Computers? Ha. It's a shame that in the school where I taught—which is located just 30 minutes from Steve Jobs' house—our school kids used Macs that were years out of date. My daughter's kindergarten classroom, on the other hand, has six brand new Macs with 20 inch monitors.
In three years of teaching, I never had one parent volunteer in my class or any parents accompany me on field trips. Why? They were all busy working three jobs. My students didn't vacation in Mexico or go to Lake Tahoe for ski week, they babysat their younger siblings so their parents could work. Those families were trying hard to make it in an area where the median homes cost $700k, which makes the divide between the "haves" and the "have-not"s all the more frustrating. Those students were the most magical, capable kids I have ever encountered, and I treasure every moment I spent in the classroom with them.
Which is why, when considering how my hard-earned money will be spent, I'm choosing to send most of the money my family is allotting towards school donations to a school that really needs it—the low-income school closest to me. And I'll donate my time volunteering in my kid's classroom. Because that's all my kid—or any kid—really needs.
8 comments so far...
Flag as inappropriate Posted by unkeptmomof3 on 20th September 2007
School supplies all through elementary school are provided and the middle school doesn't have ridiculous requirements like some.
PTA? $5/family - although I managed to do a little better than that and managed to support as many fundraisers as I could. I went to a few meetings but it wasn't a good fit.
Flag as inappropriate Posted by rocrebelgranny on 12th September 2007
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Stefania Pomponi Butler on 12th September 2007
Flag as inappropriate Posted by amaras_mom on 10th September 2007
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Daisy on 10th September 2007
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Stefania Pomponi Butler on 9th September 2007
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Kristie McNealy on 9th September 2007
The public schools in my neck of the LAUSD are somewhere between the two extremes you describe. We have a mix of affluent families and families with parents who need to work more than one job to get by. It is a challenge, especially in the face of the tax and political climate (and the regulations that take up so much time that it's a miracle our teachers have a moment to teach).
Our elementary school's PTA raised funds to fill in the gaps. No money for a PE program? PTA took care of it. No time for art? PTA brought in after school "enrichment" programs that kids could enroll in for a small fee. No child was turned away for lack of funds, as PTA set up "scholarships" for that purpose.
This year, our elementary school has lost its Title I status (so many new schools have been built over the last few years that there is no longer any need to bus kids in from less advantaged neighborhoods). This is a good thing -- but tough on the school's budget, as there are still kids who qualify for Title I and the school will have to provide services, even though they are no longer receiving the funds to do so.
PTA will now be asked to help make up a shortfall of $50K. There will be a lot of belt tightening at that school this year.
Still, my child seems to be getting just as good an education as her friends at the movie star private schools, and all it costs me is a bit of my time and a few hundred each year on fundraising appeals. I consider that a bargain.
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Donna Schwartz Mills on 9th September 2007