A Brave New Group
E. Boyer
There it is. In last week’s Post. A tiny, little blurb that should give us the clue to brace ourselves. It said “We have a gap of $1.2 million. I think we can close the gap.” That’s Piedmont School District speak for “get ready to take it in the rear-end because we’re preparing to cry poverty and will expect all the devoted citizens of Piedmont to pony-up.” Grrr, Booo, Hiss…that’s the sound of all the unconditional PUSD supporters knashing their teeth and bearing their claws. Lighten-up kids…you aren’t really supposed to take me seriously, it says so at the end of every column! But, seriously, sometimes I think of the PUSD as a spoiled child. It demands funds and then sits back and waits for it’s ever hopeful parents to meet the demand. No questions. No expectations for improvement. Just hand over the cash and no one gets hurt. I think we all know how things turn out with the spoiled child…they grow up and blow their trust fund on a motorcycle gang member and then move back home at age 31 with no job, no prospects and in their Zen lifestyle “phase.” Beautiful. I know it’s horrifically unpopular to question the stupendousness of the PUSD but does this blind faith really benefit the kids? Does this unconditional praise of the system really put our children first? Or, could it be crippling our district? Taking away their incentive to improve? Has anyone besides me ever thought, “Hey, rather than hand over truck loads of cash without expectation of improvements that would benefit the students and improve the quality of their education , maybe we should take a closer look at whether or not the system is genuinely working for the students and if the teachers and administrators are really the best the industry has to offer.” More Grrrs , Boos and Hissing. We spend tons of time and money conducting Environmental Impact reports, feasibility studies, turf vs. grass studies_______________ why not really find out how are students are holding up? Is the quality of their lives as good as it can be? Are they happy? Are they getting an education in the classroom or is most of that taking place at their kitchen tables at 2 a.m.? We already know they test well…their parents have invested small fortunes to make sure of that. But how are they really? What is their quality of their education…in the classroom? I know, it’s probably just me but I’d kinda like some real evidence that things are perfect rather than just a highly educated and intimidating group of PUSD cheerleaders insisting that it’s so. I realize that cocktails and hob-nobbing at all the big fundraisers are way sexier than taking a close look at the inner workings of the PUSD. It’s like a new kitchen vs. repairing the foundation. Some things are just more appealing. More fun. Here’s the thing…articles like this are hugely unpopular in this town and it’s out of the question to submit them if you still have children in the school system. Why? Because everyone is afraid that they’ll be tarred and feathered…and they’re probably right! That’s a shame. It’s as though everyone is hiding behind the secret thought that maybe the education their child is getting here doesn’t quite measure up to the 3 million they paid for their house. Or, If their child doesn’t stay at the top of their class they won’t be Cal or Ivy bound and that would be embarrassing. So, as parents who want only the best for our children, we forge ahead with tutors, ridiculous late night hours and far too much stress and anxiety, all the while wondering, secretly, privately…why isn’t my child getting what they need in the classroom? If the system is so good, why is my child so miserable or exhausted? I think a lot of parents have these thoughts. But, they dare not speak them out loud because that would be unpopular. So, with our children’s best interests in mind, when the next round of fundraising comes along, perhaps an extremely brave, conscientious and yes, unpopular group will form whose message will be “Yes, we’d like to support our schools and yes, we’ll write checks, but we’d first like to make the necessary adjustments in the system to ensure that our children’s educational needs are being met and preferably exceeded.” After all, it is the education and well being of the children that’s important. New facilities are certainly lovely but a genuine education and real learning can occur under the shade of a tree assuming competent instruction. As much as I love the new Havens structure, and I do, I also think it would have been wonderful to see a few million go into programs that would enhance the actual education part of the educational system. And in doing so, maybe lessen the need for students staying up until 2 a.m. ,anti-depressants, tutors, etc. Hey, who knows, maybe they could even enjoy being kids for awhile.
