There are many ways welfare kids affect a school. One example is how our school is cutting down field trips because many of the usual locations have increased their fees.
Parents actually pay for these fees themselves so theoretically, if the parents are willing and capable, then the cuts aren’t necessary. Realistically, however, not all parents are able to pay those fees so the school (or district, not sure) has to provide for those who can’t.
Well, those funds have been cut so we can’t support as many kids to go to as many field trips, and so the whole school is going to less field trips.
The same goes with everything else. There’s less money to fund a lot of things because a lot of the money has to be put aside to pay for tutors (language and whatever else), translators, free lunches (literally), and other special accommodations for those kids.
Admittedly, I’m allowing special accommodations for some of those kids to use the lab beyond its usual opening times. I may be accused of being an enabler but what else can I do?
If I don’t help these kids then for sure they will be further burden to the system down the line. Especially since these kids are probably already citizens (with voting rights), the least I can do is to educate them, hopefully enough to have them question the likes of Palin. (Almost equally as bad would be to have them vote for more welfare programs!).
As educators we’re handed a problem from which we can’t turn a blind eye simply because we disagree with the policies. Somebody uphill opened the dam, now the rest of us have to balance the ship, pour out the water (one bucket at a time), and pay for the effort of doing so.
Just to clarify I’m not talking about kids whose parents are truly doing their best. I’m talking about those who have multiple kids when they can’t even afford one. Those who don’t seem to see anything wrong with living on welfare year after year. Those who go in and out of jail instead of earning an honest living.
Sometimes I fantasize that those who leave care of their children to others (whether to a relative or to society) should be required to have others determine the fate of their reproductive system.
Now blast me for my rant, I’ll put on my armor suit!
