Lincoln Elementary’s solution overlooks the problem

Thursday, March 1, 2007

Lincoln Elementary’s solution overlooks the problem

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Two principals or 10 principals at Lincoln Elementary School overlooks root problems of parental involvement, discipline, and politics (‘‘Lincoln Elementary considers radical improvement options,” Feb. 1).

Whenever No Child Left Behind is mentioned, there seems to be a prejudiced view that President George W. Bush has stolen somebody’s lunch money. I wonder if No Child Left Behind will somehow be ‘‘improved” and become a noble cause with a Democrat in the White House.

As it is, Lincoln Elementary has special needs that could be more easily addressed with smaller classroom sizes that are closed with fewer distractions. Freedom of school choice would go far beyond Lincoln Elementary.

Of course, you would have to overcome the stranglehold the teachers’ union has over the politicians who so freely take our tax money and jealously guard their dominance over what to do with our tax money and our children.

The problem with schools is a sense of entitlement over parental choice, whereas ensuring special-needs children are fed, all children in these schools seem to be lumped into the same category; and, once again, parental choice gets thrown out the window.

Parents have a duty to ensure discipline in their homes so that a child enters school with one intention — to learn, not disrupt. However, there are some who wish to take away this right from parents also, leaving only law enforcement where parents should be teaching right from wrong.

How can this be conducive to education?

Once again, a lop-sided political agenda interferes with what’s best for our children. Taxing us, shutting us out from how are children’s tax dollars are spent, monopolizing the education system, and failing schools. What’s a parent to do?

Home school seems to be the only option left for those of us who don’t wish to leave our children in this political meat-grinder. Like many others, we cannot afford private school, and yet we get neither tax incentives for alleviating over-crowded classes, nor access to our tax dollars to send our children to the school of our choice or to even purchase curriculum.

Freedom of choice in our children’s education sounds wholesomely American to me. Of course, the myopic shibboleth that is the teachers’ union continues to leave the broken bodies of parents and children in its wake, and will continue to do so until Americans find the political will to stand up to this reckless juggernaut.

I always root for the underdog, and that seems to be collectively the parents and ultimately the children. I only wish there was a way to withhold my share of taxes from this unresponsive beast that goes by the name of education.

Withholding money from this beast is the only thing that seems to get its attention.

Bruce M. Carlen, Frederick