Opinion wanted, am I being a Scrooge? - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

imagesinthewind · #31 04-25-2006, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuan

The way I see it is this.

1) Why should I pay for your kids' school?

2) Isn't it your responsibility to take action?

3) You are part of the growth in your neighborhood. Shouldn't you be take responsibility?

It's not the $16 or so for the subscription. It's the principle. I'm not trying to start a political debate. I just want someone to give me a plausible principled reason why I should take responsibility for some other person's inability or non-desire to pay their fair share, especially when we're talking about their kids' future.

You should pay for other kids school because ALL kids need a good education.
They (to be cliche') are the future and if you cannot give a few extra bucks then when it's time for them to take care of you you cannot ***** about they way things are.

It's EVERYONE'S responsibility to take action. We all live on this planet together. Education is the one thing that can help everyone.

I'm pretty active at my kids charter school in Littleton, CO and know what our budget is and where the money goes. Anyone who thinks a school can 'live within it's means' has NO IDEA what it takes to run a school.
Unless you have seen the amount of money coming into a school and have seen the budget, please don't speak to that matter. You don't have the info to make a statement like that.

Anyway, I hate fundraisers too and always find out what the money is needed for and just give a gift. I always give no matter what school comes to the door. It's my moral responsibility to help make sure all kids have the tools needed to succeed. Someday they will be taking care of me.

Yeah, I'm a PROUD BLEEDING HEART LIBERAL!!
A Biodiesel-making, Berkenstock wearing, dolphin saving, water conserving, liberal.

A264172 · #32 04-25-2006, 07:31 PM

I once had a principal, sister Mary Ellen, who had us collect used newspapers and load them on a tractor trailer to raise funds from an insulation manufacturer.
Catholic school, obviously. That was the only really noble fund-raiser I can remember...

Botnst · #33 04-25-2006, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boneheaddoctor

let the people with all the kids pay for it....I pay more than my fare share already.

Bone, you depend on an educated military to protect your silly ass. Do you think they graduate from Choate?

Bot

mikemover · #34 04-26-2006, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuan

We get this letter in the mail from our nephew. It's a solicitation for $$$ for his school district. We buy subscriptions to a magazine and 40% of the money goes to the district general fund.

Here's why I'm being curmudgeony. Their property tax on a 270k home last year was $2,000. Currently they're going to vote on increasing the levy of $2.70 per $1000 to over $4 per $1000, or on par with what we're paying here in my school district.

The way I see it is this.

1) Why should I pay for your kids' school?

2) Isn't it your responsibility to take action?

3) You are part of the growth in your neighborhood. Shouldn't you be take responsibility?

It's not the $16 or so for the subscription. It's the principle. I'm not trying to start a political debate. I just want someone to give me a plausible principled reason why I should take responsibility for some other person's inability or non-desire to pay their fair share, especially when we're talking about their kids' future.

I agree completely. I don't think you're being a "scrooge" at all.... Just standing up for your principles.

Mike

mikemover · #35 04-26-2006, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imagesinthewind

You should pay for other kids school because ALL kids need a good education.
They (to be cliche') are the future and if you cannot give a few extra bucks then when it's time for them to take care of you you cannot ***** about they way things are.

It's EVERYONE'S responsibility to take action. We all live on this planet together. Education is the one thing that can help everyone.

I'm pretty active at my kids charter school in Littleton, CO and know what our budget is and where the money goes. Anyone who thinks a school can 'live within it's means' has NO IDEA what it takes to run a school.
Unless you have seen the amount of money coming into a school and have seen the budget, please don't speak to that matter. You don't have the info to make a statement like that.

Anyway, I hate fundraisers too and always find out what the money is needed for and just give a gift. I always give no matter what school comes to the door. It's my moral responsibility to help make sure all kids have the tools needed to succeed. Someday they will be taking care of me.

Yeah, I'm a PROUD BLEEDING HEART LIBERAL!!
A Biodiesel-making, Berkenstock wearing, dolphin saving, water conserving, liberal.

I completely disagree.

Why should I be forced to pay for public schools that I do not use, my child does not use, and will NEVER use, and which I disapprove of in general?

I am paying a large amount of money every year to send my daughter to a private school, which yields spectacularly better results than any of the nearby public schools... yet I am still expected to pay for this inferior public school system that I don't even use?!?!?!?! Infuriating.

Mike

Mistress · #36 04-26-2006, 11:37 AM

[QUOTE=Botnst]As the official contrarian, I feel obligated to argue that having the child actually go out and raise money to support his education may actually be of some direct educational benefit, preventing the child from the false belief that education is free. Somebody pays the price.

Bot- I thought I was the official contrarian... put my self through college and after that graduate school, as a result I worked harder because the education wasn't handed to me on platter and the benefits have paid off. Kuan your not being a scrooge. If you don't want to donate then don't, if you have too because of familial pressures then take it off on your taxes.

Dee8go · #37 04-26-2006, 11:55 AM

I live in a county where the school system's budget is about two thirds of the entire county budget. The schools are very good as public schools go. Unfortunately, they all seem to be quite top-heavy, too much administratioin. Also there seems to be poor maximization of special needs personnel.

My kids are constantly coming home with crap to sell and most parents are doing the selling. Just like with Girl Scout cookies. (I have two daughters) I'd rather just give the money directly to the recipient.

#38 04-26-2006, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry edwards

Since when did asking children to use their family connections to beg for money become a civic duty?

That's pretty narrow minded.

It's not begging, that what the welfare bums do.

People can say yes or no. Right?

#39 04-26-2006, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maroon 300D

Having students sell things to people they know to fund their school system strikes me as distasteful at best and exploitative at worst. A bake sale or a car wash is one thing, especially if the purpose is to fund a field trip or something, but magazine subscriptions? It doesn't seem appropriate for students to be selling something where some third party, in this case the magazine publisher, could also benefit.

Kuan, I wouldn't consider you to be a cheapskate for not getting a subscription. It could be construed as a principled stand. Maybe it would be more valuable to your niece and nephew in the long run.

What about the state lottery that funds schools? Is that eploitative? How about the obscene amount of property tax that goes towards education? People who send their kids to private schools don't get any breaks. People who don't have kids also have to pay to educate all the miscreants in public schools.

THAT'S distastefull and exploitative.

Kuan · #40 10-04-2006, 05:18 PM

Jeezuz, got junkmail again today from a 12 year old. Isn't that something?

raymr · #41 10-04-2006, 05:37 PM

I would say no, unless they have the magazines or goods you would buy anyway. In general the whole thing becomes a tange of social obligations, but if you just look at it as products for sale, its OK. I also sell GS cookies at work for my daughter, only because I just hang a sign on my door and people go ape$hit for them.

Botnst · #42 10-04-2006, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benzene

I won't even send my child out for these fundraising efforts (wrapping paper, candy bars, 'precious moments' figurine crap) for his own school, so I'm *really* a scrooge. I find the whole idea loathsome. So no, I don't blame you for being a scrooge.

I never did either. I would ask the teacher or coach what they wanted out of it for themselves and I'd write a personal check to the teacher or coach. I don't care if they buy a beer for themselves or a jock strap for an athlete whose family has no money. In my experience (wife is a public school teacher and I taught in a JuCo) teachers and coaches spend out of their own pocket more than they admit to themselves.

One year I kept-up with my wife's personal spending on school items. It was over $1,000 and that was a decade ago. She ain't no saint, ya'll. She sees something that would make her life better in the classroom and knows the school has no budget for it so she buys it. A credenza here, an instructional video there, water colors, a partial roll of newsprint, supplies for needy students, etc. It adds up.

B

BobK · #43 10-04-2006, 06:11 PM

I guess I'm a soft touch. Any kid comes to my door selling stuff for school, band or such, I try to buy something. I remember being a youngster (back in the dark ages), and selling stuff for our catholic school. Man that's a lot of pressure on a kid. Made me decide I never want a job in sales! Yeah, the profit margins can be slim-girl scout cookies are some of the worst. Still, some of the money is going to the school or band. I'm involved in both public and private schools systems so I have seen what budgets are like. Lot of teachers in both systems doing their level best to actually teach the kids and not always getting a lot of help from the parent(s). Folks, ya just gotta support the kids. ALL the kids. They are our last chance to do something good with our lives. Besides, I'd just spend the money on cars and tools otherwise. (Oh, I do that anyway.)

mikemover · #44 10-04-2006, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Holmes III

What about the state lottery that funds schools? Is that eploitative? How about the obscene amount of property tax that goes towards education? People who send their kids to private schools don't get any breaks. People who don't have kids also have to pay to educate all the miscreants in public schools.

THAT'S distastefull and exploitative.

Yep!

mike

Botnst · #45 10-04-2006, 08:30 PM

Kill the federalization of public schools. I see no explicit constitutional authority for public education. Federalization usurps state sovereignty and decreases educational opportunity by decreasing diversity.

If some state decides to get out of the education business it's fine with me. If another state wants to tax folks until they bleed textbooks, then go for it. The difference will enter into the calculus of deciding where to live.

B