Oh, what a surprise. Tonight, Elmbrook to discuss more 4-year-old kindergarten in a non-videotaped work session.
Ever notice how many trial or temporary government programs become permanent and expanded? Social Security and the increase in Wisconsin's 4% sales tax to 5% back in, was it Lee Dreyfus' day(?) are two good examples of government that just keeps growing.
Elmbrook's 4-K government program is no different. What started as a temporary, small trial basis soon will become a bloated taxpayer funded daycare project under the guise of It's for the children.
The Community Watch blurb stated, "According to a memo to the School Board, a permanent 4-K program would
produce more revenue than it would cost starting in the 2010-'11 school
year. Those extra funds could be used to pay other expenses throughout
the district."
But get this,"It would, however, cost the taxpayers more money,
because it would be funded primarily from increased property taxes. The
district would be allowed to collect more taxes due to its increased
enrollment."
Who is it really for?
Ever think that one reason they need those 4 year olds in school, instead of with mom, is so that mom can go back to work sooner? Of course they will try to persuade the public that the earlier the child enters the educational system the better they will do in school. I've spoken to this issue before, but if you missed that, the stats do not prove this out. Any head start evens out at around 5th grade.
So what is the real reason for sending these tykes to school? After all, it costs the taxpayers money to do it. And that, to me, is one of the reasons they are pushing this agenda: It costs taxpayers money to send 4 year olds to school. Families cannot easily afford these and other ever increasing taxes. Therefore enable mom to go back to work sooner. Then she can help contribute to the family's income, to afford the ever increasing taxes!
Obviously, it grows the Empire of Elmbrook, and 4-K enables moms to work, to fund the empire.
Dual income families are less likely to notice the bite taxes are taking out of the family budget than single income ones.
Just once I would like to see some program discontinued because it was not cost effective! If we are not careful, we may soon need to add another S to USA. (United States of Socialist Americans)
P.S. You might want to ask yourself if you really think the 4-K program will stay at the half day level and then ask yourself why Elmbrook expanded half day 5-K to all day.
One reader emailed me that many Elmbrook moms are more interested in playing while their little darling was in kindergarten than needing to go to work. I would agree, but one reason we were given for implementing all day 5-K and half day 4-K is that we need to to be competitive with other districts. In other school districts, I would guess that working moms are more than happy to avail themselves of the free daycare.
