Can we get MCPS to allow fundraising for staff positions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a higher income earner, I pay more county taxes. Those tax dollars are taken by the county to fund schools outside of my town. So, I've already done my part in helping out the poorer citizens of this county. If I should choose to contribute some more money to my local school, why shouldn't I be allowed to.

1. If you are a resident of the county, you do not live in a town, at least not for school district purposes. Your county taxes are used to fund county schools. Schools in the county in which you reside.


2. RE paying more taxes because you earn more: Yes, that is how taxation works.


3. Paying more taxes into a public system does not translate to you being allowed to do whatever you want with that public system.



Government 101.

How is any of this relevant ? I'm not questioning the system. The system is the system. I'm not taking or changing anything that the county does with my tax dollars. I'm saying that if I should choose to give above and beyond what I am obligated to give, why cant I ?

Answer that question instead of being obtuse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a higher income earner, I pay more county taxes. Those tax dollars are taken by the county to fund schools outside of my town. So, I've already done my part in helping out the poorer citizens of this county. If I should choose to contribute some more money to my local school, why shouldn't I be allowed to.

1. If you are a resident of the county, you do not live in a town, at least not for school district purposes. Your county taxes are used to fund county schools. Schools in the county in which you reside.


2. RE paying more taxes because you earn more: Yes, that is how taxation works.


3. Paying more taxes into a public system does not translate to you being allowed to do whatever you want with that public system.



Government 101.

How is any of this relevant ? I'm not questioning the system. The system is the system. I'm not taking or changing anything that the county does with my tax dollars. I'm saying that if I should choose to give above and beyond what I am obligated to give, why cant I ?

Answer that question instead of being obtuse.

You cannot because it is a public system used by all and not just you and your family. Its purpose is to serve all, not to serve just you and yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a higher income earner, I pay more county taxes. Those tax dollars are taken by the county to fund schools outside of my town. So, I've already done my part in helping out the poorer citizens of this county. If I should choose to contribute some more money to my local school, why shouldn't I be allowed to.

1. If you are a resident of the county, you do not live in a town, at least not for school district purposes. Your county taxes are used to fund county schools. Schools in the county in which you reside.


2. RE paying more taxes because you earn more: Yes, that is how taxation works.


3. Paying more taxes into a public system does not translate to you being allowed to do whatever you want with that public system.



Government 101.

How is any of this relevant ? I'm not questioning the system. The system is the system. I'm not taking or changing anything that the county does with my tax dollars. I'm saying that if I should choose to give above and beyond what I am obligated to give, why cant I ?

Answer that question instead of being obtuse.

You cannot because it is a public system used by all and not just you and your family. Its purpose is to serve all, not to serve just you and yours.

Again, not answering the question. Its only the rule here in MOCO. Its not in the Constitution. It means that it could be changed and if so, I am looking for a real answer as to why not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a higher income earner, I pay more county taxes. Those tax dollars are taken by the county to fund schools outside of my town. So, I've already done my part in helping out the poorer citizens of this county. If I should choose to contribute some more money to my local school, why shouldn't I be allowed to.

1. If you are a resident of the county, you do not live in a town, at least not for school district purposes. Your county taxes are used to fund county schools. Schools in the county in which you reside.


2. RE paying more taxes because you earn more: Yes, that is how taxation works.


3. Paying more taxes into a public system does not translate to you being allowed to do whatever you want with that public system.



Government 101.

How is any of this relevant ? I'm not questioning the system. The system is the system. I'm not taking or changing anything that the county does with my tax dollars. I'm saying that if I should choose to give above and beyond what I am obligated to give, why cant I ?

Answer that question instead of being obtuse.

You cannot because it is a public system used by all and not just you and your family. Its purpose is to serve all, not to serve just you and yours.

Again, not answering the question. Its only the rule here in MOCO. Its not in the Constitution. It means that it could be changed and if so, I am looking for a real answer as to why not.

Who said anything about the Constitution? (What Constitution? The Maryland Constitution?)

Of course it could be changed. Go lobby for this change. Work on that. I strongly doubt that anyone in our county-based school system, set up to benefit all, will agree with your view. But give it a whirl.

I'll have a seat over here while you do that.

[Anonymous]

You pay more in taxes because you choose to live in an expensive area.

You could move to Silver Spring and use the extra money to send your kid to the private school of your choice, and you could pick exactly the environment you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, it's not as if you're making the world more equal by telling the rich people they're not allowed to buy that. They'll just find a way to buy it elsewhere. The poor people are in exactly the same position they were before, only now you've driven out the tax dollars of the rich people.

You're basically saying: The poor people lose regardless, so why not let rich people buy their children better "public" schools?

If the rich people want their children to go to private schools, then they should send their children to actual private schools, not to private "public" schools. DCPS had to make a devil's bargain. MCPS is not in the same position.

Well, I think we are in the same position. Because we are struggling with the same issue -- not enough funding to provide a good educational environment.

No, that's not the issue in DCPS.

Really, you don't think inadequate funding for education is a major issue in DCPS. Okay, then you're officially unhinged.

Do you know what DPCS pays per kid? Well above what MCPS pays. It's not funding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Weller Road is Title 1. It already has extra teachers.

No fair that those poor kids get smaller class sizes! Poor kids get all the good stuff!

Nobody said that. Literally NOT ONE PERSON ON THIS THREAD. I'm arguing we should be able to use *our own money* *in addition to our taxes* to get aides in the classroom. With a smile on my face, I will happily subsidize extra teachers at Title 1 / Focus schools. I would chip in for more for those schools if I was allowed to hire an aide for my kid's class. But instead, since I can't, I'm going to scrimp and save and send her to some private school as soon as I have enough $ to do it.
I am NOT alone.

Yes, you are arguing that you should be able to use your own money to buy your child a better education. If you want to do that, then you should do it, if you can -- in a private school. That is exactly what private schools exist for.

Well, since your view is the one that prevails in MCPS, that's what will happen. No flexibility whatsoever and a piss-poor public option. Yes, more people will go private. And in order to do that, we will have to move, because we cannot afford to live in this area and also pay for private. Since that financial status applies to most people in our area, expect to see that happen a lot.

You could move to Silver Spring! It's great over here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But just to be clear, you're perfectly OK with giving poor people better versions of public goods than rich people. My kids' school gets less money per pupil than a school run by the same public system where the average income is lower.

I've only posted on this thread 2x and I don't actually support the idea of parent fundraising for extra teachers or aides. But don't justify opposition to the idea on the basis of equity. MCPS is already a totally inequitable system that is trying (and failing) to redress the increasing inequity in society.

Oh, are Title I schools and Focus schools better than the schools in Bethesda, Potomac, and Chevy Chase? I didn't know that.

No, the school environment is not better in Title 1 and Focus schools, nor did I ever say that. But those schools receive more in resources for the same service and the same curriculum. So it is, by definition, not an equitable assignment of resources.

BTW, to the PP, who must be posting 2x a minute on this thread, you have a real affinity for using straw men to try to discredit the arguments of others. It suffers through overuse, however.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a higher income earner, I pay more county taxes. Those tax dollars are taken by the county to fund schools outside of my town. So, I've already done my part in helping out the poorer citizens of this county. If I should choose to contribute some more money to my local school, why shouldn't I be allowed to.

1. If you are a resident of the county, you do not live in a town, at least not for school district purposes. Your county taxes are used to fund county schools. Schools in the county in which you reside.


2. RE paying more taxes because you earn more: Yes, that is how taxation works.


3. Paying more taxes into a public system does not translate to you being allowed to do whatever you want with that public system.



Government 101.

How is any of this relevant ? I'm not questioning the system. The system is the system. I'm not taking or changing anything that the county does with my tax dollars. I'm saying that if I should choose to give above and beyond what I am obligated to give, why cant I ?

Answer that question instead of being obtuse.

You cannot because it is a public system used by all and not just you and your family. Its purpose is to serve all, not to serve just you and yours.

You're talking In circles. She already pays her taxes. This is extra. Why can't we do what dcps does?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But just to be clear, you're perfectly OK with giving poor people better versions of public goods than rich people. My kids' school gets less money per pupil than a school run by the same public system where the average income is lower.

I've only posted on this thread 2x and I don't actually support the idea of parent fundraising for extra teachers or aides. But don't justify opposition to the idea on the basis of equity. MCPS is already a totally inequitable system that is trying (and failing) to redress the increasing inequity in society.

Oh, are Title I schools and Focus schools better than the schools in Bethesda, Potomac, and Chevy Chase? I didn't know that.

No, the school environment is not better in Title 1 and Focus schools, nor did I ever say that. But those schools receive more in resources for the same service and the same curriculum. So it is, by definition, not an equitable assignment of resources.

BTW, to the PP, who must be posting 2x a minute on this thread, you have a real affinity for using straw men to try to discredit the arguments of others. It suffers through overuse, however.

+1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, it's not as if you're making the world more equal by telling the rich people they're not allowed to buy that. They'll just find a way to buy it elsewhere. The poor people are in exactly the same position they were before, only now you've driven out the tax dollars of the rich people.

You're basically saying: The poor people lose regardless, so why not let rich people buy their children better "public" schools?

If the rich people want their children to go to private schools, then they should send their children to actual private schools, not to private "public" schools. DCPS had to make a devil's bargain. MCPS is not in the same position.

Well, I think we are in the same position. Because we are struggling with the same issue -- not enough funding to provide a good educational environment.

No, that's not the issue in DCPS.

Really, you don't think inadequate funding for education is a major issue in DCPS. Okay, then you're officially unhinged.

Do you know what DPCS pays per kid? Well above what MCPS pays. It's not funding.

Don't be stupid. Just because they pay more per kid doesn't mean the have adequate funding to meet the needs they're addressing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Weller Road is Title 1. It already has extra teachers.

No fair that those poor kids get smaller class sizes! Poor kids get all the good stuff!

Nobody said that. Literally NOT ONE PERSON ON THIS THREAD. I'm arguing we should be able to use *our own money* *in addition to our taxes* to get aides in the classroom. With a smile on my face, I will happily subsidize extra teachers at Title 1 / Focus schools. I would chip in for more for those schools if I was allowed to hire an aide for my kid's class. But instead, since I can't, I'm going to scrimp and save and send her to some private school as soon as I have enough $ to do it.
I am NOT alone.

Yes, you are arguing that you should be able to use your own money to buy your child a better education. If you want to do that, then you should do it, if you can -- in a private school. That is exactly what private schools exist for.

Well, since your view is the one that prevails in MCPS, that's what will happen. No flexibility whatsoever and a piss-poor public option. Yes, more people will go private. And in order to do that, we will have to move, because we cannot afford to live in this area and also pay for private. Since that financial status applies to most people in our area, expect to see that happen a lot.

You could move to Silver Spring! It's great over here.

No I can't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a higher income earner, I pay more county taxes. Those tax dollars are taken by the county to fund schools outside of my town. So, I've already done my part in helping out the poorer citizens of this county. If I should choose to contribute some more money to my local school, why shouldn't I be allowed to.

1. If you are a resident of the county, you do not live in a town, at least not for school district purposes. Your county taxes are used to fund county schools. Schools in the county in which you reside.


2. RE paying more taxes because you earn more: Yes, that is how taxation works.


3. Paying more taxes into a public system does not translate to you being allowed to do whatever you want with that public system.



Government 101.

How is any of this relevant ? I'm not questioning the system. The system is the system. I'm not taking or changing anything that the county does with my tax dollars. I'm saying that if I should choose to give above and beyond what I am obligated to give, why cant I ?

Answer that question instead of being obtuse.

You cannot because it is a public system used by all and not just you and your family. Its purpose is to serve all, not to serve just you and yours.

Again, not answering the question. Its only the rule here in MOCO. Its not in the Constitution. It means that it could be changed and if so, I am looking for a real answer as to why not.

Who said anything about the Constitution? (What Constitution? The Maryland Constitution?)

Of course it could be changed. Go lobby for this change. Work on that. I strongly doubt that anyone in our county-based school system, set up to benefit all, will agree with your view. But give it a whirl.

I'll have a seat over here while you do that.

Clearly the person citing separate but equal was saying it was unconstitutional.
But keep sitting. That sounds like your style.

[Anonymous]

Time to end this thread...

[Anonymous]

"Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
I agree with OP.

I remember reading an article from 2012 about how French President Hollande had proposed banning homework in an effort to level the playing field. He said homework favors the wealthy because they have parents with the time and energy to help them with their homework. I guess his idea was that, instead of allowing some kids to benefit from homework, it's better to bring all kids down to a lower level (since equality is the #1 goal).

I don't get why people would oppose having parents help a school fund staff positions. Since it doesn't hurt your school (but only helps the other school), it seems kind of petty to oppose it.



Really? You don't understand why people might be upset if School A gets an extra art teacher/reading specialist/media person because School A has a lot of rich parents, but School B does not get an extra art teacher/reading specialist/media person because School B does not have a lot of rich parents?


PP here. The reason I don't understand it is that it does not hurt your child and frees up money in the budget to help other schools.


The system OP proposes sounds good on paper, but in practice it works out like this: Rich parents fund extras for their children's schools; they then start complaining about the amount of taxes they pay that is used by the County and State to fund not only their children's school but all the schools; they lobby for the taxes to be lowered; as the taxes are lowered the funding from the County and State is also reduced; the funding to the rich schools and the poor schools may be reduced equally, but the rich parents can make up for the short fall; and the result is that the poorer school get worse while the rich school stay the same or get better."

+1

Also agree with the pp helping poiny out that if you are so jealous of how great title 1 and focus schools have it you are welcome to come on over here. Moving to private school is a move same as COSA would be. What's that? The small class size in title 1 and focus do not begin to make it comparable to your Bethesda school so you don't want to do that? Forgive me if I lack some sympathy.