Taxpayer Frustration
Nov. 2, 2007

"The budget approved by the board - which carried a 9% hike in property taxes that actually will be felt as a 6.27% increase when tax credits are included - will mark the third time in four years that city residents will face a property tax increase for schools of 7.75% or higher."

MPS board approves 9% tax levy increase

Official attendance figures for this fall, released by Milwaukee Public Schools officials, show that the enrollment in the traditional MPS schools is down for at least the ninth year in a row. Since 1998, the number of students in elementary, middle and high schools has declined from 96,942 to 81,381, a 16% drop. Between a year ago and now, the drop was 3,522, or more than 4%.

The face of Milwaukee Public Schools is changing

Violence in Milwaukee Public Schools has intensified, and calls to police have become daily occurrences in some of the city's schools.

MPS violence intensifying

The bar for labeling a student proficient in reading and math is set lower in Wisconsin than in almost any other state among 26 in a study released Wednesday.

State sets low test standards

The average reading ability for fourth- and eighth-grade black students in Wisconsin is the lowest of any state, and the reading achievement gap between black students and white students in Wisconsin continues to be the worst in the nation.

Reading gap is nation's worst

Wisconsin's not underspending. We're already 12th-highest in per-pupil spending, 11% above the national average .... spending on benefits, at 57% above the national average, is eating the budget.

Fixing school funding is more than just 'more'

In the main funds used to pay for educating kids — the largest portions of the MPS budget — 75% of spending went to compensation for employees: 49% for salary and 26% for benefits, the report says.

'Difficult years' ahead for MPS

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A black homeschooling mom

I have to say that it's sad that so many black parents are so hung up on the past civil rights era, that they won't admit that the system is horrible for everyone. The prevailing thoughts of "we fought hard to get an equal education" are still the sad rallying cry for so many black parents.

Far worse, it has been especially devasting to the black community. Low expectations, institutionalized bias ( the zero tolerance policies ), and fatherless homes have all contributed to an educational system that sets these poor children up for failure. The system is the most harsh on young black boys.

I use the classical method for my girls ( I have 3 ) and I can honestly say that it really forces them to think. I love: The Well Trained Mind, The Latin Centered Curriculum, and Teaching the Trivium. They are true gems. We use Sonlight for History and Language Arts, Apologia Science ( Botany and General Science ), Ray's Arithmetic, Memoria Press and Rosetta Stone. We are also hooked on Answers in Genesis books and Magazines as well.

I can honestly say, that we are much happier as a family now. My girls can see that the world is more than European history, and that cultures from all over the world have contributed to mankind. They also know and believe Gods' word, and know that the world was created in the literal 6 days.

The tax payer money is going down the deeply lined pockets of the NEA and other teachers' unions. They aren't interested in teaching the 3R's, just their social agendas. They are now being "fired" on the spot for such bad reasoning and decisions by homeschooling parents, and I say that it's about time.


I thank God that he has allowed me to homeschool, and I can teach my children that we are of the one blood of Adam. Education is a gift from God, not the educational powers that be.

Anonymous - 11:51 AM - Nov. 2, 2007

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