My school recently sent home a notice pleading parents to call Governor David Patterson's office in Albany and petition against his newest budget cut: to cut government funding for private schools. Permanently.
I agree, but not on the "permanently" part. At some point or another, all schools will need financial help. But a school like mine, which is private and charges insane tuition rates doesn't really need that much help, or so we would all like to think. In comparison, public schools have no tuition and need more funding than my school will ever need. And Patterson is right. We need to cut funding on certain things, and if you're a Jewish day school, you probably don't need that much government support.
The school, however, thinks otherwise. Recently, the president of the board asked trustees to double their pledges to the school. The trustees, though, are greatly affected by the economy, and can't really spare much money. Instead of cutting off senior trips to Chelsea Piers and a Shabbaton (a weekend spent in a hotel where we all have fun, etc, etc, etc.), as well as the senior trip to Washington, D.C, the school is spending times kneeling down to Patterson and begging for funds. For heavens' sake -- one of the schools I have applied to have canceled their eighth grade Broadway show and took the class ice skating. The price went from $45 $15. Amazing. This school also sends their eighth grade to Israel as their senior trip. Guess what -- it's been cancelled.
You know, denial is not only the name of a river in Egypt...
1 comment:
You are right. Public schools need funding the most. If you speak as well as you write, you could probably tell the school trustees a thing or two!
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