Funny Ideas

Probably due to a genetic predisposition, I often have wild and crazy ideas that my wife filters (unfortunately for her, fortunately for you) and they don't see the light of day.  But since hearing some of the ideas coming out of Boise these days regarding budget cuts and education reform, I might as well get into the act myself.  Below you'll find my thoughts on some of the problems and proposals haunting the Idaho State capitol these days.
As a concerned Idahoan, I listened carefully when Mr. Luna addressed law makers this week.  He stated that no other plan had been submitted to deal with funding shortfalls.  If he is willing to receive rather than only broadcast, below are a few possibilities for extra funds without cutting jobs that assist child development.

• Better check Blue Cross coverage.  I paid well over $12,000 out of pocket in premiums last year and my district contributed over $5,000 on top of that.  Blue Cross paid out only $4,200 for coverage while I paid (again) over $2,000 out of pocket.  Comparing coverage to a farming family with "Regents", they pay a little less than $12,000 per year in premiums.  Perhaps it's time to investigate for gouging?
• You don't need to absolutely cut kindergarten to gain revenue. A small gain can be made by making the age for entrance to kindergarten 5 by May 31st.  True this will only give savings for one year, but have we any idea of the failure rate of first graders without kindergarten and its impact on first grade class sizes the year following the dismissal of kindergarten?
• We offer a free education to all, again, and again, and again.  As you look to hold educators accountable for failure, please acknowledge that at least half of the responsibility for learning lies with those who are to learn.  If a course or grade is to be retaken, the family of the student should be required to pay for the remediation.  Perhaps this would raise the awareness of the burden that the uneducated is on society as well as discourage lengthy family vacations during the school year.
• Finally, admit that a constant fiscal responsibility such as education will never prosper while funded by a dynamic revenue such as sales tax.  Property tax is far more stable and corporations need to pay up for their use of our land - especially if the company is based out of state.

Then to my representative:

• As constituents, my neighbors, coworkers, and I are greatly concerned with, and oppose any legislation that supports and encourages the present direction of creating a generation of entitlement. Please do not spend our hard-earned tax monies on the placement of unearned laptops to apathetic youth. The program is without precedence of success and demands questioning as to whether the greater benefit would be to students or the profits of a certain computer manufacturer. 

(Boise is home to micron computers)