Monday, December 04, 2006
Is education worth paying for
This week, the in the NY Times there appears an interesting article on Asian enrollment. What I found particularly interesting about the article was the Asian parents response to requests for money: When a principal of one school asked the Korean Parents Association to help him raise some $4,000,000 (after he was already rebuffed by the school's PTA and other community members) their response was: $4,000,000? why not $40,000,000 and then they went out and raised the money.
In the Jewish day school community, one of the most common complaints is the price of schooling, how no one can afford it, how teachers and principals and everyone else in the system is making too much money. Few parents are willing to do anything other than complain. Fundraising is left for others to do (though I'm not sure who the others are)and many philanthropists are not willing to donate money so that others peoples' kids can get a good Jewish education. We want our children to get a good general education; we want them to have a good Jewish education; we'd like them to learn with other Jewish children; and we want them to have the best facilities and the best teachers - but we don't want to pay for it.
When the average expenditure per pupil in the public school system is over $10,000 (and as high as $15,000 in New Jersey and New York), is it reasonable for the community to focus on lowering costs rather than on raising quality?
In the Jewish day school community, one of the most common complaints is the price of schooling, how no one can afford it, how teachers and principals and everyone else in the system is making too much money. Few parents are willing to do anything other than complain. Fundraising is left for others to do (though I'm not sure who the others are)and many philanthropists are not willing to donate money so that others peoples' kids can get a good Jewish education. We want our children to get a good general education; we want them to have a good Jewish education; we'd like them to learn with other Jewish children; and we want them to have the best facilities and the best teachers - but we don't want to pay for it.
When the average expenditure per pupil in the public school system is over $10,000 (and as high as $15,000 in New Jersey and New York), is it reasonable for the community to focus on lowering costs rather than on raising quality?
Labels: day schools, fundraising, tuition
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From the article:
WHEN Cresskill School District officials proposed a $31.1 million renovation of their three public schools in 2004, they worried that residents in this affluent borough of 7,700 in Bergen County would not go along. The last school project was rejected twice before narrowly passing in 1998. And that was for only $3.9 million.
The Asian parents did not suggest going from $4 million to $40 million, but from $31 million to $40 million. Big difference.
WHEN Cresskill School District officials proposed a $31.1 million renovation of their three public schools in 2004, they worried that residents in this affluent borough of 7,700 in Bergen County would not go along. The last school project was rejected twice before narrowly passing in 1998. And that was for only $3.9 million.
The Asian parents did not suggest going from $4 million to $40 million, but from $31 million to $40 million. Big difference.
I have a lot of comments and will link to your piece. But I really think you are being unjust towards the parents (and grandparents) who ARE and have been paying tremendous amounts towards their children's education, often debt financing it. And some parents are reaching the breaking point.
Somehow it seems disengenous to compare an enthusiastic group of public school parents to a group of private school parents who are paying five figure tuitions for each of their five children (!).
While many parents probably could and should do more to be involved with their children's schools (including fundraising), let's not forget what parents are doing, either voluntarily or involuntarily. From give-or-get hours to asking grandparents for help, to meeting other per family fundraising requirements on top of staggering tuitions, some parents are just don't have more time or money.
is it reasonable for the community to focus on lowering costs rather than on raising quality?
And, finally, I think we have no choice but to figure out how to keep costs affordable. Everyone would like more quality. But, simply put, people are reaching a breaking point.
Somehow it seems disengenous to compare an enthusiastic group of public school parents to a group of private school parents who are paying five figure tuitions for each of their five children (!).
While many parents probably could and should do more to be involved with their children's schools (including fundraising), let's not forget what parents are doing, either voluntarily or involuntarily. From give-or-get hours to asking grandparents for help, to meeting other per family fundraising requirements on top of staggering tuitions, some parents are just don't have more time or money.
is it reasonable for the community to focus on lowering costs rather than on raising quality?
And, finally, I think we have no choice but to figure out how to keep costs affordable. Everyone would like more quality. But, simply put, people are reaching a breaking point.
As you can see from the first line in the article that you link to, the town had actually proposed a $31 million renovation program. The Korean families did not suggest asking for $36 million more, but $9 million more. And do not forget that this was not $40 million paid directly by those parents, but by all taxpayers, over time.
"WHEN Cresskill School District officials proposed a $31.1 million renovation of their three public schools in 2004, they worried that residents in this affluent borough of 7,700 in Bergen County would not go along. The last school project was rejected twice before narrowly passing in 1998. And that was for only $3.9 million."
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"WHEN Cresskill School District officials proposed a $31.1 million renovation of their three public schools in 2004, they worried that residents in this affluent borough of 7,700 in Bergen County would not go along. The last school project was rejected twice before narrowly passing in 1998. And that was for only $3.9 million."
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