Opinion

One of my 'Are you kidding me' items

Friday, August 28, 2015

Over the years, I have learned to temper my judgments and corresponding emotional reactions, when confronted with seemingly needless events, practices, or things that appear to be without reason. Having said that, there are often some issues that gnaw so relentlessly at my sense of well being, that I am compelled to speak out, or suffer the assured and irreparable damage to my soul. My list of unneeded stuff is lengthy.

At the very top of this current list is an all too common action that is taking place right now in real time at our public schools. Let me state for the record first and foremost, that I am, and always have been, a dedicated supporter of our public schools. I consider the education that we offer locally to be exceptional, and one that we can all view with pride.

Just because I am a supporter does not mean, that if and when I find a "thorny issue," I allow my love of these schools to prevent me from pointing out issues, that I deem in need of either change, or at the least, discussion.

I recently was reminded of this most current issue, when I visited with a single mother of three students in the Nevada R-5 School District. The story she related to me was not a new version of the tale, nor is it uncommon.

Truth be known, I fear the elements of this problem are widespread.

By the way, this person is a hard working individual, who works at multiple jobs, to make ends meet for her and her family. I casually asked her if she was finally glad that school had begun again.

Her reply made me angry, sad, and then outraged. She had just left Wal-Mart, to buy another $200 of school supplies, in addition to what she had already purchased. She told me that there were more items that would have to be bought in the next few days. One should note here, that these purchases were school supplies. She had already spent quite a bit of money on clothes for the new school year as well.

A week or two ago I saw a list from one of the schools in the area, that categorized what parents should buy for their elementary age children at that particular school. After scanning the list, I was amazed that they had not asked for each student to have on hand a cardiac defibrillator, and perhaps a set of "Jaws of Life!"

As a former educator, I used to list needed items for my classroom thoughtfully. I asked that each student have paper. They could use notebook paper, spiral notepaper, or even an old-fashioned "Big Chief" tablet, like the one I had as a kid. They were also asked to bring something to write with. I even suggested that a pencil would be great, because they failed less often, and they didn't make messes.

I thought my job was to teach, not to be a salesman for Wal-Mart. Perhaps there are some basics on today's lists, that are actually necessary, but the ones I have observed are absurd.

I challenge our board of education, our school administration, and the teachers themselves, to stop and think about these current extravagant school supply lists.

Be honest and ask yourself just how much of these lengthy listed items are actually necessities. Think about the many hard working families out there, some of whom are single parents, who have to buy all these items.

This mother I visited with is the type who will forego many other things she would like to give to her kids, rather than feel as if she is depriving them, in any way where their education is concerned.

There is a "Law" in the field of economics called the

"The Law of Diminishing Returns!" The basis of this rule is simple. Let's say you have a successful lemonade stand and are contemplating increasing your business.

Your lemonade stand sells out almost every hot afternoon. This is due mostly to the fact that your lemonade is homemade, and it is served at a reasonable price. It is also served by you on a busy street corner.

You decide that since you are making a decent profit on your sale of lemonade, that if you build more stands, you will make lots more money. To most people this sounds reasonable.

They forget that there are pitfalls to this plan of increasing sales. First, you will have to find someone else to make and sell the extra lemonade. That means you have to hire more people, and also depend upon them to make the same good lemonade. They must also be friendly and get along with the public.

The new lemonade stands must also have new locations. Even if the new help and lemonade quality are good, the new locations may not provide as much traffic for sales.

The law of diminishing returns basically says that more of a good thing is not always better, and if you add too much, the results will begin to diminish.

The classrooms at Oxford in England are often in buildings that are centuries old. Guess what they do have?

They have the finest teachers in the world.

I realize that as the world changes so does education, but to me this is asking too much of too many families. I ask each of my readers to check with some friends and families you know, who have kids in school. See how much it is costing to get a child ready for their classroom this year.

More lemon, more sugar, more ice, or even a bigger glass, does not make for a better lemonade stands success.

Neither do these ridiculous lists make for better education!