How Is This A Public School System?

It has been said that public schools full of rich kids raise more money from parents, than public schools full of poor kids. But not just a difference of a couple of dollars, we're talking about massive fundraising imbalances of up to $500 and even $1000 dollars per student, during the 2008-09 school year. The social Planning Toronto's report, however, does itself no favours with its harsh recommendation: Banning parental donations. Up to a point where donations would be unnecessary. Parents of course would be offended, and they would probably protest about unfairness.

This is a good opportunity to consider the current state and future of public education. But if we were to maintain this large system, we might as well not. We might as well take our money, and tend to the kids who are worst off. Because after all, the fundraising imbalances of some public schools are quite saddening. People have always argued over social unfairness, but nobody denies the importance of education.

Now, why are there fundraising imbalances of up to $1000? Well, if you think about it, not every parent who has a child attending a public school is going to donate money to a fundraiser. There are parents give anything at all. And yes, i do agree that pooling all parental donations and distributing them evenly is pretty bold, obviously some parents will disagree. And honestly, if i were a parent with this situation, i would be one to argue.

Government investments promise better education payoffs down the road. But my question is, how far down the road? Because the state in which we are now, is pretty unfair. Parents with or without children attending public schools are paying for programs such as Pathways to Education. People are complaining that it’s not fair that they have to pay taxes for such things, but they never deny the importance of education. And that is where we have a problem, not only in public schools, but how education is linked arm in arm with the rest of society.