I live in a town that, like many towns, is going through scholastic fiscal hell.
The school system is eliminating 100 positions. There’s talk of cutting an amazing high school arts program. On and on it goes—bad news atop bad news.
Here, the big debate of the moment involves my town providing busing to private schools for elementary school children. In other words, if your kid goes to a Catholic school, or a French school, or a Jewish school, my town offers free busing (within geographic reason). Now, the Powers that Be are considering ending such a benefit.
I agree 100%.
The parents of private school children argue that they pay taxes, too, and if they’re not benefitting from the dollars put into public schools, why shouldn’t they at least receive busing? The answer (bluntly): Tough shit. When one moves to a town, he/she knows there will be taxes to pay. He/she knows some of those taxes are to fund public schools. Whether one decided to send his/her child to public school is a personal decision. But if you opt to go private, you have made that choice with another viable option on the table. Nobody forced you to go private. It was your decision, and your decision alone. Why should I—or anyone—give you free busing?
It’s ludicrous.
OK, just venting. Carry on …
