School taxes

alwayswatching · Guru

School taxes

Scott Leffler · Guru

Always -

Don't be afraid to quote or point people to other media ... I do it all the time.

Side note: You must log in to vote in a poll. So all you anonymous people, sign up or opt out on this one. :)

Mindcrime · Guru

The idea that everyone pays school taxes stems from the theory that everyone will benefit from educating their community. (everyone will be able to read, do simple math, become contributing members of society rather than burdens).

But lately, I don't think people get what they pay for. The average intelligence of a high-schooler is not worth what the public shells out in taxes. I would expect an 18-year-old to be able to at least read street signs, make change and know how many continents there are.

Either the teachers aren't doing their job, or the students are unable to learn (or unintersted in learning). I can't say which is more likely. But we shouldn't have to pay $20 for a $5 lunch.

alwayswatching · Guru

Very good point MC. But how do we fix the system?

Mindcrime · Guru

I'm not sure there's anything proactive we CAN do as a community.

Students have to want to learn, teachers have to learn to teach to them effectively. It's really up to them.

Enacting policies, rules, standards, etc. has never worked in the past. There needs to be real incentive on both sides. I know throwing more money at a problem rarely solves it. Perhaps a rewards system? Make certain aspects of school a priviledge (For both students and teachers) and reward them for scholastic achievment?

Anyone have other ideas?

alwayswatching · Guru

The story below is from the Buffalo News. How does this apply to the issues at hand? I heard on the local tv news that the parents are complaining the policy has gray areas/loop holes. The kids should not be suspended because the School Board was not clear enough. What are these kids really learning and from whom?

Fourteen student-athletes at Tonawanda High School have been suspended from their teams for the spring season after being among the 55 young people cited by City of Tonawanda police for attending a drinking party.

The school, following its Code of Conduct for student-athletes, suspended six baseball players, four softball players, two tennis players and one member each from the track team and cheerleading squad, Tonawanda School Superintendent George Batterson said.

One of the tennis players also was suspended from the school musical.

"We're very strict in Tonawanda," Batterson said of the zero-tolerance policy. "We believe that school districts should take a strong stance on alcohol and drug use with minors.

"We also believe our student-athletes are role models, and a lot of kids look up to them."

The school district has a Code of Conduct Committee, made up of teachers, students, administrators and School Board members. Athletes sign the code, which prohibits drinking, smoking and drug use. If police cite an athlete for being at a drinking party, the student is suspended for the remainder of that season.

Batterson said 24 current Tonawanda High School students and 19 graduates were among the 55 cited by police. Those 55 were issued summonses for possession of alcohol with intent to consume under the state's Alcohol Beverage Control law.

City of Tonawanda police responded at about 12:15 a.m. Saturday to the complaint of a loud party at a home on Elmwood Park West.

After discovering many windows covered with insulation on the inside, officers entered and confiscated three 30-packs of beer and bags filled with empty alcohol containers. They also rounded up the 55 underage people, including 14 who were hiding in the home.

Police said the homeowners, Robert Peters, assistant superintendent of public works in the City of Tonawanda, and Barbara Peters, assistant superintendent of schools, were on a cruise and had no knowledge of the party.

Their two sons, Brian J. Peters, 25, and Erik A. Baker, 20, were charged with misdemeanor unlawful dealing with a child for providing alcohol to minors. Baker also was one of the 55 youths issued a summons.

-- Edited by alwayswatching at 20:25, 2005-03-09

Mindcrime · Guru

While I haven't actually read the aforementioned policy, it sounds pretty straight forward: no drugs, alcohol or smoking. They were at a party where the policy was violated (probably all three but only alcohol was mentioned). The students were caught and thusly punished. Where is the grey area or loop hole? Did it only apply to school grounds?

While this is obviously an example of negative reinforcement, I'm not sure what good will come of it. I've never been a fan of Zero-Tolerance policies to begin with. They end up only hurting fringe offenders. They dont affect real criminals any more harshly.