Replies to 'School Issues'

It really does seem simple from the outside. I sincerely doubt it is a matter of the school not thinking the school nurse is a sound investment. I am a teacher who gets about two dollars per student per year to buy my supplies. I have watched schools, at least in California, eliminate musisc, counseling, services for students in resource programs (students with diagnosed learning disabilities), and the list goes on and on. Your problem is really with your state legislators. Naturally you suggest that the parents get a lawyer. Of course that always the answer to not having enough money. I would suggest you talk with the principal and your child's teacher to see what you can work out. I would also suggest that you take the time to ask how your school receives its money. Find out how much of the money is already earmarked for what programs, these programs being regulated by statute, and how much the school and the district actually receive. I think you will be shocked at how much of the money goes to duplicate work at the state level. It has become so fashionable to take shots at schools, like they have set this up themselves. School funding never keeps up with inflation and legislators frequently add requirements and programs that they neglect to fund. Reading posts like yours is disheartening. Parents are really the only advocates schools have. For parents to not bother to understand the issues becomes self-defeating. You are not fighting the enemy, you are fighting your ally. In education it is only the schools who are accountable. I would just once like to see parents, politicians and their lawyers held even partially accountable.

It really does seem simple from the outside. I sincerely doubt it is a matter of the school not thinking the school nurse is a sound investment. I am a teacher who gets about two dollars per student per year to buy my supplies. I have watched schools, at least in California, eliminate musisc, counseling, services for students in resource programs (students with diagnosed learning disabilities), and the list goes on and on. Your problem is really with your state legislators. Naturally you suggest that the parents get a lawyer. Of course that always the answer to not having enough money. I would suggest you talk with the principal and your child's teacher to see what you can work out. I would also suggest that you take the time to ask how your school receives its money. Find out how much of the money is already earmarked for what programs, these programs being regulated by statute, and how much the school and the district actually receive. I think you will be shocked at how much of the money goes to duplicate work at the state level. It has become so fashionable to take shots at schools, like they have set this up themselves. School funding never keeps up with inflation and legislators frequently add requirements and programs that they neglect to fund. Reading posts like yours is disheartening. Parents are really the only advocates schools have. For parents to not bother to understand the issues becomes self-defeating. You are not fighting the enemy, you are fighting your ally. In education it is only the schools who are accountable. I would just once like to see parents, politicians and their lawyers held even partially accountable.