Some things never change. Yesterday I heard two excuses that have been around for as long as I can remember.
The first was, “The dog ate my homework.” This one came to mind when I heard that many people did not know that the planned Capital Project (including turf for Holland Stadium) was not on the ballot.
The second was “Dad must have had a bad day at work - he came home, kicked the dog and screamed at the kids.” That one covered the complaint that next year's (very disciplined and constrained) school budget can somehow be blamed for the problems we are seeing in the national economy - seemingly out-of-control gas and food prices. I voted against the budget because I am frustrated and afraid, and the schools are an easy place to vent my anger?
Us older folks have been through tough times before. In the early '80s my mortgage rate was 14 percent.
Every two weeks, on payday, the five of us squeezed into our tiny car to go out for pizza.
The place gave children under 5 a discount. They were all under 5.
It was back then that we started our first vegetable garden.
The family will never let me forget that I once sliced 25 pounds of seed potatoes in half, “to get a bigger crop.” Five hundred pounds of potatoes and one very sore back later, I foreswore potato farming forever.
There are young families in my neighborhood who are struggling just as we once did. (Auburn still has lovely, family neighborhoods)
They trust and rely upon their schools to take good care of their kids, to prepare them to be successful in a world that will continue to change.
The school budget is our investment in that future. Please, no more excuses.
David Lansford
Auburn
Lansford is a member of the Auburn Enlarged City School District Board of Education
The second was “Dad must have had a bad day at work - he came home, kicked the dog and screamed at the kids.” That one covered the complaint that next year's (very disciplined and constrained) school budget can somehow be blamed for the problems we are seeing in the national economy - seemingly out-of-control gas and food prices. I voted against the budget because I am frustrated and afraid, and the schools are an easy place to vent my anger?
Us older folks have been through tough times before. In the early '80s my mortgage rate was 14 percent.
Every two weeks, on payday, the five of us squeezed into our tiny car to go out for pizza.
The place gave children under 5 a discount. They were all under 5.
It was back then that we started our first vegetable garden.
The family will never let me forget that I once sliced 25 pounds of seed potatoes in half, “to get a bigger crop.” Five hundred pounds of potatoes and one very sore back later, I foreswore potato farming forever.
There are young families in my neighborhood who are struggling just as we once did. (Auburn still has lovely, family neighborhoods)
They trust and rely upon their schools to take good care of their kids, to prepare them to be successful in a world that will continue to change.
The school budget is our investment in that future. Please, no more excuses.
David Lansford
Auburn
Lansford is a member of the Auburn Enlarged City School District Board of Education
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mickeymch wrote on May 25, 2008 1:33 PM:
anonymous wrote on May 25, 2008 11:23 AM:
We can cut the adfministration. We dont need armed soldiers walking the hall. There is a lot that can be cut from this "maintenance budget."
Stop trying to shove things down our throats. First the turf, and now your crappy budget. "
jlmorgansr wrote on May 25, 2008 9:03 AM:
Your analogy is also amusing. I'm sorry you had a large interest rate, and I am sorry you were forced to feed the kids at a place they could eat free. With that said, I remember my grandparents telling stories about places they had to go to to eat free, it was called a soup kitchen. It was also the depression, no jobs, people losing their homes, because of WHAT? The ECONOMY? Now imagine if the elected representatives demonstrated the ignorance or arrogance back then? Hey don't blame me for the economy, lets continue on with business as usual, how do you think they would have reacted? I dare say you would have been run out of town on a rail. Well in case you haven't noticed Mr Lansford, we are in a recession. High gas and food prices are straining house hold budgets to the breaking point. Compound that with annual tax hikes from narrow minded people who submit budgets and are indifferent to the problems others are facing, you get families that are unable to squeeze everyone into a compact car in order to get free pizza because the gas is needed to get to work. Getting pizza is a luxury they can ill afford. The actions taken by Mr Pabis and HIS board, are doing more harm than good. "