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Ashburn Auntie is a blogger who prefers to remain anonymous. She writes about her experiences living in Ashburn and watching her nieces and nephews grow up.]
My niece started kindergarten today! She is the apple of my eye, and I asked for the special privilege of purchasing her school supplies with her this year. When my sister handed me the list, I gulped loudly. I had volunteered to buy school supplies for my niece, not the whole kindergarten class. What started as a very special day, ended for me on a very sour note! After purchasing 12 boxes of crayons, two pairs of scissors, countless pencils, Kleenex, zip-loc bags (in two sizes), etc. I became further enraged that the items I purchased had to be very specific brands and colors - generic brands, or creative colors weren’t allowed!
Today, I saw this promotion by the Chamber of Commerce:
State of Education 2011
Date: August 30, 2011 Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Event Description 2011 Policymaker Series: "The State of Education"
featuring Superintendent Dr. Edgar Hatrick
Dr. Hatrick is the “CEO” of the Loudoun County Public School system, with a $710 million annual budget, 79 schools, more than 60,000 students and an educational program that ranks with the nation’s best. Loudoun's business and community leaders are invited to hear Dr. Ed Hatrick offer his annual report on the quality of public education in Loudoun, including his thoughts on the strong partnership between the Public Schools and Loudoun’s business community and how the county’s world class public schools supports a strong business climate.
Ok, now I am confused! Are our tax dollars being used to purchase stock in a large corporation? Are our schools being run for someone’s “profit”? And, why exactly is LCPS focusing on supporting a “strong business climate” as opposed to providing the best education that Loudoun taxpayers can afford? And, what the heck does the Chamber of Commerce have to do with how we educate our children?
I guess I could spend hours (and I have) debating all the issues surrounding how we look at education, but let’s just focus on the” business” aspect of LCPS. As “shareholders” we should be angry - our stock is decreasing in value every day. How many corporations do you know where the shareholders must provide the essential tools to conduct business, such as pens, pencils, scissors and paper? In such a corporation, would we allow the “CEO” to be receiving a huge salary as well as annual increases- as well as full benefits? Would we praise such a CEO for running the corporation into the ground, or would we demand the removal of such a CEO?
It sickens me that we are even looking at our schools like corporations, being run by a CEO, and influenced by the Chamber of Commerce. Parents are stuck with not only paying taxes, but also subsidizing the schools because LCPS doesn’t even provide the basic necessities such as crayons and Kleenex. Aren’t those things our tax dollars are supposed to be used for?
Yes, businesses are attracted to areas with great educational systems. However, our children and the quality of their AFFORDABLE education should be the focus, NOT attracting big business at the expense of taxpayers. It’s ironic that the big businesses that the Chamber and LCPS want to attract at taxpayer expense are the same big businesses the Chamber will demand tax breaks for while our taxes steadily increase.
As I remember my niece’s excited snaggle-toothed smile getting off the bus today, I have no doubt of the type of educational system LCPS should have. It should be one where SHE and other children are not treated as a commodity, or a statistic to bolster the “CEO’s” approval rating, or as a pawn to attract business to Loudoun, but one where our children’s education comes first and foremost above everything else, and where the quality of family life is not sacrificed to fund a failing business model.
