Schools Are Not A Business
By Trent Loos

Why would we get rid of what everybody is envious of?

This past weekend my family welcomed and entertained some out of state guest to Nebraska. For 8 of the 10 guest it was there first trip ever to Nebraska. One I want to mention in particual was KJ Wagner from Pennsylvania. KJ is a singer/songwriter and spends a great deal of here time in elementary schools performing for kids. I arranged for her to sing at Litchfield school were my first grade daughter attends. The kids absolutetly loved but the best part she loved the school. Her direct quote, “I wish we had small schools like this back home”.

My guest leave only for me to find out while they are here the Nebraska Unicamarial has been debating closing 231 Class 1 schools. Schools that are the envy of the rest of the nation my state elected officials think it would be wise to transport these kids to bigger schools.

It is down right scarry the way this debate has gone. First the rheotic simply about money saving $12 million dollars which can’t even be proven. When to money card wasn’t working the best sure fire way to get people behind you in yell racism. With 231 school districts included two were singled out as the reason for this brain drain legislation.

I have read dozens of article pertaining to this issue this morning and yet to see one line about the well being of the most important resource Nebraska has to offer. KIDS.

What is best for the kid?

I would hope that no one is willing to argue the best education found is with more personal interaction between teacher and student. I don’t care if the teacher didn’t have the available financial resources to buy a book, Nebraska Class 1 teachers would find a way to look out the back window and teach kids about life. Which brings to mind another spirit that reside in Rural America this bill attempts to squash. The initiative of the teacher.

What teacher in their right mind would work for less money in an environment that I can only imagine is not so glamerous. Oh here’s something most from Urban America may not relate to, a teacher who cares. What a slap in the face to teachers who for most of their life have selflessly helped kids because it is their passion.

Playing the race card is ridiculous. This is not about race this about parents who care. Parents who seek the best educational environment for their kids. The increasing movement in this country by parents isn’t because parents had some much extra time on their hands they just needed something to do. It is because governments continue to treat our educational system like a factory producing widgets. I am sorry my kids are not widgets. I don’t care what the cost as a parent I will make the choices necasirary to provide better opportunities for them than I had.

Maybe I am looking at this all wrong. If it is about benifitting minorities here is the dictionary definition of minority A group or party having fewer than a controlling number of votes. Who better fits that definition than those of us in Rural America, even in Nebraska.

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