Subscriber Comments for
PTA Funds

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 303667	2012-08-01 11:01 AM
I think there is a state law about that. I recall a few years ago the county teacher of the year in Solvang got laid off and a provate donor came forward to pay her salary. No can do, said the school board, citing state law (and fear of lawsuits.)
COMMENT 303668	2012-08-01 11:07 AM
There's plenty of money. Has anyone tried looking into the teachers pension and health benefit plans? You'll find all the money you need there. You are right children should not have to suffer so that the SB Teachers Unions can prosper.
COMMENT 303674P	2012-08-01 11:19 AM
668, Obviously you've never been a teacher. First, teachers get paid for 180-185 days per calendar year. Yep, that's it! Sure, they have more days off than a traditional job, but those are all sans pay. Yep, zip! So, when you factor the pension, if they make it for at least 30 years and 61 years old to max out their benefit, AND are able to climb to the top of their respective district's salary schedule, which is not easy, it's an amazingly small amount when compared to the regular business sector assuming somebody can last that long in one profession! Lastly, most people who go after & bash teaches would survive about one day in the classroom at any grade level K - 12. Trust me; I know many people who say, "I used to teach, but..."
DILLYDALLY	2012-08-01 11:40 AM
@668 That money belongs to the teachers, just as if it were in their savings account. To use it for other things is STEALING, just so we are clear on what you are advocating. It is fine to advocate to change things in the future (and dont jump to irrational conclusions, I am in favor of sensible reform). But to shred contracts that have been agreed upon will make it imposible to hire worthwhile teachers in the future. What if your employer said sorry times are tough and we are withdrawing all of our matching $$$ from your 401k account for the last 10 years. Not cool.
COMMENT 303678P	2012-08-01 11:43 AM
It's a public school, not private. Public schools are *supposed* to provide consistent education/amenities within reason from school to school, it legally can't be a more-money-more-programs type of thing. Try to see it from the other side, from parents who are just as dedicated, just as interested in extra programs, just as invested in their child's schooling, but simply cannot afford to donate toward these causes themselves. It just isn't fair to allow these students to get a lesser education just because they don't have well-off parents and/or classmates - it would defeat the purpose of *public* education. Alas, that's why private schools exist, you get what you pay for and what you want to donate money for. Tax dollars can only go so far for public schools.
COMMENT 303684	2012-08-01 12:02 PM
If you want a solid and concrete explanation, I heartily encourage you to forget the peanut gallery of this forum and call the school district yourself. Meg Jetté Assistant Superintendent of Business Services (805) 963-4338, extension 6230 Conrad Tedeschi Director of Fiscal Services (805) 963-4338, extension 6205 Nancy Weiss Director of Food Services (805) 963-4338 extension 6387
COMMENT 303685	2012-08-01 12:03 PM
303678P - And that is exactly why vouchers are the worst idea ever thought of. Vouchers do nothing but suck the blood and marrow out of the public school system. Public schools already have it bad, why make it worse.
COMMENT 303691P	2012-08-01 12:26 PM
We need vouchers. Vouchers allow ALL children a choice and encourages competition between public and private education programs. The public schools would have to compete with private schools. This would force those that run the public schools to provide a quality education and not waste their money on bureaucracies and teacher union benefits.
COMMENT 303693	2012-08-01 12:27 PM
Vouchers don't provide children a choice, vouchers provide parents the opportunity to make a choice for their children.
COMMENT 303668	2012-08-01 12:28 PM
367 I see your point, kind of hard to stay in a profession for 30 years that can't fire you. Reform is necessary obviously. A contract is a contract, I agree. As long as you can quit thinking reform is more stimulous money from a system that is bankrupt. Let me educate you, there's no more money. One of these days, bankrupcy will not be the option, it'll be the solution.
COMMENT 303700	2012-08-01 12:57 PM
Obviously there are people posting here who have no clue about teacher salaries, benefits, and/or retirement plans. Honestly, I get how some people can be anti-union....but I really hate seeing posts that are completely false. Teachers pay a lot for their health care, have to pay extra for vision and dental (most dont do it because of the extreme cost and low benefit). Teachers pay into their retirements every paycheck and are furloughed too. Teachers pay for the supplies needed in their rooms, and consistently give more time than is "required". The public schools in Sb provide a terrific education to any kid who wants it. The test scores prove it. So how about taking the anti union condescending negative nonfactual posts out of this...because it is extremely tiresome to keep reading a bunch a lies.
COMMENT 303715	2012-08-01 01:36 PM
PTA funds are used to do many things: - hire resources to provide Art, Music, PE, etc.... - purchase nice things for schools (i.e. benches, supplies, etc..) - subsidize costs for school trips for kids who can not afford the fees Given the huge budget cuts that schools are facing it is good to see parents stepping up to the plate to make their neighborhood schools a better place. Now politicians are crying foul. It is simply not fair that one school has more involved parents than the other. Franklin, Harding, Cleveland get more funding than a Washington or Roosevelt school in the form of free meals, transportation, ESL programs, after school care, the list goes on. There is nothing stopping the parents of Franklin school of having a fund raiser (in the form of sweat equity) to make their school a better place. The fact is school is not a priority for these parents so they do not put forth the effort to improve their neighborhood school.
COMMENT 303668	2012-08-01 01:47 PM
I get the impression from reading these posts, that teachers are the only hard working class of people in this town. Who said anything about anti union in these posts? Huh? There are hard working people in every profession. There are many upon many people that do more in the job than what is required of them. I recall reading in this post somewhere about an exceptional teacher in Solvang"?" or somewhere in the county having to be let go? Why? Who made that decision. Tenure rules maybe? Competition using vouchers assigned per child to be utilized by parents to ensure quality education for their children is a great idea. It will not "take away money" out of the public schools if their education can compete with private schools. Slim down the bureaucray and don't fear competition, ok? You are not to big to fail.
COMMENT 303723	2012-08-01 02:02 PM
That would be "too" big to fail 668. Signed, Public School Teacher
COMMENT 303685	2012-08-01 02:27 PM
Rather than hand out vouchers so that parents can pay to have their kids put in Catholic school (and that's what it is happening folks...rich private schools aren't going to allow public school kids with vouchers in) because they think Catholic school is "better" than public school, why don't we just level the playing field instead? Allow teachers in public school to beat the kids who get out of line, and allow public schools to expel any kids that misbehave. Because THAT is the only reason Catholic schools can compete.
COMMENT 303739	2012-08-01 02:42 PM
@the public school teacher - 303723 I respect your profession whole heartedly. But if you are going to correct another's improper grammar, while asserting yourself as an expert in the subject (assumed by the signature), then you'd best be sure your own grammar is accurate. That being said, I am not an expert, but I do believe you're missing a comma before "668," as the "668" is to be considered their name and not the action that is being failed. Putting that petitness aside, I don't believe the purpose of this string is to have an overall union debate. The purpose is simply to discuss whether PTA's are allowed to raise money for the specific school their children attend. I'm presonally all for it, and surprised to hear that it is not allowed.
COMMENT 303715	2012-08-01 03:03 PM
School Board members like Monique Limon and Annette Cordero think the solution is dumbing down high achieving students in order to close the gap vs. improving performance of the low performers. What is next? Washington has to stop teaching kids good in math because it is not fair to the kids who do not do their homework. So, no more Math Superbowl. If you want to get a reality check serve as a lunchtime volunteer that hands out the free lunches to the kids who are allowed to get them. See how of this food is thrown away uneaten. Because it is free - it is not valued. The kids who bring there own lunches eat them up. Why? Because their parents work for the food in those bags. I am all for helping out the kids in need - but if they go through their whole childhood life getting handouts - then we are just reinforcing bad habits that matriculate into adulthood.
COMMENT 303748	2012-08-01 03:18 PM
If boosters are allowed to raise money to pay for sports uniforms and band trips to Disneyland, then by-gawd the PTA should be allowed to raise money to have an art class.
COMMENT 303668	2012-08-01 03:47 PM
723 Thankyou for correcting my grammar, I am always up for learning new things regardless of my age. But I can honestly say, even though I'm not a Harvard graduate, that there are 50 States in our Republic and not 57.
COMMENT 303764	2012-08-01 04:01 PM
303715: Kids don't throw out their school lunch because it's free (as though the kids know or care). They throw it out because cafeteria food is usually awful, and kids are notoriously picky eaters. And of course the kids who bring their own lunches eat them -- their parents would have to be incredibly stupid to buy and pack foods that their kids don't like.
COMMENT 303775	2012-08-01 04:33 PM
I must say as a PARENT of a public school student I am SO thankful for all that my child's teacher has done for her. I, too, have a profession where my job really matters in the lives of others. I can completely related to teachers and how much it saddens me to see people talk about taking money from their pensions. These are the people who, for the most part, spend the most time with our children. They educate and guide our young people who will soon be in charge of our world and will be making decisions that effect us when we are older. I am horrified at how some of you think and it's no wonder our priorities are all screwed up in this State. I wish I could afford to give my child the best education but I am THANKFUL she has had such a great group of educators who actually care about her as if they were their own child. I have taken an active role in my daughter's education but I couldn't have done it without those great PUBLIC school teachers. Leave them be!
COMMENT 303811P	2012-08-01 06:14 PM
I sure hope the original post is wrong. Schools in the same district don't all get the same funding. The ones with more than 35% low income students get Title 1 funding from the Federal Gov't, which provides a significant additional amount of money. The schools without this funding, must ask for money for supplies, field trips, etc. from the parents and/or PTA (or PTO). Most of the elementary schools in the City of SB receive Title 1 funding, except Washington and Roosevelt.
COMMENT 303812	2012-08-01 06:14 PM
I must say as a teacher in the SBUSD that it saddens me to read "teacher bashing". I'm sure all EdHat people are aware the Santa Barbara teachers have 7 furlough days this school year. No school equals a reduction in pay for teachers. FYI PTA dues mostly go to State PTA and National PTA. When a parents pays $10, the school site receives $ 1.50! Washington and perhaps Roosevelt do NOT have PTAs; they have Foundations, which frees them to raise a lot of money. Santa Barbara, support your teachers! Help us out! We really don't need your negative comments!
COMMENT 303668	2012-08-01 06:35 PM
684 Let me get this right. If I disagree with the opinions of the Teachers union, then I'm automatically a member of the "peanut gallery?" And should get the correct information from the elites in the school district? How arrogant is that...
COMMENT 303829	2012-08-01 07:06 PM
PTAs have been taken over by the Teachers Unions - CTA. Scary little group of brainwashed parents, scared to death if they don't do the teacher union bidding their kid is going to get singled out.
SBJULES	2012-08-01 07:49 PM
I was taught to respect teachers. There are teachers in my family & I've seen how hard they work. If parents bad mouth teachers like many posters above will their children respect their teachers?
COMMENT 303843	2012-08-01 08:01 PM
People, get involved in PTA yourselves to truly understand HOW they operate. Commenter #812 says that only $1.50 of a $10.00 dues goes to the school site. That is irrelevant, since that is a single time dues (drop in the bucket), NOT the BIG, monthly forms of $ contributions that we are TALKING about in these posts. PTA and parents contribute small and large dollars every day in the form of bake sales, jog-a-thons, carnival days, etc. and it is this money that PTA proudly raises and decides (with the input of school admin) how to dispense the monies that benefit ALL attending kids of that school. Commenter # 829 is grossly inaccurate. PTA boards make decisions to the best of their abilities and know far more then you do. Get involved at the top...in decison making boards and you will better understand.
COMMENT 303715	2012-08-01 08:12 PM
303715 - have you ever worked the lunch line at a school? Probably not. The free food served to the kids is excellent - most of these kids are used to eating Taco Bell so when they get fresh fruit they look at it in disgust. However, if you give them Taco Bell the school is lambasted for doling out unhealthy food. I hear that the Peabody garden program is going to be axed next since it is unfair that the other schools do not have them. I also hear that Washington needs to remove their playground since it is unfair that they get an ocean view.
DILLYDALLY	2012-08-01 11:29 PM
@303715 Very confusing, are you responding to yourself? I think a school should be able to spend this parent supplied finding on whatever education they choose. Seems obvious but spend the time and effort improving all schools not holding back the top schools. I want the most talented teachers possible, any system (current or proposed) that jeopardizes that should be dismissed. People who advocate for less benefits, less pay, less job security, bigger class sizes etc... clearly lack the ability to understand cause and effect. Tenure needs to be evaluated and reformed, that's a good start.
COMMENT 303811P	2012-08-02 12:33 AM
@715 - Ha, ha. Washington School does have an amazing ocean view. It doesn't mean they should put up a big block wall to hide it just because the other schools don't have the same view. That would be ridiculous. In the same way, a school should not have to give up the specialty teachers just because another school doesn't have them, if they are paid for by the parents through fundraisers, ie. PTO/PTA. That would be ridiculous.
COMMENT 303898	2012-08-02 07:26 AM
@811P Agreed. Segregation forever!
COMMENT 303829	2012-08-02 07:38 AM
1. Teachers don't work harder than many other professions; in fact they work a lot less, have shorter hours, more time off, paid holidays, professional development days and work only 180 days a year. 2. Teachers get approx $10,000 worth of free benefits on top of their salaries. Because health care costs rise faster than any other part of the economy, they have been asked to absorb some of those costs. They could opt out and join the ranks of the rest of us looking for low-cost high deductible insurance all paid with out-of-pocket monies. 3. Teachers get a special tax deduction for anything they claim they "use in the classroom". Anyone check to see what they in fact are deducting under this tax loophole? 4. Teachers can opt-out of their $1000 a year union dues and donate that money to the SB Education Foundation if they really want to help their classrooms.
CANAVERAL	2012-08-02 08:44 AM
Hi All, I'm Simon Dixon the PTO President at Washington Elementary. There has been much confusion and misinformation about this issue over the last few days. The short answer is that there has been confusion in the District over how specialists can be hired. Now it has been clarified: the District does the hiring but the PTA/PTO's CAN do the paying (via donation accounts) - if we want more specialists than the school can afford on its own. I'm sure it has escaped no-ones attention that California is in a budget crisis. To suggest that teachers with their woefully low salaries are the problem is ludicrous. I have learned that there are some very unhappy people writing things on EdHat and I think those of you will react negatively no matter what the subject. To the rest of you I will say that Dr. Cash and his staff are working very hard to ameliorate this issue and will continue to try and work miracles with the ever dwindling education budgets. I have run into very few people in our local education system from the Superintendent down to the newest teachers who do not work their tails off. I know at Washington our budget has been halved twice and may get halved again. This is not a union problem it is a priority problem. We either start spending on the education of the future workers/visionaries/entrepreneurs of the USA or we just buy some cantonese language teachers so our kids can speak to their future bosses. If you can read all the above - thank a teacher!
COMMENT 303948P	2012-08-02 09:09 AM
I'm in no way anti-teacher, but I don't think their salaries are "woefully low." Part of the problem with local educational programs here and elsewhere is a too top-heavy administration rather than the perceived payroll issues of the rank and file teachers and staff. Oh, and it's Mandarin, not Cantonese, that we'd want to be teaching the kids. Likely will be useful regardless of the employment hierarchy.
COMMENT 303829	2012-08-02 09:15 AM
There is no budget crisis in this state. The CTA (California Teachers Association) has been milking this state as the top lobbyest for decades. 50% of all our tax dollars go to education. "Woefully low salaries" to work 180 days with $10,000 of tax free benefits just shows how out of touch the education industry is. They need to worry about the "woefully low" test scores they keep putting out. Tax payers are tired of throwing money at education and getting nothing but ingratitude, demands for more in return. This prior Canaveral pitch is nothing but teacher union-speak from teacher-union central. Ignore it. You have heard it before: we are underpaid, overworked, our morale is bad and we will take it out on your kids if you don't give us more money with no questions asked.
CANAVERAL	2012-08-02 09:24 AM
Thanks for the correction on cantonese/mandarin 948.
COMMENT 303715	2012-08-02 09:28 AM
Principal of San Marcos a couple years ago retired - why? In his own words he would actually make more money being retired. Awesome elementary school teacher in her late forties retires - why? In her own words - it wasn't worth it based on the pension she would be getting. Singing ex-police officer at Fiesta who is also fit enough to run triathlons retires with a 100% pension+benefits totaling over $100K a year for the rest of his life. Government needs to figure out a way to put these people to work if they still intend to get money from tax payers. BTW - PTA/PTOs rock!!! Without them our schools would be hurting even more.
COMMENT 303973	2012-08-02 09:36 AM
Teachers are generally wonderful people who do a lot for our kids. They are feeling the pain of the State budget and the poor economy, much like the rest of us. The Santa Barbara teachers have to take a number of furlough days next year (the Goleta elementary teachers do not) and that means a pay cut for them. These are tough times for everyone so perhaps people could be a little more gracious and understanding on all sides of these issues. There is a way for those of you who want to help the situtation - get involved! There are three school board seats up in Santa Barbara and two in Goleta. The PTAs always appreciate more volunteers. The best way to make a difference in our schools is to serve!
COMMENT 303668	2012-08-02 10:19 AM
To canaveral. "To the rest of you?" More arrogance to hard workers with a different point of view. Want more money? Just keep increasing tuition costs on the children you so desperately wish to help. Go ahead and bankrupt them with no hope of job opportunities in a shrinking economy. Don't you get it yet? There is no more money! Quit spending and start cutting this out of control educational system in the "interest of the children."
COMMENT 304015	2012-08-02 10:57 AM
Speaking to a close friend who has been a teacher for the past 25 years (out of the area), his job has changed for the worse in this particular area for a one particularly large reason. Rather than teaching, he is forced to spend a large portion of his time policing actions by children who break the rules, and has to dedicate all his efforts on discipline rather than education. Having known him for a long time, I know he cares, and would love to continue teaching, but the attitude with the children is very different than when he began this profession. Next time you question why a teacher is upset or frustrated, consider this instance. A person who wishes to entice thought and learning is forced to be an administrator. I'd be pretty frustrated myself. To me, it brings up the question as to whether we should blame the parents for these kids.
COMMENT 304064	2012-08-02 12:36 PM
I am saddened to read that schools are allegedly being told to axe certain programs because "it's not fair " on other schools that don't have them? Surley if a school wants a particula program it can go to some lengths to try to achieve it? My kids' school raises money for what it needs: special fired trips, unique celebrations, specialist teachers. If the kids show an interest in somethig the school does its best to foster it. Why should the schools with the inspiration and imagination to do as much as possible for our kids be penalized for the ones that have not use. d the opportunities to join in.I hope that Peabody does not lose its garden program - such a win-win situation for everyone. If other schools want one why can't they just DO IT? Everyone pitches in and it happens! My kids don't go to Peabody but all I ever hear about that school is that it has amazing programs. Well it's a public school, isn't it, so if Peabody can make things happen why can't the rest of us?
COMMENT 303715	2012-08-02 12:49 PM
Franklin's free breakfast and after school day care program is now being shut down because the parents from the elitist Washington school are claiming it is not fair. Apparently kids fed a breakfast have an unfair learning advantage over ones who do not. Peabody is also being ordered to destroy all of the food produced at their garden since it is not being FDA inspected for public consumption. It just takes one kid to eat a rotten tomato, get sick, and then sue the school district. Math Superbowl is also being put on hold until all of the tests are printed bilingual. Soccer is also being banned as a recess/lunchtime activity since Hispanics have an unfair cultural advantage of others.
COMMENT 303748	2012-08-02 02:02 PM
Oh I love it when people twist statistics for their own purpose. So you say teachers get their salary by working only 180 days? Well, I hate to tell you that the average full-time salaried employee that works all 12 months only works 220 days a year. That's only 22% more total days. And they most definitely average more than 22% higher salary than teachers. The fact is that teachers work a lot MORE than 180 days. But your point has been blown out of the water already, so I'll just leave it go at that.
COMMENT 303668	2012-08-02 02:21 PM
105 Don't forget to factor in the health care and pension benefits. Are you getting your stats from the Department of Education? Reference where you obtained your statistics, its a teaching moment for you. Time to educate the general public. "I'll leave it go at that?" How convienent.
CANAVERAL	2012-08-02 02:27 PM
to 074 I can say for sure that Washington Parents have nothing to do with anything going on or being cancelled at Franklin. In that we have our own kids that get provided free meals and after-school assistance why would we be looking to shut it down? Not sure if the rest of your post is as factually incorrect (and intentionally incendiary I suspect) but that certainly is. And "elitist Washington"? Please explain how our "public school" that gets less than a FIFTH of the funding that Franklin gets is elitist. Franklin gets over $1000 per student per year in funding from the State, Washington gets $200. We have to fund-raise $250,000 per year just so our kids can have the same programs that you get provided to you for free and yet we are elitist? Again, please explain. I have a more than full-time job and I make time to fulfill my PTO duties. And there are a LOT of parents that volunteer and donate plenty more than me. Is "very active parent body" your definition of elitist? If so, then perhaps we are...
COMMENT 303715	2012-08-02 02:36 PM
The root cause to most of California's educational issues is the influx of illegal immigrants that have flooded our school system over the past 40 years. The forecasting models did not account for this influx as well as the sheer numbers of kids these immigrants are having. Models assume some level of per-capita tax contribution to support additional educational expenses - not only do we have more kids but the parents of these kids also generate far less tax income to offset the educational expenses. Even worse these ESL kids further strain the budget by requiring the State to offer numerous other expensive programs to subsidize these kids in the form of free meals, transportation, day care, bilingual resources, etc... It is a complete mess. Teacher unions only exasperated the budget problems.
COMMENT 303668	2012-08-02 03:59 PM
224 ditto... What ever happened to assimilating into the American culture? Just make it tough love. When they learn the English language, welcome them with open loving arms into the "American" school system. There's no need to create millions of different cultures. Is there? Ok, I exaggerated, 500 different cultures, neighborhoods, languages, ballots, language professionals, etc etc etc. End this madness. Time to become American again.
DILLYDALLY	2012-08-02 04:05 PM
@748, well said, I was going to make that point.
COMMENT 303715	2012-08-02 04:40 PM
Wake up put clothes on. Get on bus got to school. Get free breakfast. Get free education in AM. Get free lunch and play on play ground. Get free education in PM. After school get free day care and do home work. Go home and do more home work. Get free meal paid for by food stamps. Instead of vandalizing your neighborhood go to bed. Repeat process. How hard is this? Especially in Santa Barbara where you do not have to deal with oppressive weather. Problem is instead of doing homework and going to bed on time the culture of these kids is to pick up a can of paint and graffiti the walls along the 101. At least these kids have family around. Many kids in Montecito are raised by nannies and have parents spending time having to travel to work. Who has it worse off?
COMMENT 303667	2012-08-02 07:02 PM
Re: Teachers working less. They work only 10 months a year, but during those 10 months they average 50 - 60 hours per week. If you don't believe this, you must not know too many teachers. Re: Teachers' pay. In Santa Barbara, a teacher can never make more than about $80,000 per year. Even after 20 years of working, with a Master's degree. Horrifically underpaid. Re: Benefits: Teachers pay over $300/month for lousy insurance. Re: Retirement: After 30 years of teaching, you can retire on about $5700/mo, no health insurance included. Re: Union Dues: You have to pay it, no choice. Re: Respect: How many other professions get pilloried with misinformation all over the Internet?
COMMENT 304015	2012-08-03 08:24 AM
715: Your speculation is based on nothing more than your opinion. I especially like the part where you state that the problem kids have families around, so there is no excuse. Since you said it, this must be the situation for every child, right? Its not like low income parents ever work 2 jobs, giving them virtually no time to spend with their kids. Its not like they ever work night shifts, requiring them to sleep during the day. They NEVER work weekends, the best time to take your kid to a park, fishing, camping, whatever. The kids in montecito aren't exactly angels, and have their fair share of problems too. I'll say this much, they are better off being raised by a nanny than an older brother who took the wrong path in life.
COMMENT 303829	2012-08-03 08:50 AM
Teacher unions constantly brainwash teachers to complain they are: 1. underpaid, 2. overworked, 3. under-appreciated and 4. suffer from bad morale Union bosses have to keep the troops unhappy to justify their own mega-salaries paid for by forced union dues. Teachers can opt out of paying their union dues any time they want, and make an in lieu charitable donation. What is scary is how many teachers come here and parrot this union party, line without a shred of self-reflection. This is not a person I want teaching our future generations. I hope they take their unhappiness and leave the classroom ASAP. There is 8.5% unemployment in this country. There are thousands of unemployed college grads. Move aside and leave the door open for someone who appreciates the job and hates their teachers unions enough to donate that mandated union dues to organizations that can truly help education.
COMMENT 303715	2012-08-03 09:44 AM
If you can not afford to raise kids properly and tend to their needs - then do not have them. Or at least do not have 7 of them. Until we address this issue we will never solve the problem. America was founded on people assimilating themselves, working hard, and having some sense of moral obligation. Many Asian families who immigrated here working 3 jobs to make ends meet were able to raise kids that did well in school. Why is this? They never wanted/needed an ESL program to get by. Instead of having your kids make those cascarones that little our streets every fiesta - have them do their homework.
COMMENT 304368	2012-08-03 09:52 AM
Personally, I blame the pope.
COMMENT 303829	2012-08-03 12:44 PM
The nanny-state is complete when the schools themselves (run by nanny-state teacher unions) say they have to step in now and act as surrogate parents. No, they have to act as teachers with dignity and respect to educate students in proper age-based curriculum as required by our public education system. They can refer social problems out to appropriate non-profits, religious organizations, and state care facilities. But they are paid to teach, and they had darn well better start doing what they are getting paid for. Stop dressing, acting and talking like the very people they are entrusted to educate and improve. Teachers themselves have brought on this crisis in the classroom. Get back to teaching and letting problem kids know they have standards for proper classroom conduct. Which is to sit there and learn. There is nothing but unstructured chaos now in classrooms and the worst performance scores in the industrialized world.
HALIENS	2012-08-06 09:31 AM
I am the PTA president at one of our local schools. I can assure you that we are not "taken over by the teachers' union", nor are we scared by the wonderful teachers and administrators who work so hard to teach our kids. Every parent I know who is active in PTA does this work because we truly believe schools operate best when teachers, parents, administrators and students work collaboratively. As well, the PTA boards work tirelessly to communicate with and engage ALL parents in our schools. If the PTA is a small group of parents, it is simply because others choose not to get involved, not because they are excluded, either covertly or overtly. I can only speculate that the teacher to whom the Edhat reader spoke misunderstood the current situation. It IS true that all fundraising efforts must now include an explicit disclaimer stating that donations are strictly voluntary, and no child will be excluded from a school activity if the parent is unable to donate. However, we continue to raise funds to help out in many ways throughout the schools, as PTAs have always done.

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