Back to the Same Old, Same Old (OR Why are we throwing all this money at public schools?)

Today is "Back to School"  Day across the area.  Children are wearing their squeaky new shoes, pressed trousers or pleated skirts, and starched shirts for the first time in months.  Okay, perhaps that's a bit dated, and they are wearing new kicks, skinny jeans and a Buckle t-shirt.  Nonetheless, thoughts turn to education and all the issues surrounding its current state. 

Selling homes in Akron I can state unequivocally that, save a few neighborhoods, couples with children, or those planning on raising children, vocalize concern over the public school system.  They either avoid the area, or they automatically subtract the cost of private school from the mortgage payment with which they felt comfortable.  Sadly, many parents who actually care about the quality of the education being offered are the same ones who choose to avoid the system.



Recently, this administration's "stimulus" included $100 billion for K-12 education and public school workers.  We were once again told of how our public schools are in need and teachers are underpaid:  the attached graph clearly destroys this claim.  Adjusted for inflation over the last 40 years we can see that, while every other aspect of our daily lives has become more efficient, more economical, the cost of public school education has soared at an astronomical rate, and the results have remained at the same dismal level. 
 

Is there any other company, or service, you can think of that would continue to operate given these results? 
 Do you think that if the cost of your phone service increased by a staggering 275% but you were still only able to dial local numbers from a phone with a cord you would opt for that service over the newest 4G wireless?  If a 2013 automobile posts an unimpressive 12 miles per gallon, has lap belts only, no airbags, and manual windows and door locks, but is priced at a whopping $53,000*  would there be any chance you would drive it, instead of any other car being sold today?  I believe it safe to assume the answers to these questions, so why is it we are accepting of the same lack of performance in our public school system?  And worse yet, why are we made to feel guilty when we demand accountability? 

Our government now has a monopoly on public education and, as in any private sector where a monopoly exists, prices go up, performance is unchanged, and the consumer is stuck with whatever is offered.  We, as parents, as "the customer"  should demand better for our children's future, but we are made to feel this is somehow different than any other aspect of our daily life.  Somehow, when money is thrown at schools and intended results are not achieved, we accept the failure and do nothing to change the underlying structure.  Then we throw more money at the same schools, at the same administrators, at the same programs, and learn the same dismal results are posted.   What's the definition of insanity again? 





*adjusted for inflation the average 1970 auto was $19,250.