Bickering, confusion

By Published by The Editorial Board

Published: July 22, 2008

I haven’t submitted an opinion to the local papers in quite a while, but as a homeowner, taxpayer, and committed educator, I feel compelled to speak up today. 
First, last week’s letter to the editor from Jeffrey Sykes shows that he miscomprehends the failed school sales-tax initiative. What no one was able to make clear to the public about the sales tax before it was voted down is that it was the only logical way for Rockingham County to extract money for our schools from drug and crime-moneyed high-rollers who are officially unemployed, pay no income taxes, nor vote. A half-penny tax on cocaine and prostitution-financed new vehicles, mag wheels, flat-screen TVs, jewelry, booze, etc. would help offset the rising cost of education in Rockingham County. Drug dealers don’t care about the costs of educating their offspring any more than they care about the effect of their lifestyle on their children.
While everyone bemoans the cost of gas and utilities, few voters consider that school buses run on gas and classrooms are heated, cooled and kept lit with the same costly fuels we use in our homes. Then, there are the rising costs of books, field trips (kiss ‘em goodbye), and other tools schools have traditionally had at their disposal to enrich education.
Parents grouse about the endless fundraisers our schools do, but what choice have we? The fiscal corner that schools have been painted into often forces them to “rob Peter to pay Paul” in this way. As for the Caddyshack-set that effectively blocked the measure, the tax would only put a wee dent in their deep pockets. One less hour per month of partying in the clubhouse would completely offset the “additional tax burden.”
Additionally, Mr. Sykes managed to show support for, then make look dopey (see the final quote in the letter, “get moving on what we got [sic]”), a school board member. 
Next, Sunday’s huge article about the last Rockingham County school board get-together, quotes and all, painted an extremely unflattering portrait of that elected body. Robert’s Rules of Order were nowhere in evidence. The article read like a transcript of a poorly managed classroom, or school faculty meeting—sidebar conversations everywhere, a lack of listening and focus, disrespect, and a handful of stalwarts (such as board member Nell Rose) trying to actually learn and accomplish something amidst the mayhem. And what did that $25,000 architectural consulting fee accomplish? A good rule-of-thumb for the future would be to discontinue the widespread Rockingham County practice of throwing big money at out-of-towners to throw darts at problems they cannot fathom. 
It pains me that nowhere in the bickering and confusion about what to do with Eden’s Draper and Douglass schools were the children who attend them or learning objectives that might be accomplished there discussed.

Bret Harold Hart
Eden