, we should not be judging them or moralising on their choices.
If you believe in such a system, it has existed before - called communism & it failed.
6
I have no problem with them spending their money in any private way. But to use it to exacerbate inequalities within the publicly funded school system that exists to serve every child equally is abhorrent.
3
That makes absolutely no sense. So philanthropy and sharing are communism? I'd like to speak to your kindergarten and preschool teachers because they obviously didn't teach you how to share.
1
I'm tired of our public school kids losing out on the arts, music and other courses in order to provide classes for ESL (English Second Language). They should be eliminated entirely. All kids in the US should be taught in English only. Why should our kids NOT be given a well rounded education and be denied what I think are very important classes, including an arts related curriculum?
Another thing, I was asked to pay $50/hour for math tutoring for my kid. So our average, middle of pack kids aren't given the little extra they may need. And we wonder why we are failing them? If he was a special needs or whatever there seems to be endless resources. For the average child, not so much.
Another thing, I was asked to pay $50/hour for math tutoring for my kid. So our average, middle of pack kids aren't given the little extra they may need. And we wonder why we are failing them? If he was a special needs or whatever there seems to be endless resources. For the average child, not so much.
16
Happily, we're not an "English only" country, though that could certainly change under the current regime.
2
AnnaT: If you don't learn English in our country you will always be left behind.
2
You obviously don't have any experience with special ed. Parents have to fight and even go to court for the basics. In fact Mr. Gorsuch, who now sits on our Supreme Court, once wrote an opinion that schools don't have an obligation to actually challenge special ed kids; it's enough to just move them through the system. And in Texas, I believe it was, a case was just settled where parents fought for the right their child to make actual visible progress rather than be babysat for a decade.
If your child is average, how is it that "we are failing them"? It is statistically impossible for all children to be above average -- unless you live in Lake Wobegon.
If your child is average, how is it that "we are failing them"? It is statistically impossible for all children to be above average -- unless you live in Lake Wobegon.
3
PTA and parent fundraising efforts are the biggest reason why there is no such thing in America as public education. Affluent parents find ways to (unwittingly) negotiate advantage in and privatize education for their children, even in a public system. Equally distribution across a district is the only reasonable approach. I understand that public education is underfunded and that parents want to contribute positively to their own child's school. But most donors do not understand the impact on the bigger system. Public schools are not art museum or symphonies.
It's a school board's job to see the bigger picture and to set policies that ensure that resources are distributed equitably for the benefit of all students.
It's a school board's job to see the bigger picture and to set policies that ensure that resources are distributed equitably for the benefit of all students.
8
Thank you for writing about this very important topic regarding the unseen levers of inequality in education. The added layer of technology investments being outside the scope of this general shared fund worries me. Tech is the future and all children should have equal access to it. I would love to see a follow-up article digging deeper into why technology was left off their list of things to be funded.
5
Integrate the whole system. Problem solved.
2
And watch a mass exodus of people with money and their businesses leave your state.
We have an economic system that produces a grossly unequal distribution of wealth and a diverse society that is still moved in powerful ways by racism. And if a kid is born into poverty AND has parents who either don't care or don't even know how to raise a child, we can spend a fortune on that kid and get nowhere.
I'd happily pay 10% more in taxes for programs that are designed to help kids and families when they are young and malleable. I like the CT system in that it focuses resources on kids whose parents take the initiative to enter lotteries for magnet schools. It is expensive and inequitable and insufficient, but at least it's a model that actually works for those it serves. Having grown up in an "equitable" model that looked virtuous and satisfied all legal standards and served nobody well, I've come to believe that we'll never fix intergenerational poverty unless we focus resources where they will have a meaningful effect.
We have an economic system that produces a grossly unequal distribution of wealth and a diverse society that is still moved in powerful ways by racism. And if a kid is born into poverty AND has parents who either don't care or don't even know how to raise a child, we can spend a fortune on that kid and get nowhere.
I'd happily pay 10% more in taxes for programs that are designed to help kids and families when they are young and malleable. I like the CT system in that it focuses resources on kids whose parents take the initiative to enter lotteries for magnet schools. It is expensive and inequitable and insufficient, but at least it's a model that actually works for those it serves. Having grown up in an "equitable" model that looked virtuous and satisfied all legal standards and served nobody well, I've come to believe that we'll never fix intergenerational poverty unless we focus resources where they will have a meaningful effect.
5
This article misses a critical point of why parents give to PTAs--they want more authority in their relationship with their schools. A big problem in California has been lack of accountability with public school districts. Tax dollars disappear into unknown expenditures; PTA dollars target specific needs. There is a correlation between schools with strong PTAs and academic performance, but it isn't due to just the amount of money parents are donating--it also demonstrates a committed majority of parents who want their students and school to succeed. If I was a parent in Santa Monica-Malibu, I'd completely understand those who don't want their donations spread out across the district.
8
Stop the presses! Rich people being stingy!
Talk about dog bites man.
Talk about dog bites man.
7
Separating Santa Monica from the more affluent Malibu won't help some parents anxiety that their generosity is (gasp) being shared. So then it would be school against school in Malibu. Then, it would eventually come to their child simply remembering to bring their own bag of cash into school, and not forgetting and leaving it in the Uber when they're dropped off.
10
The core of this issue always seems to wind up having a chunk of unacknowledged and unexpressed class and racial prejudices. a similar situation vis-a-vis school district boundaries is going on within my local school district. An "affluent" (i.e., rich, mostly white) portion of the district wants to split off because their "resources" (i.e., tax money) goes to a neighboring area that's mostly brown and black. That's what always seems to be the core. People who talk the talk, but never want to walk the walk, and that means I don't want to put my money where my mouth is. A second irony is that people are forever blaming "Prop. 13" for school funding woes. The reason given is that it suppresses property tax assessments...never mentioned is that other than inherited properties, any time a residential property is sold iin California, that property is reassessdd at market value. Prop 13 has been around since 1978. That's nearly 40 years of dealing with the same rules on property taxes. In my humble opinion, there are very few residential property owners who have lived in the same house or condo since the early to mid 1980s (before real estate values went nuts out here).
6
We live in a top school district, with many stay at home parents who make it a career of sorts to get involved in the local schools. Our schools are well funded, with a great amount of extra support. I hate that many locals fail to see how lucky we are, and there's constant anxiety about needing more, and more. Many of our "strongest parent supporters" don't see any value in sharing our plentiful gains with districts in Oakland, Martinez etc. Without excessive fund raising, our kids ALREADY have MANY huge advantages in life. If our district wanted to raise a million dollars to distribute to other schools in need, I would cheer. A million for ourselves? Come on! How far ahead do we need to feel? It's not just about "our kids". It's about all of us creating good future adults - and a lot of them. Give where the needs are greatest; not where it will stroke your ego, or soothe your parental anxiety about having a "leg up".
9
What is the point of being rich and prosperous if you can't see it yield something meaningful? Sure, enjoy the perks of wealth, but in the end the wealthy cannot escape the world around them. Those persons who cater to their comfort and enjoyment have children. And those children need to be educated.
5
not really public education is it?
hard to stop parents groups from supporting the schools their kids go to...on the one hand perks paid by affluent PTAs may enhance education, on the other, proven enhancements, explored in lab schools and proven by the experience of more affluent schools who can afford the advantage, ought to be implemented everywhere as part of the cost of public school, but not at the expense of the original investors...there is also the question of advancement of curriculum teaching and student achievement by PTAs and school boards near colleges and universities whose faculty contribute to the development and implementation of policy and standards, even suggestions and hands-on oversight of renovation and new construction (ergonomically, technically, etc.)...that, too, should be distributed to enhance the experience at all schools...perhaps the major factor in the equation is the institutionalization of inferiority by property taxes...and here's where we can go (rather than filching from the PTA) to fix things...let the federals, from when the the law requiring pubic education comes, ensure the equality of expenditure and its effects and let local property taxes (already extortionate) be reduced for local government operations and an adjusted federal income tax be applied to education, (in other words, equal opportunity), nationwide.
hard to stop parents groups from supporting the schools their kids go to...on the one hand perks paid by affluent PTAs may enhance education, on the other, proven enhancements, explored in lab schools and proven by the experience of more affluent schools who can afford the advantage, ought to be implemented everywhere as part of the cost of public school, but not at the expense of the original investors...there is also the question of advancement of curriculum teaching and student achievement by PTAs and school boards near colleges and universities whose faculty contribute to the development and implementation of policy and standards, even suggestions and hands-on oversight of renovation and new construction (ergonomically, technically, etc.)...that, too, should be distributed to enhance the experience at all schools...perhaps the major factor in the equation is the institutionalization of inferiority by property taxes...and here's where we can go (rather than filching from the PTA) to fix things...let the federals, from when the the law requiring pubic education comes, ensure the equality of expenditure and its effects and let local property taxes (already extortionate) be reduced for local government operations and an adjusted federal income tax be applied to education, (in other words, equal opportunity), nationwide.
A constant refrain of the right wing is, "get the gum'int out of the way, and private efforts will meet the needs of the needy."
This article is proves that to be a lie. Consistently, the wealthy (as a group) are the most selfish. That their dollars should help both their own little darling and some poor kid is offensive to them.
This article is proves that to be a lie. Consistently, the wealthy (as a group) are the most selfish. That their dollars should help both their own little darling and some poor kid is offensive to them.
7
Hi Mark, help me understand here - rich folks give money in a far greater monetary value which is allocated to various programs in which the one giving the money has no say in how it's spent - called taxes.
Why should these same folk who are now giving voluntarily to specific causes related to their kids have no say in how this is spent? Does being rich deprive them of their rights to decide? Besides which, what relevance does the poor kid have for richer PTA's in the first place?
This might seem callous, but I honestly don't see why there is a perception that the rich must subsidise everyone who doesn't have the same privilege.
For the record, I am lower middle class & don't believe I am entitled to anything - still waiting for the letter saying life is fair.
Why should these same folk who are now giving voluntarily to specific causes related to their kids have no say in how this is spent? Does being rich deprive them of their rights to decide? Besides which, what relevance does the poor kid have for richer PTA's in the first place?
This might seem callous, but I honestly don't see why there is a perception that the rich must subsidise everyone who doesn't have the same privilege.
For the record, I am lower middle class & don't believe I am entitled to anything - still waiting for the letter saying life is fair.
5
I don't have a problem with rich parents giving their kids whatever they think their precious darlings need to keep them advantaged above the rest -- in any private context. But when they use their money to increase inequalities within a publicly funded school system whose purpose, which is not yet achieved, is to give all kids an equal and appropriate education, that morally and ethically appalling.
3
@Donavin:
I didn't say anything about the "rights" of anybody.
I said that the right-wing myth that private giving can somehow replace what governments do is a filthy lie.
The selfishness of these selfish pigs (who have every right to be selfish pigs) is a shining example.
I didn't say anything about the "rights" of anybody.
I said that the right-wing myth that private giving can somehow replace what governments do is a filthy lie.
The selfishness of these selfish pigs (who have every right to be selfish pigs) is a shining example.
Very disappointed to hear this about Malibu parents.
1
I've had enough with school fundraisers and especially the idea that teachers have to buy supplies out of their own pockets. All of this is done to protect school administrators, boards of education and local politicians from revealing the true cost of public education and how our tax money is mismanaged.
In my own area, where school taxes are among the highest in the nation, fundraising is used to make up for the fact that district finances are not well-managed and local boards of education refuse to oppose outrageously rich compensation packages for both administrators and teachers. Around here, school superintendents get compensation packages well into the six figures annually, with lavish retirement benefits and lifetime health coverage. The taxpayers give them luxury cars to ride around districts of only a few square miles. The average teacher is much better paid than the average taxpayer supporting the district.
When school budgets need to be cut, the first things eliminated are sports, music or other educational programs. Administrators and teachers are asked to sacrifice nothing. And then, on top of that, the parents are expected to give even more to bring back some of these programs.
It's about time we bring some private sector efficiencies into our public schools.
In my own area, where school taxes are among the highest in the nation, fundraising is used to make up for the fact that district finances are not well-managed and local boards of education refuse to oppose outrageously rich compensation packages for both administrators and teachers. Around here, school superintendents get compensation packages well into the six figures annually, with lavish retirement benefits and lifetime health coverage. The taxpayers give them luxury cars to ride around districts of only a few square miles. The average teacher is much better paid than the average taxpayer supporting the district.
When school budgets need to be cut, the first things eliminated are sports, music or other educational programs. Administrators and teachers are asked to sacrifice nothing. And then, on top of that, the parents are expected to give even more to bring back some of these programs.
It's about time we bring some private sector efficiencies into our public schools.
10
That's not true. My sister has worked for a school district in GA for more than a decade. In between furlough days, cuts to benefits, and going for years without any raises or cost of living adjustments she makes less than she made when she started teaching there.
Right. Business models always work for health care and education, don't they?
2
Interesting observations. For all the appetite for national academic standards, there has not been a parallel call for school board audit requirements! Or county or district board of ed financial guidelines. How to manage the physical plant of a small city district can be dull and not obvious, voters didn't respond, and over the course of a decade where I live the board made shortsighted choices. They are still in financial straits. The forces that be are happy for the teachers and their unions to take the blame though.
If wealthy parents want to contribute to poorer schools, they can do so. I imagine many will. Wealthy parents who want to contribute to the schools of their own children's school should be permitted to do that also. Coerced charity isn't charity and social engineering is nonsense.
6
After reading this article, it's hard to see how anyone would imagine that the wealthy would give voluntarily to schools not educating the fruits of their own loins.
3
I am a retired educator (public school). I have long seen the differences in schools due to the influence of PTA's. When I worked at a very low income school, we had parents w/no cars who would walk on field trips with us. We couldn't afford the bus costs for the trips. Many of our parents were involved with donating their time to help. Money was simply not there to give. One mother who always helped, worked two full-time jobs (McDonalds and Dunkin Donuts).
I ended up going back for a masters degree and did an internship at the wealthiest school in our large district. It was like culture shock when I went into a restroom with potpourri and special little soaps that was nicely decorated. I also listened as some volunteers complained about "some of the kids" who were bused in since their parents never bought the high priced gift wrap that was the current fund raiser. I tried to gently give them a clue, that if the parents could not afford gifts for Christmas they couldn't afford gift wrap. The response was "well they can sell it to their relatives and friends"...
I am still puzzled about where the volunteers thought their friends and relatives might live!!! Sometimes the divide is so great that the ones who have enough and more, haven't got a clue what being without means. And it does not usually equate with laziness...
I have long thought that a portion of PTA funds should be shared across the school districts. All children need the best education that we can manage.
I ended up going back for a masters degree and did an internship at the wealthiest school in our large district. It was like culture shock when I went into a restroom with potpourri and special little soaps that was nicely decorated. I also listened as some volunteers complained about "some of the kids" who were bused in since their parents never bought the high priced gift wrap that was the current fund raiser. I tried to gently give them a clue, that if the parents could not afford gifts for Christmas they couldn't afford gift wrap. The response was "well they can sell it to their relatives and friends"...
I am still puzzled about where the volunteers thought their friends and relatives might live!!! Sometimes the divide is so great that the ones who have enough and more, haven't got a clue what being without means. And it does not usually equate with laziness...
I have long thought that a portion of PTA funds should be shared across the school districts. All children need the best education that we can manage.
14
“We would do just fine” if Malibu became its own district, Karen Clark, treasurer of the Cabrillo PTA said. “The Malibu community would be very generous.”
Ms. Clark, it is not generosity when you give to yourself. Generosity, is when you give to others. I give $100 each year to my granddaughter's school and then rise a huge amount - but I am glad that New York City requires them to share with other public schools in the neighborhood. Some schools struggle to raise a few hundred dollars with bake sales.
Ms. Clark, it is not generosity when you give to yourself. Generosity, is when you give to others. I give $100 each year to my granddaughter's school and then rise a huge amount - but I am glad that New York City requires them to share with other public schools in the neighborhood. Some schools struggle to raise a few hundred dollars with bake sales.
7
I am astounded that these wealthy parents feel that their children are losing out when they can well afford the frills without using PTA donations. Are these PTA donations tax deductible? If so they are getting a double bonus. And what is so awful about teaching your children good values, that those who have plenty should try to lift up those who don't, rather than only doing what benefits oneself? Do they ever ask themselves how much is enough? And if it is never enough for them, they may be monetarily wealthy, but they are psychologically and morally impoverished.
4
When it comes to educating children, most people contribute at multiple levels. There are municipal taxes and state taxes, which are inherently equalizing across the town and the state. At the individual school, anything funded by through a PTA type of organization is equalizing across the school population, and there are usually groups with a school that provide for athletes, musicians and the like. Even within a family there is equalization, since not all children need the same things.
Speaking for myself, if there's going to be equalization across a school district, then I want it done at the municipal level through school taxes, where there are valuations and assessments and appeals and enforcement to ensure that everyone is paying their agreed share, along with public accounting, elected representatives, union contracts and all these other fine things we have evolved over the years (and which barely work as it is). I wouldn't want it done at the PTA level through an opaque "educational foundation", no matter how noble its proclaimed objectives.
Speaking for myself, if there's going to be equalization across a school district, then I want it done at the municipal level through school taxes, where there are valuations and assessments and appeals and enforcement to ensure that everyone is paying their agreed share, along with public accounting, elected representatives, union contracts and all these other fine things we have evolved over the years (and which barely work as it is). I wouldn't want it done at the PTA level through an opaque "educational foundation", no matter how noble its proclaimed objectives.
3
This is just another variation of the conservative ideal that once you've made it financially, you should pull up the ladder on the lifeboat so that the less fortunate don't receive the same benefits.
I'm sure the rich folks of Malibu could easily afford a few bucks for a poorer school in Santa Monica without breaking a sweat. And yet here they are, among the most fortunate people on earth, and still resentful at sending a few dollars to some middle-class or poor kids. They sound like the people who enjoy a good meal at a restaurant and then leave the working-class waiter a 12% tip.
I'm sure the rich folks of Malibu could easily afford a few bucks for a poorer school in Santa Monica without breaking a sweat. And yet here they are, among the most fortunate people on earth, and still resentful at sending a few dollars to some middle-class or poor kids. They sound like the people who enjoy a good meal at a restaurant and then leave the working-class waiter a 12% tip.
10
Class of 1980 Flushing H.S. graduate here. Bayside H.S. had a swimming pool, etc., while we didn't even have toilet paper in the bathrooms, much less other programs many American high school students take for granted. Who can say there isn't discrimination due to class in this country's educational system? If all educational funds were spread evenly, not just by state, but nationally, there would be an immediate outcry for increased educational funding. It seems that for a lot of Americans 'equality' only applies to one's own kind. I have never regretted choosing Flushing High over Bayside because nothing shows you reality like experience. I am glad to see that NYC has made so much improvement in educational choices for students.
4
one of the most important tasks a parent has is to determine the best way for their children to grow up. this includes schooling which includes a peer group. while it is likely that peer group friends become less important or unimportant in adulthood, they shape one's character and attitudes, and affect one's entire life.
I would not sacrifice my children on any altar, even the altar of social justice. the American system of local school support is seriously flawed from a wider perspective, but most individuals live their lives locally.
I do support improving the system, just like I support improving the food system but I continue to eat what I think best for my body. While you eat whatever you want, I prefer to improve the food system for everyone because in an indirect way, I have to pay for your mistakes. But I’m not going to make your body healthier at the expense of my own health.
I’m glad that I can avoid cigarette smoke in many places. I don’t care about the political theories that support your right to smoke in my presence. I don’t care about the political theories that justify you running stop signs and red lights either.
I would not sacrifice my children on any altar, even the altar of social justice. the American system of local school support is seriously flawed from a wider perspective, but most individuals live their lives locally.
I do support improving the system, just like I support improving the food system but I continue to eat what I think best for my body. While you eat whatever you want, I prefer to improve the food system for everyone because in an indirect way, I have to pay for your mistakes. But I’m not going to make your body healthier at the expense of my own health.
I’m glad that I can avoid cigarette smoke in many places. I don’t care about the political theories that support your right to smoke in my presence. I don’t care about the political theories that justify you running stop signs and red lights either.
2
In what way is sharing PTA funds among other less wealthy schools in any remote way equatable to "mak[ing] your body healthier at the expense of my own"?
Don't these wealthy parents have the perfect right to shower their wealth on their own kids outside of school, on yoga or Mandarin or what have you? Don't their kids ALREADY attend excellent schools?
Don't these wealthy parents have the perfect right to shower their wealth on their own kids outside of school, on yoga or Mandarin or what have you? Don't their kids ALREADY attend excellent schools?
I read this article just after reading the obituary for educational philanthropist Eugene Lang, who sponsored scholarship programs and educational support for students from underprivileged backgrounds. Alas, he was the exception, while the parents in Malibu are more the rule.
6
Let's be realistic. There needs to be some incentive for parents to donate their time and money to schools. Usually it has to do with the fact that their own kids go there, and they want to ensure that the experience is as enriching as possible.
My father had cancer, and I donated to the hospital that treated him and to cancer research. Does that make my donation tainted because my motives were personal, instead of globally altruistic at the time? Regardless if those donations ended up helping someone else at least a little?
If enough parents want an after school yoga program and they are willing to pay for it, then they should be able to have one. To say they are stingy and ungenerous because they don't want to ( maybe can't) fund 10 other after school programs around the district before they can have one for their own school isn't right.
There are lots of great causes to support. Environmental problems, diseases to cure, refugees to help. The more money you have, the more causes are brought to your attention.
These PTAs are lucky to capture the attention and support of such donors. And she's right: donors want to see their dollars in action. I would be distrustful if I gave $2000 to support an after school program and after 2 years there's still no program or only a token one to shut me up. And their donations do help poorer kids. Do they help them as much as their own kids? That's an entirely different beast.
My father had cancer, and I donated to the hospital that treated him and to cancer research. Does that make my donation tainted because my motives were personal, instead of globally altruistic at the time? Regardless if those donations ended up helping someone else at least a little?
If enough parents want an after school yoga program and they are willing to pay for it, then they should be able to have one. To say they are stingy and ungenerous because they don't want to ( maybe can't) fund 10 other after school programs around the district before they can have one for their own school isn't right.
There are lots of great causes to support. Environmental problems, diseases to cure, refugees to help. The more money you have, the more causes are brought to your attention.
These PTAs are lucky to capture the attention and support of such donors. And she's right: donors want to see their dollars in action. I would be distrustful if I gave $2000 to support an after school program and after 2 years there's still no program or only a token one to shut me up. And their donations do help poorer kids. Do they help them as much as their own kids? That's an entirely different beast.
48
Your gifts helped patients other than your father. You gave knowing this. These Malibu parents want their "gifts" to benefit only their children, or those like them. It's appalling to see an organization designed to create partnerships for the betterment of children devolve into a super PAC.
3
Time for property tax reform in California. Isn't it high time California turns back Howard Jarvis's prop 13? It was a bad idea in 1978 and basically needs to be canned. State funding of schools should be equalized in every state. It is in Oregon. Doesn't matter how much you pay personally in property tax for your local school district because the state formula equalizes funding.
3
But what if an individual PTA at a school raised money for something they wanted, like a dance class? Would they be allowed to do so? Would they have to share the money? That's the issue here.
I chose to send my children to Edison. Before my kids attended this school I had a similar attitude as many of the commenters - that the children who didn't do as well in school must have uninvolved parents. That is not the case here. Many of these parents work two jobs and still help out. Edison has always had an amazing community. The parents help with everything - from attending field trips to raising money for the annual fifth graders' trip to Catalina. The disparities in educational success in our district fall along socioeconomic lines. Poor children whose parents do not have a college education need more help to catch up with the kids who have college educated parents, especially when the family speaks another language at home. Programs such as pre-k, reading specialists and after school help these children succeed. I can understand why parents want their hard work to benefit their own school but it gets a little ridiculous here. One Franklin parent compared education to purses. We can afford a Fendi bag, you buy what you can afford - Coach. Oh, and ballroom dancing is only done for a few months in PE and it's adorable.
17
Being selfish has never paid dividends to anyone. There are thousans of years of history that backup that statement of fact.
10
I did much fundraising in Santa Monica/ Malibu. Overlooked by the article is not just the abilty to write checks, but the volunteer labor supplied by the more wealthy schools, in classrooms and especially in the volunteer hours required for fund-raising efforts. SMMUSD's Education Foundation botched the opportunity to create a strong district-wide identity (as other cities have done successfully), which would have increased the psychic satisfaction and financial effectiveness of fund-raising corps the schools, and the "one pool" effort, depend on.
4
We are not all equal. Work FOR your kids, and don't abandon them to the largess of strangers.
5
Who is abandoning kids to the largesse of strangers? Parents in poorer districts volunteer in many ways even if they don't have the financial means or the contacts to do fund-raising on the scale of the wealthy. It hardly means they are abandoning their kids.
And why not work for ALL children to have the same wonderful opportunities and resources?
And why not work for ALL children to have the same wonderful opportunities and resources?
2
Parents who are well-off begrudge the use of their dollars to help some poorer kid's school? What a disgusting lesson for both rich and poor kids to learn.
16
If they keep pushing the parents to give big contributions which are then shared among other schools, eventually, the parents will get tired of the system and send their children to private schools. Then there will be no parents to hold up for "donations" that don't benefit their own children.
I grew up in a wealthy school district and I remember my elementary school principal saying that we were benefiting from the extras our district provides. The alternative is to demote all school districts to mediocrity. What benefit is that?
Poorer children are exposed to fewer words than wealthier children which has a large impact on their education. They should start by educating the parents about talking and reading to their kids. The language they use doesn't matter. Talk is free and will make a big difference to their kids' future. Don't "tax" the richer kids out of the school system; that will not improve education.
I grew up in a wealthy school district and I remember my elementary school principal saying that we were benefiting from the extras our district provides. The alternative is to demote all school districts to mediocrity. What benefit is that?
Poorer children are exposed to fewer words than wealthier children which has a large impact on their education. They should start by educating the parents about talking and reading to their kids. The language they use doesn't matter. Talk is free and will make a big difference to their kids' future. Don't "tax" the richer kids out of the school system; that will not improve education.
6
Thank you for printing this important article. I live in San Diego and have been fortunate that my children attended schools in affluent neighborhoods where PTA donations were in the millions; note, that these children already came from financially enriched homes. However, most of my co-workers, living in financially challenged areas, did not garner the same benefits for their children. This system corrupts the basis of public education, intended to ensure all children access to the "American Dream". Instead, we reinforce great inequities, profound disparities in our country. Shame on parents who don't wish to elevate all children; an act that benefits us all.
19
This article reminds me of the book (and TV series) "Big Little Lies". Art imitating life.
4
Almost all parents will do more to assure - or try to assure - their own offspring's success. The buy educational games and pay for tutoring, and lessons, and enroll them in private schools which provide top educations. They may give to charities, but in general are not going to subsidized other children's education. Giving to their school PTA is another way of doing this, but more community minded.
The amazing thing about these schools is that some parents once actually worked to pool resources, showing awareness of the discrepancies and willingness to share, strengthening all residents of the communities.
Charitable giving should never be the last resort for funding teacher's salaries and programs beyond the absolute basics.
I don't know what the outcome will be, but hope that the original agreement remains.
The amazing thing about these schools is that some parents once actually worked to pool resources, showing awareness of the discrepancies and willingness to share, strengthening all residents of the communities.
Charitable giving should never be the last resort for funding teacher's salaries and programs beyond the absolute basics.
I don't know what the outcome will be, but hope that the original agreement remains.
3
People keep saying education is right. Maybe they don't say it here, but they often say it when education (reform) is discussed. is that literally true? is education a right enshrined by constitutional law? People throw around the word "right" too easily. I don't have a right to be loved by others. I don't have a right to be liked.
2
Many states have their own constitutions. For example, North Carolina's constitution guarantees a right to " a free, appropriate education" to every child.
Sometimes, our constitution misses some rights. Notably, it left out slavery. Education is a necessity to live a good life in America, and should be treated as a right.
1
You don't have a right to be liked or loved, and perhaps you're not. However in California and most if not all other states the state constitution gives all of its children a right to education.
2
The Credit Suisse guy said it all,"...it has to be for the benefit of the donor." Talking about getting it backwards.
22
My guess is that most of the parents of children at PS 87 on the UWS are college-educated professionals who want to live in New York City, but cannot afford $40,000 per year to send their children to a private school, not after have to pay $5,000 per month in rent or $1.2 million for a two bedroom apartment, on top of college or graduate school loans.
The $1.5 million they raise together is spent in the hope that their children can get some of the experiences that can typically only come from attending private school while attending a New York City public school.
The $1.5 million they raise together is spent in the hope that their children can get some of the experiences that can typically only come from attending private school while attending a New York City public school.
6
If the affluent parents are so displeased, why not come up with an acceptable percentage of PTA money that would stay in one's school (20%? 45%?) and pool the rest for the benefit of all?
No solution would satisfy everyone, but perhaps a compromise can improve the system rather then break it.
And a side note: public education should be well funded. Period. Through the federal level. For EVERYONE. It is disgusting billions are spent on first family lavish expenses. And on missiles that bomb... let's not get into that right now.
No solution would satisfy everyone, but perhaps a compromise can improve the system rather then break it.
And a side note: public education should be well funded. Period. Through the federal level. For EVERYONE. It is disgusting billions are spent on first family lavish expenses. And on missiles that bomb... let's not get into that right now.
19
a completely reasonable solution.
1
So that I get this right, PTA monies are donations, not a tax or fee or other type of assessment, correct? So what's the big deal? Malibu residents give to their PTA for use in their district. Why is it that the left wing liberals think they have a right to other peoples wealth? We're not a socialist country, there are divisions of wealth and education. America is never going to be of one class. Get over it.
14
How very Christian. All for my child. None for yours. They way our government is going too.
3
I'll probably regret replying, but the point is that if PTA donations are sizable enough to pay a teachers salary then the entire basis for equal education is at risk. Personally I want all the kids everywhere to have the best education they can possibly get including art and music. If you don't like that and can afford it then you are free to send your child to a private school where they will get the education you want them to get, but which may not include English, life skills, the arts, science, or technology. I want children to step out of school ready to earn a basic living or ready to go on to higher education. Otherwise I will be paying to subsidize their lives forever. I hope that sounds liberal enough.
5
With respect, I think there is a miscommunication at work here. In Tennessee the children of the wealthiest Americans are not sharing a school district with working class ones. When you live an area where very poor children are literally down the road from the children of billionaires, it is impossible for anyone with a heart to look the other way. Its not socialism, its recognition that in the past 30 years, the wealth of this country has been strategically stolen by the very rich.
2
Society it is not perfect, and often those that become wealthy benefit from those that are not as rich. Many of the reasons are that they are had opportunity to get better EDUCATION, they are successful in their business etc, or they inhere money. Those who are able to raise more money because their wealth feel compel to distribute their donations with other less fortunate. However often many claim to be good Christians, but they do not seem to understand one of the principles of Christianty. Additionally if they are able to educate better all their children in their school district by sharing, they will be creating a better society for their children that they "CARE" so much. Their families are benefiting from these donations. Yes as many have written, the problem it is the education system, more than the teachers I blame the administrators. I have proposed that the PTA demand accountability in a constant basis to the administrators and ask for proven justifications for their decisions. Many of them never benefit the children. Their is the main problem of education in America. The more disparity in education the more problems to society. Look at those countries with high crime, poverty. What is their level of education and productivity? Slowly but surely with are moving in that direction with the present administration.
3
I live in an affluent but diverse town that has lower income areas and schools. When my children attended one of the “wealthy” elementary schools, I thought 20% or 30% of the funds raised by all the PTA’s should have gone to a pool to be redistributed to schools with less affluent parents. It seems to me that part of the problem in Malibu/Santa Monica is that parents feel they lose control of the money once it is donated. Knowing beforehand exactly how much of your contribution will go to your child's school – and it should be a majority of it – would likely ease the conflict substantially.
6
We underestimate the basic tribal instincts of human beings at our peril. The money at issue here is trifling compared to the larger trend: Cities accommodating development that isolates rich people and poor people and then provides different schools for each.
It's difficult to build apartments in rich school districts. In my upper middle class city, every proposal draws many angry comments from I've-got-mine parents who want to know, "How many kids is this going to put in the school district.?"
If you have to buy an $800,000 house to get your child into the schools you prefer, then it's not really a public school district, is it?
It's difficult to build apartments in rich school districts. In my upper middle class city, every proposal draws many angry comments from I've-got-mine parents who want to know, "How many kids is this going to put in the school district.?"
If you have to buy an $800,000 house to get your child into the schools you prefer, then it's not really a public school district, is it?
16
In the Franklin School area of Santa Monica you could not buy a home for less than $1.6 million. A 2 bedroom condo would cost $1.2 million.
1
Interestingly, a good number of parents at the NYC school you mention, PS87, wanted to do a revenue-share with other district schools. Amid surprising pushback, they ultimately just formed a group to just give directly to a high-need district school. Throughout the city, parents shave off a small part of the gift to their own well-funded schools and give it directly to a school in need; even long after their children have graduated, the latter donations sometimes continue.
5
Studies show that PTA dollars do not impact student outcomes. The low performing districts spend more per student than many wealthy districts and the lack of instructional quality and lower student engagement are the culprits.
6
“It has to be an emotional appeal, and it has to be for the benefit of the donor.”
I didn't realize donations were for the benefit of the donor. I thought we donated for the greater good.
I didn't realize donations were for the benefit of the donor. I thought we donated for the greater good.
17
Exactly.
1
This is a thing they do, they being the financial industry paper pusher number cruncher millionaires; they take an authoritative tone to tell a lie as if it is a fact that we regular folks don't understand. It absolutely gets my goat.
1
These parents are distressing. Having had kids in both private and public school (and preferring the latter) one of the great gifts of public education is that your kids imbibe the lesson that we're all in this together. If all of the debate or soccer team can't go to the tournament because some can't afford it, then nobody goes.
9
People commenting seem to think the rich are not paying their taxes. The rich paying taxes. And much of those taxes are diverted to school districts with poor students. And school districts with poor students often receive as much or more per student than school districts with rich students. The school districts with poorer students receive more state and federal funding.
The difference is that school districts with poor students need more money because they provide more resources and services to poor students.
So it is a question of how much the rich should spend on other people's children - not whether they spend anything.
The difference is that school districts with poor students need more money because they provide more resources and services to poor students.
So it is a question of how much the rich should spend on other people's children - not whether they spend anything.
14
But Prop 13's impact on property taxes in California has cast a long shadow, and has implications for the $/student allocation in "rich" and "poor" districts alike. So your comment doesn't necessarily hold true in this state.
4
Inequality in school funding is a huge problem. The PTA situation just makes it clear. In Orange County, Florida, a few years ago, donations from the PTA were used to build a covered area on the playground of an elementary school. That's a great amenity in this climate. However, another elementary school used its PTA donations for an even better amenity: paper and pencils.
9
It's not inequality of funding. Every state where I have lived has topped up funding to poor schools, often spending 50 to 80 percent more on schools in poor neighborhoods, without getting better results.
The bigger problem is social isolation. Children benefit from seeing how other people live. The children of highly educated parents and intact families will understand their good fortune if they attend schools with poor children who have chaotic family lives. There also will be benefits for the poor children, including academic challenge and exposure to traditional families and mentorship programs like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, which may inform those students' goals and decisions as they grow into adulthood.
The bigger problem is social isolation. Children benefit from seeing how other people live. The children of highly educated parents and intact families will understand their good fortune if they attend schools with poor children who have chaotic family lives. There also will be benefits for the poor children, including academic challenge and exposure to traditional families and mentorship programs like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, which may inform those students' goals and decisions as they grow into adulthood.
2
The political messaging which has become dominant about our public schools is extremely selfish. The fundamental ideal that all of society benefits by a well educated populace has been sidelined. The notion of schooling as a public good has been replaced by an ideology that some kids deserve more and others just need to make do with less. Charter and voucher advocates advance the idea of the money following the child in order to take money from the public schools which serve all to re-direct funds to schools of choice - i.e., schools which choose which students they will educate.
I'm sure the residents of Malibu enjoy their expansive homes, pleasant shops and well-kept streets. Why don't they feel that the children of their gardeners, drivers, housekeepers, cleaning ladies and maintainence men deserve the same rich, diverse educational experiences as their own children, like ballroom dancing in the third and fourth grade?
I'm sure the residents of Malibu enjoy their expansive homes, pleasant shops and well-kept streets. Why don't they feel that the children of their gardeners, drivers, housekeepers, cleaning ladies and maintainence men deserve the same rich, diverse educational experiences as their own children, like ballroom dancing in the third and fourth grade?
28
This might be because we have don't have a uniform idea of what being well-educated means. I used to teach college literature. I've read about the culture wars and the curriculum wars. For my part, I think Shakespeare is a much better writer than Maya Angelou. Is King Lear more relevant than I know Why the Caged Bird sings? I am not sure, but I absolutely and without question think that reading Hamlet, The Great Gatsby, and John Keats will do more to improve intelligence than reading 'Zami.' I have not studied education in the Nordic countries, but I imagine that the school curriculum in Sweden or Norway is probably rather canonical, conservative, and homogenous. America is wildly split on pedagogical philosophy. I tend to believe that learning English, math, science, and history will be of the most benefit to ALL American students.
How do we defined "well-educated"?
How do we defined "well-educated"?
3
Because they are selfish and greedy and socialized to believe that their good fortune is solely a result of their own superior talents and efforts. This has been the conservative mantra for generations. Homes in Malibu cost millions of dollars but the opponents of pooling resources feel they cannot afford to share and shouldn't be forced to.
I find it amusing that so many commenters assume that the people referred to in the article are liberal. As someone who actually lives in California and is from an affluent area, I can assure those who aren't from California that even Malibu has plenty of conservatives.
13
My child went to McKinley Elementary in Santa Monica for 2 years--one of the Title 1 schools. In Kindergarten he didn't have music classes, althotthe students at Franklin did, because their PTA paid for it and at the time there was no pooling of PTA donations. The problem is that the PTA had to pay for art, music, TAs, basically any enrichment at all. If that wasn't the case then this wouldn't be an issue. Although we are solidly middle class we could never have afforded to live in Franklin's district. We also appreciated McKinley's diversity. Yet the district is not as wonderful as it's made out to be. It wasn't worth it to stay for the schools. We finally wished up, moved out, bought a house, and were lucky enough to place our child in a charter with a progressive educational model, committed teachers, and plenty of enrichment.
4
This article is right on target. We keep hearing "failing schools" and attribute this to racism (as we divert tax $ to charter schools). The logical solution is to equally distribute all $ to all schools, which means PTA funds should go into one pot which is divided among all schools. To continue sweetening an "affluent" school's pot with PTA $, while a "failing" school has no similar largesse defeats the purpose of public schools, which were established to provide equal educational opportunity to all students.
7
You do understand that once parents can no longer directly see the results of their voluntary contributions that many or maybe even most will stop giving them? The program will die under the banner of equality.
2
Of course I understand this. Selfishness (wanting one's own progeny to benefit while the less-affluent children of others languish) is a traditional motivator. Public schools are not the place for private benefit for a lucky few. If parents want to see the "results of their voluntary contributions," they can voluntarily contribute to private schools for their own children, without benefit of taxpayer subsidies.
2
I doubt that all but a few of the more affluent residents deliberately set out to see others languish. Please remember, while the more affluent might be voluntarily providing resources to their local school PTA, they're also paying a lot of income tax to the state that the state extracts under the threat of prison to fund programs in less affluent public school districts.
What's next, expecting people to give up cars, homes, whatever? Sorry, as much as I am an advocate for public education, I say the people in Malibu are not responsible for the schools in Santa Monica. This creates a parasitic relationship and likely resentment, not good for those in need in the long run. Malibu is disgusting in its unabashed greed, but even so, it's not responsible for schools 23 miles away.
And sorry, but the murals of not-white people are just irritating at this point. What's the message there - we'll take your money but not your kind? By all means paint Chavez, but why not Ansel Adams? Lucille Ball? Why not inspire rather than separate?
And sorry, but the murals of not-white people are just irritating at this point. What's the message there - we'll take your money but not your kind? By all means paint Chavez, but why not Ansel Adams? Lucille Ball? Why not inspire rather than separate?
19
Poor under-represented white people...no holidays for us, no history about us, no murals that depict us. Murals depicting non-white people irritating you? Get over it. Or check yourself as to why it irritates you. A self examined life...
2
"The murals of not white people are just irritating"? Are you serious? You know what's more than "irritating"? Growing up without seeing any positive representations of yourself.
4
The reason for those murals at Edison Language Academy is because it is a Spanish immersion school. In Kindergarten the classes are (more or less) 100% taught in Spanish. That amount decreases roughly 10% each year until 5th grade is roughly 50% Spanish and 50% English. The kids go on to middle and high school with an immersion track.
2
"Giving is not giving back. It is not quid pro quo. Giving is self fulfillment." - Eugene Lang.
Sadly, Eugene Lang's life story is not required reading for some in the Malibu PTA.
Sadly, Eugene Lang's life story is not required reading for some in the Malibu PTA.
9
The hypocrisy on both sides of "liberal elite" and "bitter conservatives" in these comments are staggering, if not laughable. The liberals are all kumbayah, pro-immigration, sharing is caring - until it's not. The conservatives (who, btw, hire just as many illegals as their wealthy liberal brethren) are all "Hey, our patron saint Ayn Rand said we should just let the PTA market adjust according to ability to pay." Meanwhile, parents and children at geographically isolated rural school districts and Indian reservations are rolling their eyes at the not-so-thinly-veiled classism and racism that no $15,000 check can hide. Seriously, get over yourselves.
8
Distribute the money! The alternative might look like Louisville Kentucky where forced busing is the order of the day. Diversity is far more important than education in this city. It is the only city in the country left where children are transported all over a large are. Where resources are wasted on fuel and man power. So learn from Louisville. Give your money to the poor schools or face what the people in Louisville have to deal with.
4
How strange that I attended Elementary schools in both cities.
Parents who value education will always find a way to give their children more than the average, whether it's donating money for SMART boards at the schools, providing enrichment learning opportunities over the summer, or private tutoring to reduce the tension between parent and child stressing out as they try to figure out Common Core/Everyday Math, Googling "how to" videos. Involved parents of lesser means may only donate $20 to the fundraiser, but many volunteer when they can, show up to conferences, and get online at the library or using free WiFi at the cafe to figure out why their son is struggling with reading. How communities make up for parents overwhelmed by the chronic stress of their lives, I don't know. What's fair? Sending 60 percent of your school dollars out of district but having private fundraising and a public school development director to raise money for things all the kids in the district benefit from? What numbers make sense?
I just think if you can afford $150 yoga pants, you might want to try feeling good as you buy the $35 ones. And I think spending a little more time at the school actually working with and getting to know "those" kids whose parents are behind on the lunch bill is a good idea. You might be surprised at what the kids themselves contribute to your child's education. Diversity. Inclusion. These things have value beyond SMART boards.
I just think if you can afford $150 yoga pants, you might want to try feeling good as you buy the $35 ones. And I think spending a little more time at the school actually working with and getting to know "those" kids whose parents are behind on the lunch bill is a good idea. You might be surprised at what the kids themselves contribute to your child's education. Diversity. Inclusion. These things have value beyond SMART boards.
5
“We would do just fine” if Malibu became its own district, she said. “The Malibu community would be very generous.”
In other words, Malibu residents would be very generous if only their "donations" benefited their children exclusively. Selfish is the word that comes to mind here.
In other words, Malibu residents would be very generous if only their "donations" benefited their children exclusively. Selfish is the word that comes to mind here.
15
“Kids that come from needier backgrounds need more money,” she said.
So essentially, this lady doesn't want equal opportunities for all kids in the district. She wants MORE money funneled to the poor kids. I can see why the wealthier parents might have a problem with this, especially if they know that more money does NOT necessarily improve outcomes.
Here in St. Louis, the district that gets the most tax money per pupil is also one of the worst performing in the state. I know there are many more examples like this across the country.
So essentially, this lady doesn't want equal opportunities for all kids in the district. She wants MORE money funneled to the poor kids. I can see why the wealthier parents might have a problem with this, especially if they know that more money does NOT necessarily improve outcomes.
Here in St. Louis, the district that gets the most tax money per pupil is also one of the worst performing in the state. I know there are many more examples like this across the country.
6
It's one thing to spread tax money across a wider base than it is collected from (see Texas' schools philosophy on that). It's quite another to take personal donations and divert them from the intended beneficiary. If we take this philosophy to other areas, I'll be expecting that our community symphony will shortly be receiving checks from well endowed big city groups like the New York Philharmonic.
One of the benefits of personal charity is to support causes that you have a personal interest in. Removing privately raised funds from the intended beneficiary is getting awfully close to robbery.
One of the benefits of personal charity is to support causes that you have a personal interest in. Removing privately raised funds from the intended beneficiary is getting awfully close to robbery.
78
It's one school district in which all the schools ultimately feed into two high schools. Why wouldn't you want the best educated freshman class every single year in your high school? How narrowly or broadly do you define personal interest?
Also, this was proposed and passed, not decreed. They need only replace the board members in regular elections if it becomes untenable. Not robbery; democracy.
Also, this was proposed and passed, not decreed. They need only replace the board members in regular elections if it becomes untenable. Not robbery; democracy.
4
Then I guess this is a tax?
Your community symphony may likely receive some federal grant subsidy. You'll find out when Trump eliminates it. If your approach ruled, we would no longer have country because the wealthier blue states would stop sending money for redistribution to the red states.
1
This is the civil rights issue of our time, which does not receive a lot of attention. The PTA fund-raising dispute represents a deeper problem with school funding formulae and school board redistricting that aggravates the already unequal distribution of incomes in this country. Years of research have concluded that the single best strategy for improving student achievement is integration---but, that solution--along with the busing involved---as long been discarded. In it's place has been a new narrative of no excuses, blame teachers/administrators, and privatization. What the research says over and over again is Zip Codes matter---instead of attempting to figure out how to distribute PTA fund raising equally, look to the research that would suggest the redrawing of school boundaries to equally mix social and economic groups.
1
Forced integration and busing has been abandoned because it didn't work. It caused white flight and destroyed publics schools and support for them. The idea that integration helps children at the bottom a lot and only hurts the ones at the top a little sounds great to social scientists, but to parents who care most about their own children not so much.
5
I wonder how many schools in Mississippi have microscopes and offer yoga classes? No wonder people don't want to pay federal taxes to help lift up the impoverished kids in other states; they don't even care about kids in their own counties.
3
This article illustrates 2 logical fallacies relating to the funding problems it describes: (1) if taxes were both sufficient to support schools and fairly-apportioned among taxpayers, there would be no need to use "donations" to PTA to fund schools; and (2) if a donation is intended to benefit one's own kid and perhaps his or her immediate classmates, then it's not really a charitable donation and shouldn't be tax-deductible.
19
I am a public school teacher here in New York City in a very economically diverse school, which my daughter also attends. We have a sort of sharing in miniature as the more well-off parents help pay for things that benefit all of the kids, including the roughly 50% who qualify for free lunch. I would be more than happy if our school shared some of our proceeds with needier schools. The rich parents in this article who don't want to share their abundant wealth really make me sick.
4
"Craig Foster, a school board member from Malibu who favors separation, said parents voluntarily giving money wanted to see the fruits of their donations."
They are, Mr. Foster, they are.
They are, Mr. Foster, they are.
6
California's land values are high relative to the rest of the US, and Malibu's are at the high end of California's land values.
Yet Proposition 13, passed by the voters in 1978, grandfathers long-time property owners (including children and grandchildren of previous owners) in paying a tiny percentage of the property tax their newer neighbors pay on comparable property, and generally reduces the level of the property tax, which contributes to the high property values == a vicious circle.
A tax on land values is probably the most fair, just, logical and efficient source for the revenue that local governments need.
Proposition 13 denies communities the ability to rely on that revenue source except very lightly (thus forcing them into wage and sales taxes, which burden the poor and damage the economy) and underfund the schools. Rich parents can make up the difference; poor ones struggle to just meet their families' most modestly defined needs.
California's schools were once among the best in the country, and their college and university system was first class. We don't hear that any more.
Prop 13 underlies all this, and it has also encouraged sprawl, forcing homebuyers to "drive until they qualify." Nothing good has come of Prop 13, for all but the best-situated land owners (many of them big corporations, not people).
Yet Proposition 13, passed by the voters in 1978, grandfathers long-time property owners (including children and grandchildren of previous owners) in paying a tiny percentage of the property tax their newer neighbors pay on comparable property, and generally reduces the level of the property tax, which contributes to the high property values == a vicious circle.
A tax on land values is probably the most fair, just, logical and efficient source for the revenue that local governments need.
Proposition 13 denies communities the ability to rely on that revenue source except very lightly (thus forcing them into wage and sales taxes, which burden the poor and damage the economy) and underfund the schools. Rich parents can make up the difference; poor ones struggle to just meet their families' most modestly defined needs.
California's schools were once among the best in the country, and their college and university system was first class. We don't hear that any more.
Prop 13 underlies all this, and it has also encouraged sprawl, forcing homebuyers to "drive until they qualify." Nothing good has come of Prop 13, for all but the best-situated land owners (many of them big corporations, not people).
10
Parent participation in PTAs should be required for all schools to receive these generous donations.
The parents in the poorer schools can volunteer, have bake sales, or at least show up at meetings. Parent participation in education is very important, and notoriously low in many poorer schools.
The volunteer activities and meetings can be planned to accommodate work schedules.
O
The parents in the poorer schools can volunteer, have bake sales, or at least show up at meetings. Parent participation in education is very important, and notoriously low in many poorer schools.
The volunteer activities and meetings can be planned to accommodate work schedules.
O
4
This sounds nice in theory, and it's great when parents who may not be able to donate money can volunteer at schools in other ways. But it is naive to just say that this can be "planned to accommodate work schedules" when there are plenty of parents who work more than one job, take care of children or their own parents who have disabilities, don't speak English, and so on. Requiring ALL parents to participate in some way is unrealistic and would only serve to stigmatize those students whose parents are unable to do so. Instead, it is a good idea to provide all parents with opportunities to participate that are unrelated to income. And it is a very bad idea for any basic school services to depend on parents' volunteered time or money.
1
"A telescope or a new science lab "would never happen here" without pooled fund-raising, said Edison's principal, Lori Orum."
So does anyone see the irony here? By cutting taxes, the state forces districts to fund-raise, but cannot raise funds equally. So they split the funds up among schools, to fund various initiatives.
That's a tax, folks. Maybe, just maybe, the solution is to fund the schools adequately through the tax system, not as charity private fundraisers. Sure it is a radical idea, but it used to work, once upon a time.
We live in a society, and it is a collective whether we like it or not. Social ills affect us all, whether we like it or not.
So does anyone see the irony here? By cutting taxes, the state forces districts to fund-raise, but cannot raise funds equally. So they split the funds up among schools, to fund various initiatives.
That's a tax, folks. Maybe, just maybe, the solution is to fund the schools adequately through the tax system, not as charity private fundraisers. Sure it is a radical idea, but it used to work, once upon a time.
We live in a society, and it is a collective whether we like it or not. Social ills affect us all, whether we like it or not.
19
Our child, now an adult, attended and upper West-side public school until his special needs required that we placed him in an independent school. We contributed to the schools fundraising efforts. I would not have contributed if I thought that our money was going to another school in the district. First, we could not have afforded to do so - the contribution that we made was small and all that we could afford, and we expected it to go to our sons education. Second, the other schools in the district had funding from government sources that our school did not receive, because too many of the students at our school were deemed middle class.
Therefore, spreading contributions among schools will not work. Regardless of the ideology behind the program, the fact remains that people who already pay taxes to support public schools will not dig into their pockets to further finance schools that are not performing. They will merely move their child to a private school, as we did when we could not obtain the support for his learning disabilities that his public school should have provided but, despite parent aid, could not afford.
Schools in low income areas do not merely suffer from lack of funding. They are the victims of the social and economic problems that cripple their neighborhoods. Tax money should be spent on fixing those problems. The money that parents contribute to augmenting school programs should go where it is intended – to programs in their children's schools.
Therefore, spreading contributions among schools will not work. Regardless of the ideology behind the program, the fact remains that people who already pay taxes to support public schools will not dig into their pockets to further finance schools that are not performing. They will merely move their child to a private school, as we did when we could not obtain the support for his learning disabilities that his public school should have provided but, despite parent aid, could not afford.
Schools in low income areas do not merely suffer from lack of funding. They are the victims of the social and economic problems that cripple their neighborhoods. Tax money should be spent on fixing those problems. The money that parents contribute to augmenting school programs should go where it is intended – to programs in their children's schools.
52
So what work are you doing in your community to try to improve the special education support services at thr public school so children like your son get what they need? Or are you only concerned about your own needs? Because it's great if your son gets the help, but if other kids with special needs don't and can't live independently that brings down (and increases costs for) the entire community.
3
Just because you wouldn't have been willing to contribute to a pooled fund doesn't allow you to conclude, "therefore, spreading contributions among schools will not work." I am happy to help out other people's kids, as well as my own, and to help fix this brutally unfair school funding situation. I would have LOVED the pooled fund solution when I was sending my kids to school in Manhattan, and I probably would have contributed even more than I did when I knew my money was going directly to my kids' school.
4
Sharing is caring.
1
"...qualified for free or discounted lunch. (Nationwide, about half of public school students are eligible.)"
This is a rich country. The fact that HALF of all public school students are poor enough to qualify for free or discounted lunch shocks me. I knew income inequality Was spreading like wildfire, but this is clearly a national conflagration .
This is a rich country. The fact that HALF of all public school students are poor enough to qualify for free or discounted lunch shocks me. I knew income inequality Was spreading like wildfire, but this is clearly a national conflagration .
33
Maybe this is because I spent a part of my life outside the U.S., but this mean-spirited attitude of wealthy Americans in relation to others' children puzzles me. I have heard some really awful attitudes expressed by well-off parents in my own community in Michigan, which is affluent and outwardly progressive.
As an individual without children of my own, I am expected, through taxation and social custom, to contribute directly and indirectly to the development of children.
When a kid is doing a fundraiser, I often contribute. When a colleague is selling candy for their child's band class, I donate. I vote for levies for school funding. I am proud of the good local public schools I have no children in.
Why? Not because I am a saint--I am no such thing! I do it because it is in my interest to support the well-being of people who will be voting and running society when I am old, vulnerable, and weak. It's really self-interest!
Remember, if you beggar your neighbor's children, you only create a harsher world for your own children to live in, later. Your children may win the rat race, but they'll be rats, and they'll elect rats.
If a childless person can grasp that, why not a parent?
As an individual without children of my own, I am expected, through taxation and social custom, to contribute directly and indirectly to the development of children.
When a kid is doing a fundraiser, I often contribute. When a colleague is selling candy for their child's band class, I donate. I vote for levies for school funding. I am proud of the good local public schools I have no children in.
Why? Not because I am a saint--I am no such thing! I do it because it is in my interest to support the well-being of people who will be voting and running society when I am old, vulnerable, and weak. It's really self-interest!
Remember, if you beggar your neighbor's children, you only create a harsher world for your own children to live in, later. Your children may win the rat race, but they'll be rats, and they'll elect rats.
If a childless person can grasp that, why not a parent?
155
Very well stated.
1
Exactly
1
This article brings up many interesting angles that I, as a grandparent now and a teacher in the 70's, have not experienced. Confronting the wide disparity between schools in wealthy suburbs and those in poorer areas, cities or suburbs, it would seem on the surface that pooling contributions could address many shortcomings. I am aware that it is not that simple.
That said, I I have many questions brought up by one paragraph in particular that stood out to me and I would like a further explanation from Ms. Goldstein:
"But Catherine Brown, a co-author of the report, said that when richer PTAs paid for teachers and programs that poorer ones could not afford, students in less well-off schools fell even further behind."
Not that numbers address everything but what measurements were used to show that students feel behind? How was Ms. Brown's conclusion reached? And were the richer PTA payments the only factor in students falling behind? Did the students not progress fast enough by someone's standards?
That said, I I have many questions brought up by one paragraph in particular that stood out to me and I would like a further explanation from Ms. Goldstein:
"But Catherine Brown, a co-author of the report, said that when richer PTAs paid for teachers and programs that poorer ones could not afford, students in less well-off schools fell even further behind."
Not that numbers address everything but what measurements were used to show that students feel behind? How was Ms. Brown's conclusion reached? And were the richer PTA payments the only factor in students falling behind? Did the students not progress fast enough by someone's standards?
4
I think that Ms. Ball was misquoted.
2
It's a shame that some people's "hearts" can't be as much in their general area as their own children's school. After all, people, your kids are going to grow up to live in the whole community, not just among the kids they went to elementary school with. They'll benefit from a higher level education throughout their community.
OK, fine. How about distributing *three-quarters* of PTA donations evenly, and allowing one-quarter to stay in-school?
OK, fine. How about distributing *three-quarters* of PTA donations evenly, and allowing one-quarter to stay in-school?
12
I think the Eugene Education Foundation for the 4-J school district does something like that: a portion is put in a common pot available to all district schools, and the rest kept for the use of the donor's choice school.
2
For those residents of Malibu that supported Hillary Clinton, please take a closer look at yourself. You may be the liberal elite that put Donald Trump in the White House.
For those residents of Malibu that supported Donald Trump - Congratulations! You are the elite that stumped a part of the electorate that you don't seem to have any real desire to assist -- ".... it has to be for the benefit of the donor".
For those residents of Malibu that supported Donald Trump - Congratulations! You are the elite that stumped a part of the electorate that you don't seem to have any real desire to assist -- ".... it has to be for the benefit of the donor".
4
Some Malibu voters voted for Trump!? ... Maybe housekeepers and gardenefs.
Money is neither the problem nor the solution. My good students have parents who care. My bad students have parents who don't. No amount of money, no union contract, no soaring architecture, no brilliant curriculum can defeat that. The only thing that can defeat negligent parents is a long term mentoring relationship. I'd rather a parent volunteer an hour a week than a thousand dollars to the PTO. We could fire all the administrators. Every single one of them, even the principal, and have no affect on education.
32
Throwing money at students without parent participation is not working in their favor. Require parent participation of 80% for a school to get extra money. This can be done even for working parents.
I have seen too many 4th and 5th graders with no English fluency, because their parents do not think school, or English, are important.
I have seen too many 4th and 5th graders with no English fluency, because their parents do not think school, or English, are important.
6
Back in the 60s, our school had and “everyone or no one” policy to protect the poorer kids. If anyone went on a school trip, everyone got to go. If the parents couldn’t cover everyone, no one went. Of course some parents would segregate themselves away from the rest of the community and arrange for their children to have benefits the rest didn’t, but they couldn’t use the schools name or purchasing power to do so. The superintendent saw to that personally.
These spoiled children have failed at life, for the most part.
These spoiled children have failed at life, for the most part.
12
How do you know they have failed?
1
Although not universally true, here is the plan: cut taxes, let the rich segregate themselves, then make "voluntary " donations to their own kids' schools. Then give the poor school choice for any school they can afford and blame them for making poor choices. Lastly, when the system gives poor results, point at teacher unions as the source of the problem.
31
Brother, another article that contrasts the very wealthy with the very poor as if it matters to us in flyover country.
Most PTAs generate funds from bake sales and used coat sales with an occasional contribution from a generous parent. Implementing a policy that funds from my school's bake sale should be shared with a lower income school in the district will result in no more bake sales.
Congratulations, equality achieved.
Most PTAs generate funds from bake sales and used coat sales with an occasional contribution from a generous parent. Implementing a policy that funds from my school's bake sale should be shared with a lower income school in the district will result in no more bake sales.
Congratulations, equality achieved.
11
In NJ, home of some of the highest property taxes in the US, people's tax money is disproportionately spent on poor urban school districts as compared to better off suburban districts. In some cases the differences in money spent is over 100 percent per child per year going to the poor urban districts as compared to the suburban districts. The results of this massive infusion of tax money over the years has shown very little progress in the education of the children.
80
And your solution...?
1
XManLA - My solution - the equitable distribution of education funds. What's yours?
1
Scandinavian schools and their students outperform world wide because they are all public schools totally and equally financed by federal tax dollars. There are no poor schools because the funding does not come from property taxes hence schools in less affluent areas do not suffer from lack of funds. We need to get rid of the inequity in school funding in the US and invest in all our children. The future of our country depends on it and everyone benefits whether you have children yourself or not.
83
Sorry, Mary, but spending by northern European countries is at best only part of the explanation for their success. The US already spends more per pupil than most OECD countries on primary and secondary education, and nearly the same as Denmark and Norway (and also nearly the same as a percent of GDP).
And within the US, spending varies wildly by state and district, topped by NYC PS (and they outspent even your cited Scandanavian countries). Finally many analyses suggest little correlation of spending with educational attainment.
I suggest, as have many others, that beyond a critical spending level, children succeed (or fail) because of home and social backgrounds. Maybe we should require American families to behave more like Danes.
And within the US, spending varies wildly by state and district, topped by NYC PS (and they outspent even your cited Scandanavian countries). Finally many analyses suggest little correlation of spending with educational attainment.
I suggest, as have many others, that beyond a critical spending level, children succeed (or fail) because of home and social backgrounds. Maybe we should require American families to behave more like Danes.
5
This could only happen if we were to achieve a national curriculum--which will never happen. Creationist states will never allow a science curriculum that teaches only evolution, and the rest of us would not stomach a curriculum that gave even a nod to faith-based science in the classroom.
2
Even if every school in our country were equally funded there would still be poor schools. In many districts, the parents do not value education. Poorer kids come to school with much smaller vocabularies, no idea about proper behavior in class, no parental expectation that their kids should go to school every day and no help and support with homework. Even if there were all the extras, many of the kids would still be in a failing school. The US is not Scandinavia. After they have had to deal with the large influx of migrants, see if their school system is working any better than ours.
2
These are the people who wear $150 yoga pants and don't understand environmentalism is about kids with asthma in the Bronx, too. But before we start attacking the liberal elites, I'd just like to say I've seen this dynamic play out among diverse groups from a wide swath of society. Essentially they were all tasked with solving the same question: equitably share resources with a group you view as different and contributing less to the pool than you did. It was never easy and the conversations always took on edgy, personal tones. Usually because these resources were going toward something everyone cared deeply about.
The other piece of it is, the groups that tend to deal with these kinds of issues, in my experience, tend to attract leaders, type-A's, and planners. A whole set of these people bringing their "best" ideas are never easy waters to wade into.
The other piece of it is, the groups that tend to deal with these kinds of issues, in my experience, tend to attract leaders, type-A's, and planners. A whole set of these people bringing their "best" ideas are never easy waters to wade into.
5
Great, so parents from one district with moderates support the radical leftist of an "art" teacher in a distinct they don't live in. What good is a political art teacher vs a math teacher. Kids need skills to eventually earn a living, not to learn how to play the victim.
The real problem with the California school system is its progressive political agenda that works against the basic math, English and science education that all students need. Just look at how poorly educated the students are compared to students in other countries. It is scandalous.
The real problem with the California school system is its progressive political agenda that works against the basic math, English and science education that all students need. Just look at how poorly educated the students are compared to students in other countries. It is scandalous.
9
Arts education produces huge payoffs across many skill areas. These include fine motor skills, visual thinking skills, attention to detail, working as a team, sequential thinking and, perhaps most important, enthusiasm for learning. I was a special education teacher and saw this daily.
8
Some of us never even learned to proofread!
5
Wealthier people already pay to help other peoples kids, it's called progressive taxes. Then telling them the money they voluntarily contribute to help their own kid's school has to be split with the poorer schools also would seem a little over the top. While I understand that it my bother some that throw these contributions a wealthier neighborhood might have a few more programs what are the alternatives? One is the solution here, another is banning the money entirely, and a third is to accept that the world isn't perfect. The results of trying this sort of social engineering may be to drive more people who can afford them to private schools and ultimately this decreases support for public school funding and hurts poorer school districts far more than not sharing PTA money.
91
Property taxes fund schools. Property taxes are not progressive except that more expensive properties pay more taxes, but at the same rate.
The extra money going into 'dance lessons' is seriously wasted. So, if the academics of the school are not boosted, what is the issue. Aren't schools supposed to 'teach math, science, etc.'? Why do newspapers emphasized the worst use of extra funds? Yes they did show some advanced science classes, but what about the three R's? Oh, yes, increase property taxes and let the state distribute the money to the schools. Would that satisfy the parents? They should be griping about the use of the money in poor schools, not that they are giving the money in the first place. Selfishness exists in blue states, too.
1
Dance, arts, and athletics are not a waste of funds. Physical and creative activities make kids smarter.
6
What is unstated here is there is an advantage to poor or underclass children to be in classes with upper middle class children from stable families. What most middle class or affluent parents find out is that there is minimal if any advantage to having their children educated with the underclass and educationally challenged students.
Alternative or disciplinary schools solve this problem in larger school systems, unless the problematic children constitute more than 50% of the students. When that threshold is reached, middle class parents move their children into private or charter schools. You can be the most left-wing, progressive Democrat, but you are not going to leave your child or children in a poorly functioning school system.
Alternative or disciplinary schools solve this problem in larger school systems, unless the problematic children constitute more than 50% of the students. When that threshold is reached, middle class parents move their children into private or charter schools. You can be the most left-wing, progressive Democrat, but you are not going to leave your child or children in a poorly functioning school system.
83
I disagree. I grew up in a very diverse community in all ways. Understanding first hand about my classmates' home lives and struggles that resulted in learning and other challenges made me an informed and empathetic person. Same for my husband. We graduated from a public Ivy and he has a PhD from MIT. Please explain to me how we were disadvantaged because a kid threw a chair or needed more of a teacher's time.
6
Discussion has moved away from pooled resources of PTA largesse to larger more difficult question!! How to send children from poverty stricken socio-economic deserts to pre-k knowing the wonders that books hold?? Enlist Pediatricians through well-baby checkups to send home books with mothers of tiniest patients emphasizing talking about pictures and words (code to an amazing world of possibilities). Google Reach Out and Read for better description of how and why it works
My husband and I also attended a diverse, struggling school and landed in the Ivies, but I have nothing positive or even neutral to say about the journey. We became deeply cynical at a young age when we saw good kids targeted by gangs and classroom learning in non-honors classes was absolutely impossible due to behavior issues. We were outnumbered. The teachers - children of the 60's who started out believing in their role as agents of social change - completely caved. They sacrificed as much as they could, and then retired feeling completely downtrodden.
Most of us just fought to get the hell out and find decent communities for our kids. Communities have to work. Needs can't overwhelm resources.
Most of us just fought to get the hell out and find decent communities for our kids. Communities have to work. Needs can't overwhelm resources.
8
The idea that students in public schools in different neighborhoods get an equal education is dead. I am a music coach and go to many schools. Some have parent organizations (band boosters, PTA, etc) that raise enough money to hire 10 coaches to come in every week and the kids play high quality instruments from their first day. Across town I volunteer for programs where the kids play student quality instruments from the 1950s and the teacher scrambles to teach 245 different instruments. On two consecutive days a few years ago I went to a very happy school in San Francisco where every subject was taught from an art perspective; the next day across town I had a horrible experience at a school where the principal told us "As long as they are not fighting we don't care what they do." School districts that carve up cities along class lines are unethical, immoral and contribute to the stratification of society.
21
The problem is not the donor's desires for the gift, but the tax deduction. This can be a very substantial amount, but the tax deduction is justified because it is charitable. Something that benefits oneself, or one's family, is not what I call a charity. If you want to give to support your child's school, great, but don't take the deduction. One of the secrets of most private schools is that the major donor group is "current parent". That means they get to deduct tuition from their taxes. The charitable tax deduction needs to be substantially reduced, so that institutions that primarily serve the wealthy (colleges, operas, museums) do not qualify.
4
While I think a strong argument can be made for eliminating the charitable deduction entirely and I wonder why anyone would further contribute to Harvard's 40billion dollar endowment I see museums a little differently. How do museums primarily serve the wealthy?
3
It depends on the museum but many museums today charge high enough admission fees that many poor families cannot afford to visit, barring special sponsored days. I am especially aware of this having grown up poor. Looking at the prices for major European museums, like the Louvre, their prices were shockingly cheap compared to prices of some US museums. Also there are many free/ reduced price categories.
I grew up in a district that was desegregated via busing in the 80s. It stands in history as a legally justified decision that was a colossal failure and a waste of millions. The influx of high needs students tipped the scales and there was major "white flight."
CT has a system of magnet schools that pull kids out of tough schools and into smaller interest-focused schools that also draw kids from the suburbs. These programs that use state resources to build intentional communities are expensive, but they work.
A school needs to feel like a community to succeed. Humans are tribal, and that is unavoidable, but it's possible to redesign the tribe in a way that includes the disadvantaged if you do it carefully.
CT has a system of magnet schools that pull kids out of tough schools and into smaller interest-focused schools that also draw kids from the suburbs. These programs that use state resources to build intentional communities are expensive, but they work.
A school needs to feel like a community to succeed. Humans are tribal, and that is unavoidable, but it's possible to redesign the tribe in a way that includes the disadvantaged if you do it carefully.
22
I did not know that donations have to satisfy the following criterion “It has to be an emotional appeal, and it has to be for the benefit of the donor.” Donations are given with no expectation of personal benefit When a so called donation benefits a donor in ways other than a tax write off, I would call it a purchase.
277
jana - How about for the benefit of the donor's children and not for the benefit of other's children. It's the local PTA they are giving to not a worldwide charity!
5
Agreed!!!! I wish the IRS would audit these families in Malibu!
1
Interesting how Mr. Foster has defined what an "ideal" PTA is. I would define it as an "anal" PTA.
Perhaps wealthy parents want to close the gap between what is spent on their children and what is spent on low-income children? I live in Austin Texas and I know a lot more public money is spent on low-income schools than affluent schools. Low-income schools get a disproportional amount of the district's resources including teaching support.
55
Yes, by all means, close that gap!
Really, Elena? Poor areas get more money than rich areas? And this is wrong somehow to you, but I'm not sure why rich folk should get more money than poor kids....
4
I also live in west Austin, 60% of my property taxes are redistributed to poorer districts. Parents in our district choose to invest in our children via our foundation to drive academic excellence. The result speak for themselves. No need to apologize.
3
The School District should be paying the salaries of its teachers not the PTA or the Ed Foundation.
37
Isn't one of the first life lessons we teach children called sharing? At what age in adulthood does that evaporate?
108
That has to be simultaneous with the "don't take from others" lesson.
3
I would guess it's not so much an age as an income level. I believe I have read that the wealthy actually contribute less percentage wise than moderate income people.
People who can afford to live in Malibu didn't get their from "sharing."
I am quite taken aback by the bitterness in many of these comments.
These folks don't want to "give to themselves." They want to give to their local community's school. Most of those commenting would, apparently, have different giving priorities. That's fine, but why not praise all charitable giving? There are many more selfish ways for a rich person to dispose of their money. They could have spent it on a sports car or a vacation.
And for all we know, these same people might have separately given lots of money to whatever causes the angry commenters find most worthy.
These folks don't want to "give to themselves." They want to give to their local community's school. Most of those commenting would, apparently, have different giving priorities. That's fine, but why not praise all charitable giving? There are many more selfish ways for a rich person to dispose of their money. They could have spent it on a sports car or a vacation.
And for all we know, these same people might have separately given lots of money to whatever causes the angry commenters find most worthy.
19
Classic liberal response in that we should all share as long as it does not take from us. No different than trying to limit public access to Malibu beaches. We could place a refugee camp in Malibu and then see the response
15
How do you know that the parents are "liberal?" Is it because they live in California or Malibu? They are just as likely, or maybe more likely to be conservatives. A lack of generosity and compassion is lacking in Americans of all political stripes these days.
14
The better off should learn a new word: selflessness.....
21
So the same people who are so pro-illegal immigration refuse to share their wealth with poor American children? At what point is the charade up and we start calling out Malibu celebrities for wanting illegal immigrants solely so they can have maids and laborers who work for next to nothing?
36
(Continued) they learn. The best way to do this is to have an involved community of parents. My experience is that as the ratio of volunteers to non-volunteers drops, parents tend to drop out. People want to see the results of their work. They want to offer a bit of help. Few people are looking to be super man and solve a major problem like extreme social unequality when they get involved with their elementary school PTA.
5
One of the problems here is that we've accepted the idea that taxes should pay for public "education" but we don't have a clear idea anymore of what that means. Does it include enrichment programs, dancing, fun activities that build "community" like movie nights and dances and carnivals? When these activities build a strong sense of community, and when kids get involved in organizing and helping,
2
I'm not sure what your post means. In my opinion, and I have a job that takes me to a good number of public schools is that education is way too involved with rote learning and not enough with other activities. What makes a better, smarter child, memorizing the capitals of Africa or reading a story about life in Africa?. I would argue the best education would be both but in almost all schools now the memorizing gets precedence. As Yeats said "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." Rote learning extinguishes that fire.
7
Sal, I agree with your statement. My point is that as you move from a core knowledge model to a model that conceives of learning as a dynamic process that depends on community and parental involvement, it's harder to figure out where public responsibility ends and private responsibility begins. These are just very hard questions, made even harder by the fact that we have a social system with tremendous inequality.
I don't have answers. I just think these comments about the virtue of sharing and the virtue of supporting the education of all children are all well and good, but they miss the complexity. There are decent people trying to do the right thing on all sides of the debate. It's just damn hard to know what to do!
I don't have answers. I just think these comments about the virtue of sharing and the virtue of supporting the education of all children are all well and good, but they miss the complexity. There are decent people trying to do the right thing on all sides of the debate. It's just damn hard to know what to do!
1
"The plan would 'bring everybody to a mediocre middle ground that serves nobody.'"
Lady, if your white, upper-middle class child ends up mediocre, that's not because your extravagant PTA were shared with another school in your district. That's firmly on you.
The families in our low-performing, underfunded schools would thank their stars for what you'd consider mediocrity, and that's a crying shame.
Lady, if your white, upper-middle class child ends up mediocre, that's not because your extravagant PTA were shared with another school in your district. That's firmly on you.
The families in our low-performing, underfunded schools would thank their stars for what you'd consider mediocrity, and that's a crying shame.
176
But the low income schools need the money, because if those kids end up mediocre, it is some sort of rich vs poor war where the poor never win.
These pages are filled with 'the rich have it easy' and "the poor have no chance'. The constant drumbeat gets old, especially when the only solution provided is 'tax the rich' for basic services. None are willing to pay their fair share, everyone wants the rich to cover it. And fair share means splitting the bill, not relying on the rich uncle to cover it.
Newsflash, the rich have the means to leave. Then what??
These pages are filled with 'the rich have it easy' and "the poor have no chance'. The constant drumbeat gets old, especially when the only solution provided is 'tax the rich' for basic services. None are willing to pay their fair share, everyone wants the rich to cover it. And fair share means splitting the bill, not relying on the rich uncle to cover it.
Newsflash, the rich have the means to leave. Then what??
2
If spending more were the solution, we'd have many, many examples of high-performing inner-city schools by now. We don't.
This isn't an argument for spending less on schools in poor neighborhoods , but it is a fact. A lot of money has been thrown at those schools. I don't know if it doesn't reach the students or if the school districts are averse to structural changes or if neighborhood culture overwhelms the best efforts.
The situation is more complicated than we'd like it to be. We need to face it.
This isn't an argument for spending less on schools in poor neighborhoods , but it is a fact. A lot of money has been thrown at those schools. I don't know if it doesn't reach the students or if the school districts are averse to structural changes or if neighborhood culture overwhelms the best efforts.
The situation is more complicated than we'd like it to be. We need to face it.
2
I live in an affluent NJ town, where taxes are possibly the highest in the state. We spend less per pupil than the state average. People willing support the foundation that supports extra funding for the school system. I occasionally wrote $100 checks.
The people of Malibu who write large checks are supporting public education in an extremely wealthy district. They aren't spending $20-30K sending their child to a private school. Give them a break.
The people of Malibu who write large checks are supporting public education in an extremely wealthy district. They aren't spending $20-30K sending their child to a private school. Give them a break.
76
If you live in Malibu your house probably costs at least 3 million dollars. Or your rent is extremely expensive. Most people who live there can afford to send their kids to private schools. As they said in the article only 12% of students qualify for reduced lunch.
1
I hope you mean give the poor and underprivileged a break.
1
They are getting a break because they don't have to pay for private schools. Why not give a little of the money they are saving ($20,000-$30,000 by your reckoning) to public schools in their district that cannot afford as much?
In order for our system to have even a remote poximity to morality, children must be given as even an education as possible. Children are already gifted/cursed with attentive/negligent, smart/stupid, beautiful/ugly parents--all things that the child did not earn but are gifted unfairly to them. Already the idea that you get what you earn because you get what you pay for is a joke, but AT LEAST we can control for parental wealth somewhat... if we choose to.
It is inexcusable that we encourage wealthy children to get a head start--that is called cheating. Immoral and inexcusible.
It is inexcusable that we encourage wealthy children to get a head start--that is called cheating. Immoral and inexcusible.
18
Immoral to spend your own money on our children? This is why people dislike liberal philosophy
3
I don't even need to read the article to know the gist of it. The biggest obstacle to quality, equitable education in this country is that people do not want all children to have an equal opportunity. They want their own kid to have a better opportunity.
I will never understand the protestors in an affluent district. The parent from Malibu said "you want to see your money where your heart is." My heart is with all children getting equal opportunity to the basics of education and most especially enough food to eat. I donate and work with several groups. I don't do it to enrich my children but to help anyone who needs it.
261
This has become the age of Trump where kindness and sharing have gone out of the window and where 'me, my and I' have become the dominant voice. In this age, school lunches for the poor will disappear as will other important kinds of assistance. These rich parents are just another symptom of this new self-centered America. Just think of what this fight will teach their children to become!!! and they will be part of America's future!
5
I agree that all children should get equal opportunity. If the more affluent adults need a "selfish" reason to give, they might think about the future assistants/employees these children grow up to be. Those who are affluent will undoubtedly need to employ today's children when they become adults. Invest now in their futures to have better employees available later!
2
I applaud this article for pointing out the hypocrisy of the liberal elite, something I don't see often in the NYT these days.
The arguments supporting the notion that your PTA dollars going to an underprivileged kid on the other side of your school district are too numerous to list in this comment, but one of the easiest to offer the liberal elite is that when they want to hire people to take care of their houses, cars, and clothing, or cook their restaurant food, serve them at supermarkets or retail stores, perform personal services or even help operate their business -- it is quite helpful of those people can read and write, add and subtract, understand basic concepts of health and wellness, have a basic work ethic, some social skills, some concept of money and budgeting, as well as the ability to read the newspaper.
Are these Malibu residents donating to all the Hollywood stars conducting philanthropic initiatives throughout the world? Some forgotten American catch phrases....take care of your own first; it takes a village; play the long game, etc.
The arguments supporting the notion that your PTA dollars going to an underprivileged kid on the other side of your school district are too numerous to list in this comment, but one of the easiest to offer the liberal elite is that when they want to hire people to take care of their houses, cars, and clothing, or cook their restaurant food, serve them at supermarkets or retail stores, perform personal services or even help operate their business -- it is quite helpful of those people can read and write, add and subtract, understand basic concepts of health and wellness, have a basic work ethic, some social skills, some concept of money and budgeting, as well as the ability to read the newspaper.
Are these Malibu residents donating to all the Hollywood stars conducting philanthropic initiatives throughout the world? Some forgotten American catch phrases....take care of your own first; it takes a village; play the long game, etc.
23
Gee, in my state it's the GOP and Tea Party "elite" who do most of the hiring of illegals in private while clamoring for immigration reform in public. And I seriously doubt that a man who worked for Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse would co sixer himself liberal. Elite, by all means.
3
You don't get rich by sharing. And you can't enjoy being rich if there aren't any poor people to compare yourself to. Why are we even pretending there is a conversation here?
29
Wow. People obtain wealth through work, focus and creativity. It sounds like this is what these parents want their school to be for their kids.
3
"And you can't enjoy being rich if there aren't any poor people to compare yourself to."
That's a fundamentally flawed idea. I have money and will have more. I don't compare myself with others. I drive an 80 grand sports car, because it is insanely fun to do so. I ski in Colorado, because it's insanely fun to do so. I eat 50 dollar steaks, because they are insanely delicious. I wear 2-3 grand sport coats, because they are beautiful. I love beautiful things, high cuisine, and brilliant cars (Porsches, Ferraris, McLarens). None of that has to do with lording my wealth over other people.
Also, my requirement for a neighborhood in which to live is that it's around 50% Ivy League graduates. I don't care what color. I grew up in Berkeley and being around high IQ well-educated neighbors was what I knew. NOW, to own property in a place like that, you need a high net worth.
None of ant of that has to do with comparing myself with anybody.
That's a fundamentally flawed idea. I have money and will have more. I don't compare myself with others. I drive an 80 grand sports car, because it is insanely fun to do so. I ski in Colorado, because it's insanely fun to do so. I eat 50 dollar steaks, because they are insanely delicious. I wear 2-3 grand sport coats, because they are beautiful. I love beautiful things, high cuisine, and brilliant cars (Porsches, Ferraris, McLarens). None of that has to do with lording my wealth over other people.
Also, my requirement for a neighborhood in which to live is that it's around 50% Ivy League graduates. I don't care what color. I grew up in Berkeley and being around high IQ well-educated neighbors was what I knew. NOW, to own property in a place like that, you need a high net worth.
None of ant of that has to do with comparing myself with anybody.
2
I witnessed this first hand when I was in LA with my kids. Our local school was well funded by the PTA. Then the district started to distribute the funds to poor districts and started to bus poor children in from outside. Funding overall dropped. Parents pulled their kids out. This is the price of open borders and the destruction of a homogeneous society. People donate a lot more easily for kids that look like them and people that look like them. Nations and peoples have existed for millenia and we are entering a brave new world where these barriers are no longer operative. It looks like the long term trend will be less willingness to pay taxes and serve the commons.
21
Reading from Trump's campaign notes?
1
As the former PTO president of a middle-class town in Massachusetts, I can tell you the biggest problem with PTO giving large amount of money to schools is that districts then eliminate funding for things, and then expect the PTO to fund them. We started by building a playground, and ended up paying for math programs and science kits. The school committee used parents desire to do right by their kids to artificially balance their budgets.
101
Did people gripe about their taxes going up to pay for infrastructure and basics like math programs?? If the system is set up to use property taxes to pay for school funding, and then everyone votes down tax increases to pay for it, well..... yeah. Conservatives often forget their own advice to "let communities fund themselves" to get the evil feds off their backs, then suddenly wonder why their PTA has to come up with money or cut programs. Better intellect please!
There is a compromise: rather than sharing the whole amount, take off 10-15% as overhead, which is redistributed. It could go as high as 25%.
10
Similar PTA fundraising in public schools in NYC, although there are no requirements that districts equitably distribute the funds raised. Here, parents are doing the best they can to step into the gap created by the inadequate funding of our public schools. Schools in relatively poorer neighborhoods receive more federal funding under Title I than schools in more well off neighborhoods. I applaud the model of Saint Monica-Malibu and the few other areas that have tried to address the inequities in this situation. It's not a panacea, but a step in the right direction.
There would be no problem if society actually valued public education and funded fully. Unfortunately people are so short sighted that they cannot see the value in making sure every child has a chance at a decent education. To be selfish, it saves everyone $$ if all citizens are able to support themselves. But, seems each is out for the shiny bauble now not a stable society for all.
14
All our children should have equal access to an education. Those well off have multiple advantages to succeed outside of the education system. Simple solution, don't give your money to the PTA if you do not like the way it is distributed.
10
This solution sounds like a chapter right out of Ayne Rand's Atlas Shrugged! PTA's were developed for local and individual school support. If the State and Federal funding is equalized by the recognized award criteria of capitation, then the local ability and desire to support education should be left up to that ability of that community's ability to pay.
3
Funny how Atlas Shrugged ended with the entire world crumbling, and only a few self righteous megalomaniacs left to celebrate the destruction of the economy (and population) that created their wealth... As a tax paying citizen who can't afford to build a hidden bunker with my billionaire friends, I'm not generally a fan of turning Ms. Rand's dystopian nightmare into policy. But maybe that's just me.
7
"should be left up to that ability of that community's ability to pay. " Let's ensure the rich get richer and the poor get poorer principle of selfishness, epitomized by a reborn shrugged capitalist, who ultimately died in poverty. At least in Austin, the rich culturally and morally understand there is more to right than being white. And exclusionary to ALL the children in their midst. Must not remember charity in Sunday school lessons, eh volunteer?.
1
The actual problem: Public education funding in this country is a national shame. We should be outraged that, because public schools are primarily supported by local taxes, schools in poor districts provide - surprise! - poor educational opportunities compared with wealthier districts. Until we address this issue (not likely anytime soon, I know), the immoral inequities visited upon our children will continue.
338
But many of those poor districts already have some of the highest per-pupil spending (when federal and other support is included).
How about some of the immoral inequities visited on poor children by their own parents?
How about some of the immoral inequities visited on poor children by their own parents?
8
Numbers please? Last I checked, we spend a LOT of money on educating in primary and secondary school. Sure that varies by district since we smartly keep all educating under local control, but I think the more relevant question is, is the money already available being used effectively for the children or is it being sucked into the maw of overstuffed administrative layers?
5
Totally agree with BGZ123. School districts need funding from fed $$$ also. Local taxes will never provide the poorer sch districts with what they need. Why can't Ca. vote again on Prop 13? It is a shame and embarrassing to see how many wealthy people do not want to help others. How much $$$ do you really need? Our gluteness culture is hurting us all.
2
I grew up in Santa Monica and attended Franklin Elementary, etc. It horrifies me--but does not surprise me--that ultra-wealthy folks value expensive frills for their own kids far above any aid for the impoverished kids just a few miles away.
After all, when they reach SaMoHi (is it still called that?), they won't want the Advanced Placement classes to be polluted with kids from lesser neighborhoods. Next thing, their precious scions might have to share a dorm room at Stanford with some scholarship kid. Or even marry one!
After all, when they reach SaMoHi (is it still called that?), they won't want the Advanced Placement classes to be polluted with kids from lesser neighborhoods. Next thing, their precious scions might have to share a dorm room at Stanford with some scholarship kid. Or even marry one!
313
Was Stephen Miller your best friend? The beauty of Samohi is that all kids in Santa Monica attend 1 high school. There is equality for all classes and support. AP classes are open to everyone. Free tutoring is offered until 10 pm everyday. 20% of the kids attending are on permits from LA. Samohi is the best high school out there. I'm grateful that wealthy parents write big checks to support it.
6
Isn't a fundamental characteristic of a gift that the donor decides where the gift is to be used. If a government entity decides the purpose of a "gift", I don't think it's a gift. It's a tax that may not affect all people.
Certainly those wanting more funds for the poorest schools have the right to lobby for voluntary contributions, but G-d forbid they should comprise a majority to turn voluntary contributions into a tax like that I describe above.
A cynic might say leave it to liberals and the wealthy, especially in California, to let something that was conceived to do good become the impetus for a dispute. As to equality, more people should (re-)read Vonnegut's"Harrison Bergeron" and perhaps "Animal Farm" and "Brave New World." Then they should think seriously about the lessons about equality that one can reasonably draw from each.
Certainly those wanting more funds for the poorest schools have the right to lobby for voluntary contributions, but G-d forbid they should comprise a majority to turn voluntary contributions into a tax like that I describe above.
A cynic might say leave it to liberals and the wealthy, especially in California, to let something that was conceived to do good become the impetus for a dispute. As to equality, more people should (re-)read Vonnegut's"Harrison Bergeron" and perhaps "Animal Farm" and "Brave New World." Then they should think seriously about the lessons about equality that one can reasonably draw from each.
17
A gift is voluntary, a tax is not. When I give to my church or to a charity or I voluntarily join an organization and pay dues, I know that the money I give is not necessarily going to benefit myself or my family, nor do I always have the power to designate how my gift is going to be used. I give because I am concerned about the quality of life of people I do not know. I am not wealthy by any means, but I have no problem with trying to level the field.
22
Giving is a two-way street. A giver needs a recipient. Recipient are not required to take a gift particularly when it comes with strings.
You are part of a community whether you like it or not.
You are part of a community whether you like it or not.
5
I don't think that deciding how a gift is to be used is a "fundamental characteristic of a gift." If I give someone money as a gift, I don't get to tell them to use it to pay down debt rather than for a vacation. A gift is without strings, or it is not a gift, it's an attempt to control.
No one is forcing anyone to donate to the PTA. But these parents are now acting selfishly, in line with an increasingly "me first" society in which greed and selfishness are admired. A society in which most people are well educated and can make a reasonable living should be a goal each of us holds for all of us, instead of just for "our own". Shame on these parents.
No one is forcing anyone to donate to the PTA. But these parents are now acting selfishly, in line with an increasingly "me first" society in which greed and selfishness are admired. A society in which most people are well educated and can make a reasonable living should be a goal each of us holds for all of us, instead of just for "our own". Shame on these parents.
Here is a partial solution: the federal government makes a rule that if you make a donation to a school district that is restricted to schools that your children attend, it is not tax deductible. Enforce the same rule for private school donations.
18
This problem needs to be solved locally. No need for more federal regulations on what is really a school district issue.
6
Sounds dumb. Why not mandate donations be allowed only to a statewide schools fund instead?
So the solution is if you want to donate money then you have no control where it goes? What a way to cut off all donations to these schools.
4
It's not "generous" when you give to yourself.
285
This statement fails unless said person is homeschooling their children. How is donating to a school of hundreds of children not generous, even if their own kids gain too?
4
The schools in rich districts are not monolithic - when you give to a school that your children attend - then all children - rich and poor - at that school benefit.
And no one stops any generous benefactor from being "generous" in their own fashion for any cause that they value - with the exception of specific schools.
And no one stops any generous benefactor from being "generous" in their own fashion for any cause that they value - with the exception of specific schools.
3
I have noticed children who struggle with the material act out in class and disrupt learning for everyone. While all misbehavior cannot be attributed to preparedness, a great deal can. Santa Monica is cutting off it nose to spite its face.
1
Santa Monica Schools are the best. Got my 3 kids into Stanford and UC Berkeley. What the writer did not know is that SM Ed Foundation got a 2 million estate gift that first year which saved them! Franklin, the highest scoring elementary school in the district of 11 elementary schools, raised over $550K a year. Why?? Parents worked at the Halloween Carnival and wrote big checks for our kids. When SM Ed Foundation told Franklin PTA that all the money would go to them, the woman who worked 60 hours a week to run the carnival said "You know I don't work for you?" and quit. I would never volunteer my time for 6 hours on a Saturday unless it was for my kids' school. SM Ed Foundation is floundering. Unless another wealthy person dies and leave it to them, they are in big trouble.Malibu High School raises $1 million dollars a year and refuses to contribute to SM Ed Foundation. I wish them well - adios!
15
"I would never volunteer my time for 6 hours on a Saturday unless it was for my kids' school."
And that pretty much defines the charicatured hipocrisy of uber liberal CA affluence. You're not donating if it's for yourself - you're not a giving person if the only reason you're volunteering at the PTA is so Declan can have fresh Sushi cut by Nobu following after school yoga.
And that pretty much defines the charicatured hipocrisy of uber liberal CA affluence. You're not donating if it's for yourself - you're not a giving person if the only reason you're volunteering at the PTA is so Declan can have fresh Sushi cut by Nobu following after school yoga.
23
When the government gets mixed up in a process, costs inevitably rise. The underlying problem is that schools cost too much. Therefore, there is greater fighting over where scarce dollars should be allocated.
California has an additional problem. Since newcomers pay substantially more property taxes than old timers, and the newcomers have most of the children in public schools, they resent their high property taxes added to the fact that they need to donate to keep service levels up in the public schools.
California has an additional problem. Since newcomers pay substantially more property taxes than old timers, and the newcomers have most of the children in public schools, they resent their high property taxes added to the fact that they need to donate to keep service levels up in the public schools.
3
A gift "has to be for the benefit of the donor". This seems to pretty much sum up the right-wing way of thinking. To those who have much, more shall be given.
Well, at least they're honest about their self-serving mentality.
Well, at least they're honest about their self-serving mentality.
202
There's nothing right wing about Malibu or Santa Monica. Except for Orange County, Fresno and the extreme north of the state, California is overwhelmingly liberal and progressive. We have à ones oarty state and that party is the Democrats. Interestingly, uber wealthy and ultra liberal Palo Alto is one of the two named cities that refuses to share millions in donations with the ghetto schools in East Palo Alto. This isn't a right versus left problem, it's a rich versus poor problem. Greed permeates both parties. How refreshing it would be if people would analyse the issues instead of merely giving a partisan response.
132
I fail to understand why a person's gift to the recipient of choice is deemed "greedy." If one cannot dictate how their donation to a school district is used, it is no longer a gift. Redistribution should not be expected to occur unless donor is giving to an entire school SYSTEM and not a specific district.
The problem is how gifts are received. Were the state to refuse specific school donations and mandate donations can only be paid to a specific Statewide s hood fund (at least above a certain amount), all of this fighting over donations would go away.
The problem is how gifts are received. Were the state to refuse specific school donations and mandate donations can only be paid to a specific Statewide s hood fund (at least above a certain amount), all of this fighting over donations would go away.
3
Rich versus poor is very much political.
8
Both sides of this issue have really good arguments but I would tend to favor separation since the systems are physically separated and even within Malibu there are relatively poor students
6
One of the most difficult parts of moving to California has been seeing the "me first" mentality of so many of our affluent residents. California has blessed many of us with wealth and success. If you have achieved that, why can't you want it for someone else? What message are you sending your kid if you think ballroom dance for your kid is more important than a science lab for someone else's?
199
The message that my kids are more important than career civil servant pensions
6
Why indeed, especially when all these wealthy coastal areas are hard core bastions of progressiveness. Welcome to California, where selfishness is the norm and we only pretend to walk our talk about the poor.
23
I wonder if the kids would share if the decision was made by them?
3
I live in the "poor" part of Santa Monica and HAPPILY give the yearly suggested donation per child to our school's PTSA, science program, music program, as well as the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation. Why? Because our schools are awesome and free. That's right, people - AWESOME AND FREE (and near the ocean in perpetual sunshine). Not sure what all the whining is about.
208
Free? You really think your schools are free? That no one pays for them? That you're not paying for them?
14
Try paying upward of 60K per year for a private school education. Public schools are absolutely (relatively) free!
In the immortal words of Inigo Montoya: Free? Free? You Keep Using That Word, I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means.
5
Having sent a child to the LA Unified School District in an affluent neighborhood and then being asked to contribute another grand per kid to the PTA I understand the issue. We picked up and moved coasts to not deal with the lingering issues of Prop 13 and the devastating effects it has had on education. My kids are now receiving what I would consider a private school education in an amazing public school. We couldn't ask for more. Too bad we had to move coasts to see the benefit.
103
Did it ever cross your mind that California schools simply have too many kids? 45 kids in a kindergarten classroom is the norm, and the resources devoted to teaching upwards of 40% on average of those kids English as a second language is overtaxing our resources. Take away prop 13 and homeownership will become even more of a pipe dream.
19
Awesome, happy to have people leave.
2
You didn't need to "move coasts." You just needed to move to Ross (Marin County).
2
If they can afford to give they can afford higher taxes.
Replace property tax by income tax and pay for schools out of federal taxes, and equalize per student spending across the US. Of course, given that we can't even agree on single payer for health care or rules for minimal standards for coverage, good luck there.
Replace property tax by income tax and pay for schools out of federal taxes, and equalize per student spending across the US. Of course, given that we can't even agree on single payer for health care or rules for minimal standards for coverage, good luck there.
81
We have one of the top two highest state tax rate system in the country, and the highest state corporate tax in the world. Our property tax rates are not low by any means, particarly ehen you consider the price of homes here.
9
CA state corporate taxes come in at about 8th or 9th I believe.
Move to Nevada and with the savings you send your children to a great private school.
1
Gifts should go to the intended recipient for the intended purpose of the gift or they should be returned to the donors.
45
Raise property taxes and adequately fund all schools in the district.
Public School Districts shouldn't be depending on private funding anyway.
Public School Districts shouldn't be depending on private funding anyway.
155
It is my understanding that one of the effects of Prop 13 is that local school districts can only raise taxes by a very small percentage.
I am not a Californian and would appreciate information from a California resident about the effects of Prop 13 on school taxes and raising such taxes.
I am not a Californian and would appreciate information from a California resident about the effects of Prop 13 on school taxes and raising such taxes.
6
Yes, let's pay the taxes we must to get the services we need. However, stop relying on property taxes to support schools. That's a losing formula. There are all kinds of ways to tax more fairly.
1
Articles such as these do a disservice to multiple constituencies even when they are accurately reported. The reporting here more mirrors a New York Post article than one appearing in the newspaper of record.
The reporter and fact checker have dramatically skewed poorly researched facts to reach a conclusion that favors a particular agenda. Rather than singling out Franklin as being exceptional and trumpeting the acheivement of truly dedicated parents, the story leaves me wanting to reread Oliver Twist. I'm trying to match up the characters properly. As the underlying agenda is really everyone reaching out their hands to those who have done the hardest work and asking, 'please sir can I have some more'.
Compliments to the modern day Dickensian manifestation of Bill Sykes in the form of Ms. Goldstein.
The reporter and fact checker have dramatically skewed poorly researched facts to reach a conclusion that favors a particular agenda. Rather than singling out Franklin as being exceptional and trumpeting the acheivement of truly dedicated parents, the story leaves me wanting to reread Oliver Twist. I'm trying to match up the characters properly. As the underlying agenda is really everyone reaching out their hands to those who have done the hardest work and asking, 'please sir can I have some more'.
Compliments to the modern day Dickensian manifestation of Bill Sykes in the form of Ms. Goldstein.
6
The hardest work? Really? Can you honestly say that the affluence of those able to give more is genuinely the result of working the hardest?
33
+1 By that logic, the Trump kids must worker harder than all of us.
14
I am not sure you understand that the dedication of a stay-at-home parent who, due to the income of their partner, is able to consistently assist their children with their education is equal to the dedication of a single parent who works 70 hours a week to pay for basic living expenses. The reality is that this equal dedication will often result is remarkably different educational outcomes.
24
It's really unfortunate that Dana Goldstein fell for the easy angle that so often drives news coverage of Malibu -- painting our town as a bunch of liberal elites who don't care for anyone else. Just five minutes' worth of additional online research would have revealed that lie for what it is.
In fact, PTA donations make up less than 3% of our school district's $171.2M annual budget. The rest comes primarily from property taxes.
Malibu residents pay 34% of all school district property taxes each year, even though our children only account for 16% of the students. And this will continue to be the case even if we do get our own independent school district: the separation agreement will require that, going forward, we will have to pay for 100% of our own school district each year -- plus $57M to Santa Monica.
In fact, PTA donations make up less than 3% of our school district's $171.2M annual budget. The rest comes primarily from property taxes.
Malibu residents pay 34% of all school district property taxes each year, even though our children only account for 16% of the students. And this will continue to be the case even if we do get our own independent school district: the separation agreement will require that, going forward, we will have to pay for 100% of our own school district each year -- plus $57M to Santa Monica.
60
Exactly. Scott, you've got to keep in mind the anti-wealth, or should I say "wealth re-distribution" agenda in the media (which is strongly pushed by the UN in their "17 Goals to Transform Our World") this agenda, this mind-set, is invading everything from "news" (quotes intentional) outlets to TV shows. People pay for what they want- I pay more for a decent meal than I would pay for say, McDonalds. I pay property taxes and I want MY money to go to where I LIVE- where I bought my house, and where it should be- NOT to be taken and given to some other place, where they do not pay ANY taxes, and have zero interest in their community. This and other articles have a communist bent to them. Too bad too many people fall for it, too.
35
Malibu residents seem to have a god understanding of their property tax con to AMMUSD, hwever, few Malibu residents ever seem to be aware that Santa Monica taxpayers pay millions in Santa Monica city sales tax dollars -- $16m per year to be exact -- that go into the SMMUSD General fund per an agreement with the City of SM and that benefit Malibu students. In fact, the city of SM taxpayers have twice increased their own taxes to benefit schools in both communities. I don't believe the city of Malibu has ever even considered doing such a thing. On top of this, another $7 million per year in city of SM tax dollars go to SM and Malibu schools through a joint use facilities agreement, compared to a couple hundred thousands dollars or so from Malibu city joint use. While Santa Monica taxpayers have no say over how County property tax revenues are assessed, collected and distributed (and no desire or conscious effort made to take more than Malibu's fair share), whenever Santa Monicans DO have a say about using their dollars - both taxes and private donations- to support ALL district students, they consistently say yes and do so with generosity. In addition, it's important to note that it's not so much the dollars that get "distributed" across all schools so much as the delivery of high quality enrichment programs for all students provided to all instead of just some, as it used to be.
26
The day Malibu has to pay $350K for a Superintendent (yes look it up) and then private school for all the special needs kids, is the day that Malibu will be sorry that left.
3
The article was very specific about the amounts of money that the wealthy contribute to their local schools but became vague when it came to the Title 1 money distributed to the poorer schools. Maybe I can help here. The poorer schools get an extra $800 to $1200 per poor student per year from Title 1. Why couldn't the reporter nail this figure down and include it in her article?
107
"Leaders at several overachieving PTAs also said their generosity addressed another kind of inequality: Their schools did not benefit from Title I, the federal taxpayer-funded program for schools that serve large numbers of poor children."
Perceived inequality: Kids from families too affluent to qualify for Title 1 are being cheated because these funds go only to poorer families' offspring.
That's right, the rich residents of Malibu are being cheated because they're not poor enough to qualify for Title 1 funds.
Level that Playing Field!
Liberals, you gotta love 'em!
Perceived inequality: Kids from families too affluent to qualify for Title 1 are being cheated because these funds go only to poorer families' offspring.
That's right, the rich residents of Malibu are being cheated because they're not poor enough to qualify for Title 1 funds.
Level that Playing Field!
Liberals, you gotta love 'em!
22
And Title 1 isn't used to fund extras like science labs and ballroom dancing, unless thing have changed since I was a teacher. It was used to fund remedial teachers.
3
Exactly Brian, the author does not tell the full story. She mentions wealthy school district Highland Park in Dallas, but does not let the reader know that 70% of the local districts property tax revenue is sent to the state for redistribution under our "Robin Hood" laws.
4
What? When it is their money suddenly liberal Californians are not supportive of sharing it with others? The extreme left in our country is as toxic as the extreme right.
51
Why would you make that assumption? California is pluristic, multi cultural, with people of every political stripe.
5
How many residents of Malibu do you figure voted for Trump?
i'm guessing not too many...
It's in Henry Waxman's old district which hasn't elected a Republican in over 50 years...
i'm guessing not too many...
It's in Henry Waxman's old district which hasn't elected a Republican in over 50 years...
8
Spot on.
It's always "different" when it's the Liberal's own kids.
See: Discrimination in College Admissions via Legacy Admissions.
They always take care of themselves...
It's always "different" when it's the Liberal's own kids.
See: Discrimination in College Admissions via Legacy Admissions.
They always take care of themselves...
16
I'm a public school teacher, former public school parent, and a current private school parent.
All of the extras these PTA fundraisers are funding should be provided by the districts and could easily be afforded if parents threatened the reelection of politicians who are bought off by scavengers like TFA (districts pay TFA for "providing" the teacher; then the district pays the teacher a salary; the teacher leaves after 2 years; TFA gets another payout for providing a new teacher, etc). Such a racket.
Bill Gates is another one. He uses his money to force politicians to impose his ideas/theories on public schools (his own children are safely ensconced in private schools) and the districts are left picking up the tab for the unfunded parts of all of the Gates' (usually worthless, temporary but expensive) initiatives.
And to be fair to the Malibu parents, they pay taxes to ensure a decent, basic education for all kids. Just because Affluent Child A gets more on top of that than Low Income Child A doesn't mean Low Income Child A is in any way suffering. Bill Gates has no problem with the fact that his kids get way better facilities and experiences than poor kids.
All of the extras these PTA fundraisers are funding should be provided by the districts and could easily be afforded if parents threatened the reelection of politicians who are bought off by scavengers like TFA (districts pay TFA for "providing" the teacher; then the district pays the teacher a salary; the teacher leaves after 2 years; TFA gets another payout for providing a new teacher, etc). Such a racket.
Bill Gates is another one. He uses his money to force politicians to impose his ideas/theories on public schools (his own children are safely ensconced in private schools) and the districts are left picking up the tab for the unfunded parts of all of the Gates' (usually worthless, temporary but expensive) initiatives.
And to be fair to the Malibu parents, they pay taxes to ensure a decent, basic education for all kids. Just because Affluent Child A gets more on top of that than Low Income Child A doesn't mean Low Income Child A is in any way suffering. Bill Gates has no problem with the fact that his kids get way better facilities and experiences than poor kids.
64
Point well taken. The hypocrisy extends to all levels of outspoken liberals in our state. Look at Mark Zuckerberg risking against Trump wholeness pushing he own glsbwlidt sgends to bring in even mire H1B visa holder so he can pay them less than Americans, all for his own financial gain. He also has built 20 foot walls around his Palo Alto and Hawaii estates while condemning the building of a wall with Mexico and calling for open borders. NIMBY is everywhere in the rich, liberal coastal areas. The hypocrisy is staggering.
14
The district pays every teacher to teach, not simply ones that come from TFA. The district and any employer has hiring costs, TFA is one strategy. And you forgot that the TFA teachers, many who make significant gains with their kids of one year or more of measured growth, out pace some existing teachers. No teacher is guaranteed to stay year after year, your harping on turn over is a red herring if the teacher is successful during the years they are teaching be it one or ten.
3
People don't want to support other people kids.
Myself included.
The race to the bottom is a never ending story for the left and their ideas.
Myself included.
The race to the bottom is a never ending story for the left and their ideas.
34
Some people, not [all] people.
27
Then the world becomes a Dickensian nightmare where the wealthy need to wade through the filth of the rest's poverty. There are still many countries where you can see this result. It is not theoretical.
23
This is so easy to resolve. Have, say, 80% of the money go to the school of the donor parents and the other 20% go into a fund that supports the less affluent schools. I help out with my kids' elementary school auctions and this is how it works.
29
Ditto. Wading through all the liberal vs conservative nonsense looking for exactly whether someone would propose exactly this. Unsure why the article didnt at least explain why this approach hadnt been tried or considered.
2
It would have been helpful if we knew why the Santa Monica and Malibu
School Districts became one District.
Mr. Foster given your position at Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse could
you not be a bit more generous in your understanding of Charity and help
the children of those much less fortunate than you ?
It seems that many of the wealthy believe that have an inherent right to
"their" wealth and how to use it and the seem to have forgot who does much
of the physical labor in their lives.
School Districts became one District.
Mr. Foster given your position at Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse could
you not be a bit more generous in your understanding of Charity and help
the children of those much less fortunate than you ?
It seems that many of the wealthy believe that have an inherent right to
"their" wealth and how to use it and the seem to have forgot who does much
of the physical labor in their lives.
29
Not sure what you are saying here. The wealthy do not have a right to their wealth? If not who does?
14
The wealthy *should* not keep all their wealth. It is a sacrifice they make for the benefit of the entire society (and creates a virtuous loop that also benefits them)
15
My husband lived in Malibu in the 70's. Malibu did not have a high school so the kids drove 30 miles by bus to Santa Monica High School. WE all took out a bond measure to pay for a new Malibu High School. Love that their memories are so bad. I can't wait for Malibu to leave Santa Monica Schools. They will have a heart attack when they have to hire their own HR staff, Superintendent for $350K (it's public look it up) and then special education for the special needs kids. The wealthy families hire attorneys to get the kids to private schools that cost $70k a year and the school district has to pay fro it. Adios Malibu! Santa Monica wins.
9
The whole PTA & fund raising thing has always bothered me. We all pay taxes to support public education and if the schools need more money they should ask for a tax raise or reapportion funds. I would much rather pay higher taxes than have kids selling candy or parents putting on fundraisers.
Somewhere deep in the American character there is a flaw regarding taxes. Taxes are what pay for the services our governments - local to national - for the services we receive from a Police & Fire Protection to EMS, Schools, Parks, Roads, Libraries, Levee Districts and all the rest. Somewhere we all expect something for nothing & worry that someone else might be getting something we do not.
It amazes me that people who do not flinch at paying hundreds of Dollars a month for TV and Internet or a Dinner Date complain about the taxes that educate our children and our neighbors. It is an investment in our community. The kids grow up and become the Doctors, Nurses, Lawyers, Plumbers, Mechanics, Teachers, Bankers and others that we depend upon. Those who employ people might well count today's students among tomorrow's employees, so why would we not want them to have a great education?
I do not have any children yet I pay my taxes like everyone else. I want our community to have great schools and my neighbors kids to get the best education possible. How is it that people who claim to love America want to starve our schools for funding? Our children are are America's future.
Somewhere deep in the American character there is a flaw regarding taxes. Taxes are what pay for the services our governments - local to national - for the services we receive from a Police & Fire Protection to EMS, Schools, Parks, Roads, Libraries, Levee Districts and all the rest. Somewhere we all expect something for nothing & worry that someone else might be getting something we do not.
It amazes me that people who do not flinch at paying hundreds of Dollars a month for TV and Internet or a Dinner Date complain about the taxes that educate our children and our neighbors. It is an investment in our community. The kids grow up and become the Doctors, Nurses, Lawyers, Plumbers, Mechanics, Teachers, Bankers and others that we depend upon. Those who employ people might well count today's students among tomorrow's employees, so why would we not want them to have a great education?
I do not have any children yet I pay my taxes like everyone else. I want our community to have great schools and my neighbors kids to get the best education possible. How is it that people who claim to love America want to starve our schools for funding? Our children are are America's future.
450
We do not need to raise taxes. We need to cap off-campus salaries and cap the amount of money going to middlemen selling stuff to school districts.
No one minds paying taxes, but taxes should not enrich anyone. There is too much waste.
If you saw the condition of my urban school, the condition of the furniture, books, bathrooms, and the way staff are cut (nurse aides, library aides, reading specialists) you would be aghast. It's not that there's not enough money; the money is being wasted and spent on adults.
No one minds paying taxes, but taxes should not enrich anyone. There is too much waste.
If you saw the condition of my urban school, the condition of the furniture, books, bathrooms, and the way staff are cut (nurse aides, library aides, reading specialists) you would be aghast. It's not that there's not enough money; the money is being wasted and spent on adults.
42
I'm always puzzled to hear about "all this waste" (ostensibly only in government). I'd really like these people to become informed about local budgets (which are very much dependent on decisions made at the state and federal levels) and to assess the "waste" in their taxes. They might be surprised to learn how much is done with what has been distributed.
Older folks and folks with no kids consistently vote down hikes in school budgets. Some people vote against school budgets as soon as their kids have graduated!
That is the genesis of bake sales and "tricky trays."
That is the genesis of bake sales and "tricky trays."
This does have an obvious solution: make the rich pay their fair share of taxes, and fund ALL schools adequately - no PTA donations required. In the wealthiest country on the planet, there is no reason schools shouldn't have all the funds they need.
Even the military leaders admit that we don't need another aircraft carrier.
Even the military leaders admit that we don't need another aircraft carrier.
367
Dallas ISD takes in ONE BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
But the campuses are starved, kids are crammed into huge classes, subs are paid so little few subs will show up (kids are warehoused in gyms and auditoriums all day if their teacher gets sick), art and science supplies are a joke, the food is abhorrent.
TFA gets paid, though. Dozens of teacher "monitors" and layers of administrators get paid (often 6-figure salaries). On at least 1 bad weather day, the parking lots at DISD headquarters were empty, but teachers and kids were forced to go in.
There's plenty of money, but there's no requirement that it gets spent on the kids.
But the campuses are starved, kids are crammed into huge classes, subs are paid so little few subs will show up (kids are warehoused in gyms and auditoriums all day if their teacher gets sick), art and science supplies are a joke, the food is abhorrent.
TFA gets paid, though. Dozens of teacher "monitors" and layers of administrators get paid (often 6-figure salaries). On at least 1 bad weather day, the parking lots at DISD headquarters were empty, but teachers and kids were forced to go in.
There's plenty of money, but there's no requirement that it gets spent on the kids.
30
Like your states, our provinces are in charge of education. Funding comes from property taxes (collected by the province) and income taxes. Schools are funded on a per pupil basis in the whole province with some disadvantaged schools getting extra grants. There is no real worry here about moving and finding a 'good' school. Some parents may not want their kids to go to a school with a lot of ESL learners, but that is about it.
Equality of opportunity at work here. I have read so many comments by Americans about not wanting to pay for others healthcare, welfare, the list is endless. Would it be better to pool the property taxes that pay for education and distribute it evenly?
Equality of opportunity at work here. I have read so many comments by Americans about not wanting to pay for others healthcare, welfare, the list is endless. Would it be better to pool the property taxes that pay for education and distribute it evenly?
12
Since California taxpayers alone bear the vast weight of the costs of educating illegal immigrant and refugee children, let's use federal money to pay those costs since this is not a state issue. This would bring in hundreds of millions of much needed dollars for our school districts that are required to cater to foreign children who speak 9+ different languages.
7