Are we doing it for the children or is it something else?

The plea “We are doing this for the children!” is like injecting racism into the argument. Who can oppose a little child and not look like an abusive ogre? By using this argument or the race card you inject an emotional element in an attempt to shut down the argument not win it. Why is this a bad thing? Because if you prevent the intelligent discussion of the issues they do not go away, they just fester.

Is the plea genuine or a smoke screen? Does spending more money than the taxpayers feel they can afford really benefit the children? Aren’t these same taxpayers the parents and grandparents of the children? The children have lives that are bigger than the school they attend. Their families should have a say over what the school district does for the children and what they will be able to do for their own children. Perhaps the children desire to be able to spend more time with their family. If parents don’t have to work as much this can be possible.

The school district’s plea sounds like they are the only ones who really know what the children need and that they, the school district, are the only ones who can fulfill that need. Encroaching upon the family unit by imposing taxes that they have been told are excessive and unwanted, the school district is not really doing this for the children but to the children and for the school district’s own ends.

With a bit of extra work and a willingness to cut costs where possible, much can be accomplished for the children and their families. The school district’s unwillingness to make this extra effort shows a lack of real concern for the children and makes one wonder just who they are doing this for.

Chris Butler

Eastsound