As a parent I have watched from when my oldest son who is now 15 started kindergarten to a class of only 18 kids compared to when my youngest son started last year in a class of 40! My oldest had a reading specialist, plus a classroom teacher, plus a classroom aide and a school day that was one whole hour longer for half day kindergarten. My youngest has more kids. His teacher shares an assistant with two other teachers.  No reading specialist.

Last I checked I am not paying any less in taxes for my property, car registration, or in sales tax. While my kids have been growing up the highest tax brackets have seen their contribution to the public institution of education drop. While my kids have been growing up the love for our classroom teachers who back in 2002 were respected members of our community are now viewed with suspicion as lazy union thugs.

At the rate we are going my grandchildren will not have the institution of quality free public education available to all as efforts are afoot to sell off our schools to corporations.

Here is some basic accounting.  Corporations MUST operate at a profit. Government contracts with corporations often work on a cost plus method of accounting. This means that after justified agreed upon expenses the corporation is guaranteed at least 5% – 15% in pure profit. It is only a matter of time before turning over schools to corporations as has happened with defense contracts that this pure profit is tacked on. It is hard enough to educate children. Imagine the character traits necessary for an administrator to effectively run a school while thinking about their annual profit sharing bonus. Then be honest with yourself how many of these such people have you ever known.

Education costs money period. It is time to stop cutting and talk about how to pay for this important priority in our community.

Mitt Romney if he is elected will only add to the pain our districts experience.  Register to vote, then vote for education.