I have always wondered how Christians can consciously vote to support the government school systems. On election days, Christians have actually asked me, "Did you vote for the children today?" I wanted to ask them, "Do you mean to ask me if I voted for my family's hard-earned money to support the schools that teach evolution, pro-homosexuality, anti-Christianity, and liberal agendas?" I want to answer, "No, as a Christian, I feel that it would be completely wrong for me to support these things. So I never vote to waste money on this type of schooling."
We have a tendency to think that the government system has always been here, and it must always be here, and that somehow, it is a necessary part of our country. But the government school system has failed over and over again. I feel we MUST bring change to this system of education, and I think the only way our voices will be heard is through our pocketbooks. Unfortunately, the only way I see that the government school system will ever change is by the financial collapse of the system.
Money keeps pouring into the government schools, and it has been proven that more money does NOT mean better education. Did you know that just this February 6 election alone will cost the Albuquerque Public School taxpayers about $50,000? That money is for the election alone. The amount of money that is wasted is in the government schools is unbelievable. I have had my children in private schools as well as our home school. The private school that my children were in had lockers that were "hand-me-downs" from a public school. These lockers were in fine condition, but they weren't good enough for the public school. Waste such as this goes on all the time.
Did you know that the last school bond vote which significantly increased our taxes was just last September? Do you know how few people were instrumental in this tax increase? Only nine percent of those eligible to vote did so. Of those nine percent that voted, 57 percent voted for the bond, and 43 percent voted against it. So approximately five percent of the eligible voters in Albuquerque affected the taxes of all property owners in the city. A Christian should never think that his or her one vote really doesn't count; it does count, greatly!
Principles Community Impact News had this to say about the February 6, 2007 election:
School Tax Election - Tue, Feb 6
Tired of two school tax elections a year? What is the total budget for education? Is there a conflict of interest for APS to promote their own bond issue? What recourse is there when the majority of people voting for school taxes are employees or parents of public school students?
APS usually gets what it asks for. At two elections a year, APS can raise more income. David Grieves (Note 1) of Yes For Our Children said there won't be another school tax election for two years after the election on Feb 6. Yes For Our Children has an operating budget of about $45,000 dollars this year but typically operates with $50K-$60K. Each color post card that goes out to selected zip codes with high voter turnout costs the organization about $6,000 per mailing. Yes For Our Children sends three to four post cards per election. Admirably, the director David Grieves receives no salary. Grieves raises the money separate from school taxes but APS does pay for election expenses. A single election costs APS (taxpayers) approximately [$50,000] (Note 2). APS officials are not supposed to advocate voting "for" the school bond but APS nevertheless contributes taxpayer resources such as the APS website and personnel (Rigo Chavez, 881-8421 x2 and Kizito Wijenje, 848-8892) to "educate" voters about the election.
There is no tie between APS and the City of Albuquerque, so public education cannot be included in the city budget. APS is overseen by the city school board composed of seven members representing the community. However, school tax elections could be combined with other elections to save taxpayer's money. However (again), a combined election draws more voters to the polls that might be more concerned about taxes. A separate election has a low turnout composed mainly of APS employees and parents that stand to benefit from the school taxes. Teachers send notes home with students to remind parents to vote. Turnout for major elections is typically about 50% or more of registered voters. School bond elections can draw as few as 10% or less of registered voters.
The only bond not passed in the Nov 06 election was the one called a tax - "Gross Receipts Quality of Life Tax." Nomenclature is important to deceive the voter into thinking he/she is not spending any money. Call a school tax a school tax instead of a "two-mill levy" and see if it passes. Advertisements emphasize "all while maintaining the current tax rate." Was the election for the original tax increase advertised as a permanent tax ad infinitum? Taxes should be evaluated on their own merit and not continued just because the organization has discovered a way to keep spending the money year after year. Reducing taxes is just as important as not increasing taxes. Show the taxpayers a total budget for education and provide accountability in keeping that budget while achieving a promised level of quality.
Principles CIM is just as concerned about education as the next person but have we forgotten the requirement is education, not public education. Poverty is linked to illiteracy. Businesses and organizations benefit from a well-educated population. But if students get educated, why does it matter where they are educated? Private education has proven more efficient and produces better educated students. Educate NM provides an option - school choice. Without competition, the oversight of accountability is costly and bloats administrative costs. House Bill 34 (PUBLIC SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY & ASSESSMENT), sponsored by Mimi Stewart, is a 21 page document with the details of public school accountability.
Think NM has an idea for improving public education in their publication Making New Mexico’s Public Schools World Class through Decentralization, Competition and Choice (2000). This publication proposes a "third way" to improving New Mexico's public schools, a middle path between the extremes of the status quo and vouchers. The report describes Think New Mexico's proposal for moving more power down to the state's individual schools by allowing New Mexicans to choose to implement site-based management. Site-based management would allow the principal, parents, and teachers at each school to make decisions about curricula, budgets, and hiring and firing. In tandem with New Mexico's open enrollment law, this would allow public schools to set their own paths, and students and parents to choose the school that is best for them.
Gov Johnson vetoed a bill in Mar 2002 that would have separated APS into smaller, more accountable districts only "after the APS board agreed to consider hiring private companies to manage failing schools." Johnson threatened to sign the bill, but said board President Leonard DeLayo had pledged the board's support for getting proposals from private companies to manage some APS schools. Smaller districts and school boards tend to produce more graduates and better students through greater accountability, smaller administration, and more parent involvement.
If businesses and organizations are concerned about the quality of education, they will likely make a better investment in private education, allowing children from all levels of society to choose their schools through scholarships, tax credits, or school vouchers.
Please send your comments regarding school taxes to principles@integrity.com.
(Note 1) Thanks to David Grieves for spending the time to provide information on the organization Yes For Our Children. We both agree that education is important. One of his children attended a private school.
(Note 2) Cost of election not verified due to non-responsive APS and County staff. The County bills APS for the election and neither organization can locate a previous bill.
Please, get out and vote February 6!
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