Preschool

Here in the good old state of Iowa this topic is getting discussed by everyone from parents to politicians.

Our governor wants to cut the amount spent on preschool program...This is where a good portion of people seem to stop listening. They hear this part of what he is saying and proposing and getting up in arms. But what they aren't hearing is the rest...and have the parents who CAN afford to help pay, help pay.

Now this is one of my soap boxes. And so, unfortunately, you are going to get kind of a rant.

People put their children into public school systems. They want to drop them off or put them on the bus, and not worry about them for the rest of the day. They don't want to pay anymore in taxes to help fund it, they don't want to pay more in enrollment and book fees, they don't want to write out a check to the local school district to help fund improvements. They want to be able to pay the same amount in taxes and be done.

On the flip side of the coin, these parents want their children to have the best education possible. They want state-of-the-art technology, a broad spectrum of courses available, and top notch teachers. They want their children to have small class sizes and every advantage possible given to them.

Time out. We want them to spend more on new books, new computers, new technology, more training for the teachers, new classrooms, and more teachers to teach the newer subjects, but we don't want to have to help foot the bill? This seems a little contradictory to me.

What better way is there to invest in our future than in our children? Why do we expect the state to pick up the majority of the bill? Why do parents not understand that to be state-of-the-art, to have the best, it costs MORE money?

I know that if I want a new computer with all the new capabilities, I am going to have to pay more to get it. The school doesn't get brand new computers with state-of-the-art technology donated. Definitely not enough to cover the whole school.

I wish parents would either put up or shut up honestly. If you have enough money to go out and buy yourself that brand new 52'' flat screen HDTV then you probably can donate some money to the school. Or better yet, start a fundraiser (or offer to donate if someone with more time can start it, since that seems to always be the excuse) to help raise money to go to the specific issue you want addressed (new computers, new textbooks). Or even just stand up at that next school board meeting (you do go, right) and say ''I think our school district needs to have ****. I am willing to help with finding the funding, what would we need to do'' Too many times the school administrators are hesitant to ask for more, because they don't want to get turned down, or told they ask for too much, etc. Stand up for them.

And more important, stand up for our kids. If we don't, who will? And if no one stands up for these children so they can get the best education that we can provide, who is to blame when they flounder later in life? It's not all on the parents in that case, but why not give them every advantage? School should be fun, but sometimes, the schools don't have the tools they need to teach and have fun.

My point is this. Don't complain because the school system needs funding. Don't assume the money is going to grow on the money tree in their back yard. If it won't grow for you, I promise it isn't growing for them either (and if it is growing for you, send a seed to your school, my school and one for me too please). Help out. It's still cheaper than a private school