I Hung My Head In Shame Today...

[WLKjr]

I work at a Wal-Mart. Today while I took my lunch I happend to catch yesterday's local paper and today's local paper in the lounge and read the headline from yesterday,"23 of 106 School Levies in Ohio Pass" and I was VERY SHOCKED. You see, Ohio is going through some major troubles with the education system here with budget cuts, insufficient materials, staff cuts, building maintenance etc. and most of the levies were operating levies. Then I read an article today with Bush saying the Economy is booming.

By this time as I hung my head in shame and disbelief of what I was reading, my break was up. As I head back to the front of the store to do my job of making sure people are getting taken care of properly, I get approached by two young women. The one asks if she could get someone to help push one of three carts they have. I am kind of amazed because that doesn't usually happen till after November when they have their big after thanksgiving sale. So I start to walk over to where they are at while calling a stockman(cart pusher) to give me a hand. As I turn the corner I am double shocked. Three cart loads full, I am talking pouring over with school supplies. Pens, Pencils, crayons, paper, erasers, glue more paper, folders, art boxes, tissues(there was one whole cart for those)plastic baggies(half cart full of those) that must have totaled around 40 boxes of each. I mean these carts were about to spill over. My jaw is on the floor because it hit me, I knew what these ladies were doing. They were buying school supplies for about 40-50 kids. Now wether these were going to kids in need or for THEIR classes does not mean shit at this point. As I am helping them to a register I ask, "What is all of this for?(not really a dumb question if you are trying to find out why)", and they replied that they worked for the county and had an office pull that only brought in around 350 bux and were buying school supplies for some children. I also was told they both taught, and from what I could tell by the stuff they were getting, it had to have been 4th grade or lower. It was about time for me to clock out and I went to do so. I came back and they were still getting checked out with the stockman there helping them load everyting up and I stood there to see what the total would come up to. I over heard them saying how they were worried that it would be too much $$$ and not enough for what they needed. Total comes to $331.47, and Three Cart Loads of School Supplies..........and I remember the no child left behind act being so underfunded that it does not help but only hurts schools, all of the teachers I have talked to telling me about the hardships that were being faced by not only them but by the children. I remembered all of the school levies that were not passed because that is what people take out their anger on other taxes imposed by the states.

I walk away in disbelief and hung my head in shame for what our government and leaders are doing to the future of this country. I hung my head in shame because I feel I can do nothing about it and that I have let a generation down that could have very well been me a just only a few years ago and I am only 19.

I walk to my car with that image still in front of my face. I get into my car to drive off, turning on my xm radio to catch some news I missed today. And I hear a familar voice, telling me the economy is booming, the terraists hates our freedoms, and that he never stops thinking of ways to harm us while there have been hardly any jobs added this month, the environment is eroding and the education systems are in shambles and people always telling me that I encounter at work about losing their jobs, getting laid off, working 2 jobs to pay the bills, and some telling me proudly that they don't ever vote.........and I hung my head in shame.

But you know what, I can change it, you can change it, WE can change it. This is OUR problem and WE need to take responsibility as AMERICANS to keep our lively hoods and our education top priority. We owe it to ourselves and the next generation, because they will be fighting for us someday, just like we are fighting today for our elderly, and our working class. The only way we can change it is to take the issues personally and WORK HARD to find ways to MAKE THEM WORK. The only way we can change it is to GET PEOPLE INFORMED and GET THEM TO VOTE. We can change it by HOLDING OUR LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR POLICY MAKING DECISIONS. The solution is simple, we AMERICANS have to get INVOLVED again. Without that, things that I have witnessed above will continue to happen and will only get worse as the days, months, years, decades, and centuries go on. If, 50 years from now, you could look back on today, will you hang your head in shame? I know I certainly will not. I am going to change things, you are going to change things, and we are going to change things. I'll be holding up to my end of the deal, and I call upon you to do the same.

Someone once said in a song, "Don't ever stop thinking about tommorrow." and that is so true.

I support Kerry/Edwards in 2004 because I do not want to see this happen ever again. So I will never again hang my head in shame to what our leaders are doing to MY COUNTRY, YOUR COUNTRY, OUR COUNTRY.

[bobbieinok]

1. thanks ...... bookmarking

[WLKjr]

22. Thank you for taking your time to read it

[proud patriot]

2. Thanks for sharing this

:hi: Help is on the way

[WLKjr]

21. Thank you for Taking your time to read it

n/t

[Ilsa]

3. Thanks for your thoughtful post.

I had to buy school supplies for my two kids today, and it gets expensive. Our town has supplies-drives from mid-July until school starts because so many kids don't have enough.

Frankly, I wish the schools would buy the stuff wholesale and have us pay for it through taxes. Paper, crayons, pencils, kleenex, etc, are not "extras", but the basics, just like books, chalk boards, etc. My brother-in-law was teaching in a dirt-poor school district in east Texas and said they didn't have shit. The kids would come to school with torn up supplies and clothing, wearing the same dirty t-shirt all week, just turning it inside out.

[BeFree]

12. Ya'll just don't get it, do you?

What bleeding heart liberals ya'll are!

Why, Iraq needs that $87 billion. They need it because our $400 billion a year defense industry did $200 billion worth of damage last year alone.

Don't ya'll see that blowing stuff up and rebuilding it is much more fun than pencils and paper? It's news, baby! War is exciting, 'edumacation' is boring!

</satire>

If we can't take care of the children, we have no future. I'm proud to read that ya'll are taking notice of how much neglect we deliver to our kids.

Help is on the way. Kerry on.

[Ilsa]

37. Oh yeah. Right. I forgot. Eye-rack needs it. My bad.

They also need 100% coverage for health care, just like us.

Help IS on the way.

Hope IS on the way.

Change is on the way. We can make it happen!


(Edited for content.)

[WLKjr]

24. Thank you for your story

I hear things like this and I blast every ditto head I encounter with things like this. I too have seen similar things and its a shame. But like I said, WE can change this and WE WILL!!

[MichiganVote]

4. Take a bow...well said

[WLKjr]

29. Thank you

n/t

[MichiganVote]

34. You're 19 with a good heart. You have years to give your best.

[Octafish]

5. Thank you, WLKjr! Great post!

About a dozen people in my family and my wife's family are educators. Once they read your words, they'll thank you, too.

BTW: My grandfather, who was a teacher, liked to say: "An education is the only cure for poverty."

That may explain why Bush and the conservatives only talk about helping the schools. They have zero interest in a thinking, can-do America.

[WLKjr]

13. I am friends with quite a few want to be teachers and teachers.

I love talking to them and getting their points of view on how the system works and what should change. I mean, who else would you go to to figure out how to make something bettter, you go to the people who do it.

It's like making cars. You know, quite a few processes at Honda(an OHIO Auto MFG.)are made better all the time with associate ideas on saftey and speedier/simpler procedures. Same goes with quite a few Mfg. jobs in OHIO along with many other industries. I mean if I was a elected(if I am ever elected I should say because I tend to want to run someday)I would go to the source to make decisions taking ideas from those who do it everyday while adding my own tweaks. Why politicians don't do this OFTEN is beyond my comprehension. I never understood it how I person elected to represent could do such a piss poor job and get away with it.

[Cleita]

17. "An education is the only cure for poverty".

Well, I'd say some enlightened social programs would work too, however, if that platitude is true then the reverse should also be true as well and the Bushers should be mouse poor by now.

[WLKjr]

50. And Poverty Is The Only Thing Holding This Country Back

I strongly believe this and some have called me crazy calling my outlook a Babylonian pipe dream.......

[Nite Owl]

6. My husband and I were both teachers.

This is a common occurance good economy or bad. Teachers spend a lot to teach properly. Very often parents will refuse to go out and buy supplies because they 'pay taxes' already and it isn't in poorer districts either we both taught in an upper middle class school district.

[WLKjr]

8. In my area there were major cuts this past school year

and there are more on the way. I think 4th district OH schools did not have one levy pass. This is quite a chunk of OH and is Repug Run by the infamous Mike Oxley.

[trogdor]

70. Teachers need to put parents' feet to the fire.

I'm really, really, REALLY sorry, but if they refuse to pass levies to keep the school system running properly, or even send their kids to school with the proper supplies, I would REFUSE to spend one red cent on so much as a box of crayons. I would write an op-ed to the Columbus Dispatch, Plain Dealer, and whoever else might print it to this effect, encouraging other teachers to do the same. When teachers take up the slack out of their own pockets, they get taken for granted by taxpayers, and it amounts to a voluntary pay cut.

I'm putting on my asbestos suit. Flame away.

[Catshrink]

74. I teach in a wealthy town...

and it totally pisses me off when kids expect me to supply their pencils, paper, calculators, etc. They didn't get it when I told them that the per capita income in the town was more than my salary. No way are their school supplies coming out of my pocket -- especially when the kid drives a $60k Beemer to school.

Great post.... thanks for letting me vent.

[WLKjr]

86. Now there is no excuse for that I agree

If it is a wealthy district and the school is failing, that is the fault of the surrounding community that does not support their school or their own children. I could go off on a rant stereotyping people like this but I will keep that to myself. But let me tell you, there is no excuse for that at all. Those people are LAZY and make the rest of us look bad and suffer.

[callous taoboy]

112. I applied for a position at a school surrounded by

mansions, and the principal asked me if I had my own math manipulatives because the school could not afford them.

[WLKjr]

139. Makes you wonder why in a neighbor hood like that

thanks for the reply.

[WLKjr]

85. No need for a flame suit

because I DO understand where you are comming from. But those people who were doing that did not want to give up on those they were buying supplies for. They bought them so that maybe it will make a difference in that child's life and make them better than their parents and more responsible adults. You only fail when you give up.

[Hubert Flottz]

7. Bush is shameful!

And so is the entire Repig (mis)Leadership! If the people don't wake up soon there will be nobody to blame but themselves for the calamity that will surely come!

[PartyPooper]

9. Thank you for your provocative and inspiring post!

:dem:

[WLKjr]

28. I speak what I feel

and what I say is from the heart. I have always been that way and will always be that way.

[Cats Against Frist]

10. *big hug*

Your post almost made me cry. You have made me feel better, though, to know that people are concerned. Don't ever lose it -- even if you end up owning Wal-Mart, someday...:)

[WLKjr]

27. That happens a lot to me, lol

I wrote a love letter to a girl I had a crush on in 6th grade that was a page long and she teared up pretty bad, so bad I remember it to this day and so does she :). I am glad it made you feel better.

My grandfather, to whom I owe a lot to and admired very much, always told me to never forget where I came from and to always hold my name with pride.

Losing my empathy towards my fellow citizens would be like me forgetting where I came from, and I could never do that and would find it very hard to even think such thoughts.

[Furity]

33. You're a doll

Keep on doing what you're doing and you will have a happy life.

~Furity

[merh]

11. You are wise beyond your years and you have been given the

gift of empathy. Thank you for this post. I nominated it for the front page because I think the message is strong and the sentiment true. I join you in taking responsibility for making the changes that will save our nation's future.

:toast: thank you!

[WLKjr]

15. not meaning to gloat

but I get told this all the time and that I should put it to good use someday.

If all willing I will.

I am glad it made you feel that way.

[merh]

32. You should gloat, this is a very honest writing ...

Lord knows that the field of journalism needs honesty, I hope you pursue writing. You have the knack.

Kudos again :toast:

[rucky]

51. TEACH!

it took me 15 years in the workforce to figure out that teaching was what I was made to do. If you have empathy, there are few career options for you that you'll be happy in.

[WLKjr]

150. Thanks for the Advice and for Reading My Post, Keep it Kicked for Monday

Please keep this story kicked. Thanks again.

[JanMichael]

14. I admire your insite and empathy. As you may well be aware Walmart...

...and it's overlords (5 of the top ten wealtiest Americans ) are not exactly "good" for the American worker.

They are now America's biggest private employer and they are literally depressing wages, burdening local government services and creating a whole slew of other malignant effects.

How do you reconcile that dichotomy?

[WLKjr]

18. It's a job, keeps me busy

I won't be there forever, I know that. I am almost done with my Associate of Applied Science Degree(graduate next June) and will be off to BGSU or OSU for AFROTC and getting a Bachelors Degree in Political Science and Economics. After that I have no clue on what I am going to do, I just take it a day at a time and dream all the time.

[JanMichael]

20. That's cool. BTW my degree is in Political Science too.

I graduated back in Bush I's heyday, 1990, and I'll tell you, jobs were scarce.

Fortunately I, eventually (After 5 years in poland...), ended up doing something I loved, city planning.

If it's not too forward I'd like to suggest that you look into a an MA in Neighborhood Planning, or my favorite, a Geographical Informations Systems degree or GIS. The jobs are fun, intellectually satisfying, abundant, and decent paying.

[WLKjr]

151. actually I want to run for office someday

that's one of the major reasons why I want to study political science and economics.

[BillZBubb]

16. Could you edit it a bit and submit it as a letter to the editor?

It's a very good story and deserves wider appreciation. Most letters to the editor need to be short (not always, but it really helps).

There is a really terrific letter in there. You can smash Bush* without even using his name.

[WLKjr]

19. Replace Bush* with A Familiar Voice on the radio?

I never have submitted a letter to the editor before. Knowing my local papers, it probably would not get published. I will polish it a bit and put it in. You have any pointers?

[American liberal]

42. hey budding journalist

great job! very poignant. I was going to make the same suggestion: Edit it to about 350-400 words and send it to your paper--and not just your local paper, but all the major metropolitan papers in your state: Cleveland, Columbus, Akron, Toledo. Here on DU you are preaching to the choir. Out there, you have an opportunity to make a difference.

Suggestions for editing: Distill down to its essence, which, IMHO consists of lack of funds for schools, teachers buying supplies for students with limited funds and worrying it wouldn't be enough contrasted with listening to Bush on the radio saying everything is great; your moment of shame, encourage us to vote--and be sure to mention that you are 19, an appeal to the young voters, who are typically reluctant to exercise their rights.

Here's a quick and dirty edit of your work. For the record, this (editing) is what I do for a living. It's still too long. I suggest you get it down to about 400 words, then send it off. I admire your panache. If you do submit your essay, will you let us know if it gets published?

Peace,
AL

*******************

Dear Editor:

I am 19 years old. I work at a Wal-Mart. Recently, when returning from a break, I was approached by two women who asked me to help them with their carts. I was shocked to see three carts full, I am talking pouring over, with school supplies: pens, pencils, crayons, paper, erasers, glue, more paper, folders, art boxes, and tissues. As I helped them to a register I asked them, "What is all of this for?" They replied that they worked for the county and had an office pull that only brought in around $350 and were buying school supplies for some children.

After helping them to the register I clocked out for the day. As I was leaving the store, they were still checking out. I overheard them saying they were worried they would not have enough money...

I hung my head in shame. You see, I had just read a local newspaper headline: "23 of 106 School Levies Pass." The Ohio education system is in trouble: budget cuts, insufficient materials, staff cuts...Most of the levies were operating levies. No Child Left Behind was hurting, not helping, the schools. At the same time, President Bush was saying that the economy is booming.

I walked away in disbelief and hung my head in shame for what our government and leaders are doing to the future of this country. I hung my head in shame because I feel I can do nothing about it and that I have let a generation down that very well could have been me just a few years ago.

I walked to my car with that image still in my mind. When I turned on my xm radio to catch the news, I heard a familar voice telling me the economy is booming, the terrorists hate our freedoms, and that he never stops thinking of ways to harm us. But I hear other reports that hardly any jobs were added to the economy this month, the environment is eroding, and the education system is in a shambles.

On top of that, people I encounter at work are always telling me about losing their jobs or having to work two jobs to pay the bills. And some tell me proudly that they never vote...and I hung my head in shame.

But you know what, I can change it, you can change it, WE can change it. This is OUR problem and WE need to take responsibility as AMERICANS to keep our livelihoods and our education top priority. We owe it to ourselves and the next generation, because they will be fighting for us someday. The only way we can change it is to INFORM PEOPLE and GET THEM TO VOTE. We can change it by HOLDING OUR LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR POLICYMAKING DECISIONS.

The solution is simple, we AMERICANS have to get INVOLVED again. Without that, what I witnessed today will continue to happen and will only get worse.

I support Kerry/Edwards in 2004 because I do not want to see what is happening in our country to happen ever again. So I will never again hang my head in shame for what our leaders are doing to MY COUNTRY, YOUR COUNTRY, OUR COUNTRY.

Sincerely,
Your Name Here

[WLKjr]

44. Thank you, You Polished it for me and I am forever grateful!!!

I will be sending this to all I can get addresses for. I will let you and everyone here on DU know if it get's published. I will trim it a little more but 400 isn't going to be easy. I am already getting the envelopes and emails ready. Thank you!.

[American liberal]

48. I am very proud of you WLKjr...

You give me hope for this country's future. Your grandfather sounds like a wonderful man.

Peace,
AL

[WLKjr]

49. He was........

RIP Vernon Wilcox O8)

[PDX Bara]

122. San Francisco Chronicle

901 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
E-mail: letters@sfchronicle

Also, my hometown paper is at oregonlive.com. My screen name, PDX Bara, is derived from my home town (Portland, OR) and my ethnic language name for a flower. Your wonderful words need to be seen and heard out here too.

[WLKjr]

138. I have this thread bookmarked

So I will be sure to send one to all that are listed here soon, very soon. Thanks again for the info.

[samplegirl]

53. Wonderful Post Bravo!!!!

With your determination and intelligence I urge you to succeed
past Walmart for employment. Once again..a very moving post.
You restored my confidence in todays youth. Best of luck in
all you do.

[WLKjr]

146. Thank you for taking the time to read my post

I will try, that is all I can say. and Thank you.

[Eloriel]

69. All I can say is

Thank GOD there are young people like you in this country.

A great big hug, as tears stream down my cheeks.

[WLKjr]

140. Thank you for taking the time to read my post

keep it kicked up for monday morning for those DU'ers that are gone for the weekends. Thanks again.

[cmd]

26. I agree

It should go to every newspaper in Ohio. Great work and thanks from one who has been there and done that. CMD, retired Ohio teacher

[_NorCal_D_]

23. I nominated this thread for DU's homepage.

I hope that you don't mind.

[WLKjr]

25. Nominate Away

[RebelOne]

63. I did, too. Everyone needs to read this.

[WLKjr]

142. It made it, thank you so much

I am sending to newspapers across ohio and a few out of state ones too. I just have to edit it down a little more and after monday I will be mailing them out. Thanks again.

[in_cog_ni_to]

30. I hate what the repubs have done to our children.

THEY should be hanging their heads in shame! Your post made me cry. I cry for our babies. They are the innocents in this big mess that the idiot-in-chief has created. He and his rich bastard MILLIONAIRE friends. I am so angry right now, I could spit nails! :grr:

You're gift of empathy will carry you far. Never lose it. The world needs more people like you. Thank you so much for your post.....it reinforces my drive to get these people out of D.C. ASAP!

[WLKjr]

31. I never thought I could move people so

I did this bit in 15minutes. Imagine what damage I could do in a couple of hours....makes me think.

[SheilaT]

35. I'm in Kansas,

and like every other state the schools here are in crisis. Not only have there been budget cuts, but the state legislature somehow failed to pass any kind of school financing bill this spring. The state supreme court is going to look at this later on this month.

So now I'm running for the Kansas State House, and in the process of going door to door I'm quite amazed at how many people are teachers, either current or retired.

I'm guilty of resenting the need to go out and buy school supplies for my kids at the beginning of the school year. Why can't they be included in our taxes? I know the answer: because too many people think it's more important to fund the military fully than to care if all of our kids get a good education.

[WLKjr]

36. Use my story if you like, Just give me credit

I to feel that Education should hold priority over everything else, how else can you defend a country if you have no one smart enough to make a defense for your country? That's something to start an argument (excuse me, Debate) with.

[calimary]

38. Hey, WLKjr - OUTSTANDING JOB! What a beautiful piece!

I, too, nominated it for the homepage.

YOU make us glad. YOU are 19 and you produce thoughts that are as mature as you are - beyond your years.

I saw another person's post here - similarly enlightened, and 17. This is VERY good news. I'm 51. I'm grateful to know that, beyond the two children I've brought into this world and educated, there are also other young people who see through the baloney and remain resolute. You give me hope for our country's future!

Imagine that, though - a 19-year-old, working at Walmart, who's LIGHTYEARS beyond our so-called president in thinking, reasoning, and writing skills.

By the way, if it's any comfort to you, I had some driving to do around L.A. today, and noticed lots of Kerry bumper stickers, and anti-bush bumper stickers, AND several yard signs! Plus, in one neighborhood, two notices posted on trees to local Democrats about a meeting for their group in the next week. I saw NO pro-bush bumper stickers at all. And yesterday, while I was waiting at a stop light, the guy in the car next to me hollered over - "Thank you! I like your stickers!" I've done that with people whose bumper stickers I like, but never before had someone throw such a greeting to me! L.A. belongs to John Kerry. More and more cities across the country belong to John Kerry. More and more counties belong to John Kerry. It's just going to spread farther and farther - as more people realize they've had enough, and as more people stop and think seriously, like you've been doing.

EXCELLENT post. Glad you're on OUR side!

[WLKjr]

40. Thank you

hearing things like this makes me want to work even harder. I owe a lot to my grandfather who taught me the real democratic way of thinking. Sometimes I think I am different breed of dem that holds integrity and honesty to the highest standards and values hard work.

Like another poster stated, EDUCATION IS THE ONLY WAY OUT of POVERTY, and with high education and the funds to continuously improve and upgrade, the lesser the chance becomes of more Americans living in poverty and working low pay jobs. I am a very strong supporter of Education programs, because a few have benefited me greatly and I fell others should have the same opportunities if not more than I have had.

[DemonFighterLives]

39. Great Post!

Way to go and good luck in whatever you do. I'll vote for ya! :P

[WLKjr]

41. Thank you

funny how you say you'd vote for me......when I go on rants like this I get that a lot from whomever I am speaking to.

[Dastard Stepchild]

43. A close friend of mine was a teacher...

in a very poor area of the Chicago region. One Christmas, my friends and I decided that we didn't need yet another CD or book or whatever, so we pooled our money, and bought the kids in our friend's class a huge arsenal of school supplies. The kids were so excited they all wrote us letters - it was really sweet. I was actually thinking of getting my university to do something similar - to have the students ot my college purchase supplies for kids in poor schools in Chicago. It is distressing to see the state of these schools and to know that this one shot these kids have at an education is stunted by a lack of funds. That said, that distress is always tempered slightly when I read about people feeling motivated to action. I'm always stunned that we don't do everything imaginable to educate the next generation.

[WLKjr]

147. What you did was great

and left an impression on a young mind that will last forever. Your the kind of person I like to speak out to the world for and promote, because of people like you, I am who I am today.

Thanks again for reading my post.

[Dastard Stepchild]

161. well, that's very nice of you to say :)

10 years ago, when I was 19, I felt the same way. Yikes... where did 10 years go? :)

[fortyfeetunder]

45. You are right, we have the power

I was very moved by your story. Unfortunately there is a population that has been duped into thinking taxes are bad but still want the government to provide something to them.

Nominated your story for the front page. If you don't mind, can I send this to the talk radio guys in Seattle who might take the time to read this on the air? We have this problem in our area as well, especially in the rural areas.

Thanks for taking the time to share your story. Even though I am dismayed at what's going on in public education, it is not surprising because we have an educated (loosely speaking) fool in the WH.

[WLKjr]

46. Go right ahead, Tell them it Comes from Alger, OH from a PROUD RURAL DEM

Spread it.

[opihimoimoi]

47. For a 19 year old, ya got more than Heart, ya got brains

and I hope you have tons of good health and wealth and FUN....

[0007]

158. You can say that again! This is the youth of tomorrow and will

fight the good fight.

[nonkultur]

52. My class bought several carts regularly.

To stock the school bookstore.

Need a pencil? 25 cents.

[Elwood P Dowd]

54. The song you mentioned

"Don't ever stop thinking about tomorrow." That was Fleetwood Mac, with Christine McVie singing. Go out and get you some Fleetwood Mac CDs, or better yet, buy "The Dance" DVD. You probably saw clips of the 1992 Democratic Convention and heard the song.

Nice post btw.

Harvey likes beer :-)

[WLKjr]

77. I know, I did see it when I was little

and I remember Bill, on Arsenial Hall playing his sax like there was no tommorrow. I also heard that song at the 92' convention and thought it was awesome then and still a great song for campaigns for change, it says it all in once sentence. Thank you for taking the time to read it!

[Kool Kitty]

55. Wonderfully said.

Thank you and bless you.

[WLKjr]

78. Thank you

I'm glad you took the time to read it.

[JohnnyRingo]

56. Defund education...Who needs all that "book learnin'"

...We need DEFENCE from the evildoers.

Unfortunatly with cuts in federal funding what used to be called a "free education" is now a struggle for most. Every year less and less is supplied by the district.

The trend is toward the wealthy getting a good education and the poor going to work.

[WLKjr]

152. That's they way the right thinks

Thanks for the post and for taking the time to read it.

[DaveSZ]

57. My mother did the same thing

She taught poor kids in an inner-city public school for many years, and only retired this year.

She always bought school supplies for her kids every year out of her own salary.

[WLKjr]

148. Thank you for your post

Your mother has left an impression on a child that he/she will remember forever and possibly has changed their life. It's people like your mother who did the same for me years ago that made me the person I am today.

Once again I say thank you.

[BlueCollar]

58. Thankyou so very much

for that inspiring post...

[WLKjr]

79. Thank you for taking the time to read it

n/t

[LTR]

59. Excellent post

I have heard many stories about teachers having to buy their own classroom supplies. Not that easy to do on $30-40K a year or whatever they make. That stuff gets pricey, even at Wal-Mart.

Education should be one of the highest funding priorities in our country. It is way too often overlooked. But it is where everything starts. And It says a lot about the Republican mindset that it gets the short shrift. However, it does provide the key to many of the things they rail against.

Want to cut down on abortion rates? Effective education.

Reduce crime? Education (not to mention Head Start, after-school activities, etc.) Cheaper than paying for prison.

Cut welfare? Education.

End Affirmative Action? Education (proper education in the first place may decrease the need for AA).

Cut drug use? Education.

Build wealth? Education.

But the problem with making sure our 'children is learning' is that perhaps they would become much smarter and vote against the likes of Bush. Remember, today's GOP relies heavily on the misinformed and naive. Plus, they need the class warfare, as it boosts the 'haves' (in their way of thinking).

Great post. I'm nominating it for the front page.

[WLKjr]

80. I agree

Education alone solves countless social and economic problems. Pair major education funding and expansions and a hydrogen economy........we can only dream of such a stronger country.

[radfringe]

60. good job

just a suggestion - re-edit it and send it into your local paper - Letters to the editor

might wake up a few people to how their kids are being left behind

[WLKjr]

81. AmericanLiberal already did edit it some for me

THank you for taking the time to read my post.

[GOPGoindown]

61. More than enough to set up that Iraqi zip code system...

DENVER -- Elementary (K-8) teachers spend over one billion dollars of their own money on classroom materials annually, according to a new report from Quality Education Data, Inc., (QED(R)), a leading education market research and database firm. The study was conducted to gauge the latest trends among K-8 teachers about teachers' purchasing habits and attitudes about their teaching experience in a changing climate.

According to the latest report in QED's School Market Trends series, "Teacher Buying Behavior and Attitudes 2001-2002," elementary (K-8) teachers spend an average of $853 on classroom materials. About 40% of that amount comes from the school and/or district, with the other 60% coming from the teacher's own pocket. Since there are approximately two million K-8 teachers in the U.S., QED estimates that teachers spend approximately $1.79 billion on classroom materials, over $1 billion of their own.

[WLKjr]

149. I always like to say what was told to me once

You can't worry about everyone else's home until you have taken care of your own. Home & family comes first, and always should.

Thanks again for taking the time to read my post. spread it around to others.

[freeforall]

62. Awesome post WLKjr!

If there were more people like you, the country woundn't be in so much trouble.

[WLKjr]

92. Thank you for taking the time to read my post.

[The Commie]

64. The problem is...

...Reagan brainwashed people in the 80's to think taxes were just the goverments way of stealing your money, so people complain when a school board has to raise taxes to keep going. It's sad, really.

[hapsman]

65. There's more still to cause us shame.

Your story is very sad, but it does not compare in grief to how we are hurting children in Iraq. This is a passage from a Neil Mackay article in the Scotland's Sunday Herald:

“He was terribly afraid,” Provance said. “He had the skinniest arms I’ve ever seen. He was trembling all over. His wrists were so thin we couldn’t even put handcuffs on him. Right when I saw him for the first time, and took him for interrogation, I felt sorry for him.

“The interrogation specialists poured water over him and put him into a car. Then they drove with him through the night, and at that time it was very, very cold. Then they smeared him with mud and showed him to his father, who was also in custody. They had tried out other interrogation methods on him, but he wasn’t to be brought to talk. The interrogation specialists told me, after the father had seen his son in this state, his heart broke. He wept and promised to tell them everything they wanted to know.”

The story goes on and it only gets worse. Apparently, we are also raping and torturing children, though it hasn't been covered in our press. The full story is at http://www.sundayherald.com/43796

[WLKjr]

75. you should wake up and see the children here that are mistreated.

I'm sure you've seen them. And my story wasn't meant to be sad, it was to wake people like you up to the problems of not taking care of home firsts before worrying about how to fix your neighbors problems.

[enough]

66. A great post and a great DU thread,

complete with professional editing help, corroborating information, and lots of encouragement and hugs.

Definitely nominated for the front page.

[WLKjr]

82. Thank you for taking the time to read my post.

[gpandas]

67. we are not only...

failing to educate our young people, but also leaving them a debt that is approaching 8 trillion dollars.

[WLKjr]

83. That's why we need to take the fight to them

Thank you for reading my post.

[Sparkly]

68. Please consider sending that to your local newspaper

as a letter to the editor.

And thank you for that post.

[WLKjr]

76. I am

n/t

[Media_Lies_Daily]

71. Here in Huntsville, in one of the most affluent counties of Alabama,...

...every child must bring to the first day of class a long list of school supplies. This is happening because of the massive cuts in Federal funding in 2001-2002 for education for EVERY state, and the resultant shortfall that was spread out through every single U. S. county and municipality.

Raising state and/or local taxes and/or asking for bond issues is not working because the American people are already stretched to the limits with paying for increases in the costs of gasoline, heating oil, utilities, produce, clothing, health care, etc. Property taxes, state and local sales taxes, and licensing taxes have also gone up in quite a few locations around the country.

So, each family is stuck with the bill for which our tax money should have been paying. Welcome to the new America.

Here is the list required for my first-grader:

SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR FIRST GRADE: cost about $60-$70

FIRST GRADE
1. 12 Glue Sticks (white or purple)
2. 2 Boxes of 24 Crayons (regular size)
3. 2 Eight Packs of Washable Magic Markers (no neon)
4. 4 packs of No. 2 Pencils (40 total)
5. 2 Single-subject Spiral Notebooks (wide-ruled only)
6. Pencil Top Erasers (2 packs)
7. Plain Folders with Horizontal Pockets (2 with prongs and 3 without prongs = 5 total)
8. Small Plastic Supply Box (no larger than 6”x9”)
9. First Grade Writing Supplies (Please purchase from local school to assure correct type - $3.00)
10. 1 Pack of 8 Chisel (Broad) tip dry erase 2 markers (fat)
11. 1 Watercolor Paint Set (8 colors)
12. 1 Pack of Colored Pencils (12 pack)

[The Blue Knight]

72. I go to one of the school in Ohio in which a levy didn't fail.

Going to be like $300 to play a sport this year, yaaaay!

[mountainvue]

73. It's "Don't stop thinking about tomorrow." n/t

[mzmolly]

84. And remember Vote Nader!

/sarcasm

Thanks for sharing this. I am both angry and touched reading this story. Thank goodness for these ladies and people like them.

[WLKjr]

87. mzmolly, don't get angry, GET ACTIVE!

I try to be. Thank you for reading my post, spread it around if you want.

[J Williams]

88. Absolutely True. Great Post.

Bless you for being so caring and honest, and telling it like it is. I would only disagree about the solution, which I will speak of in another thread that I will soon start.

[WLKjr]

89. Thank you for taking the time to read my post.

and welcome to DU
:toast::hi:

[TrustingDog]

90. hope IS on it's way... in people like You.

be Loud, be Proud.
Start talking about his story to everyone you know - send it in to your local papers - get it published on as many internet forums as you can... make leaflets and hand them out wherever you can.

There are Millions more like you. Millions that are too busy working too hard for too little and feel they have no time or chance to fight the big Beast.

show them it can be done.

I would recommend you see the Grapes of Wrath and hear Tom Joad... you kinda sound a bit like him. :)

good luck.
be Loud, be Proud
you're fighting for your life.

[WLKjr]

91. good movie, I have seen it and heard of tales like that from my grandfathe

I love that movie, because it shows that even in hard times you can make it, you just have to try.

[watercolors]

93. we need more youg people like you

Thank you! My daughter is a teacher here in Fl. and our whole family helps out at this time of the year to make sure there are extra school supplies.In my business i am able to get much of needed art supplies at cost, I should think that major stores like walmart, target etc could give these teachers a break. Its really hard when teachers have to use their funds to buy classroom supplies, they are already underpaid!!

[WLKjr]

102. No Kidding, thanks for taking the time to read this post

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

94. I'm a teacher

and I've spent as much as $500 or more per year on supplies and things for my classroom because the district doesn't have the money.

Shave 15% off the defense budget. We'd still have the largest defense budget in the world by about three times over and we'd also have enough money from that to fully fund K-12 public education, Headstart, universal health coverage, etc.

It's all in our priorities, man.

[WLKjr]

103. Your Right, We have to get our priorites straight.

Like I was always told, home comes first.

[Bullshot]

95. More proof that Republicanism is working for you!

Here in Ohio, we've had a Republican governor for the past 14 years, including that Howdy-Doody look-alike Bob Taft for the past six. The Republicans have controlled both the House and the Senate and every elected Cabinet level position for the past 10 years.

The state's "rainy day fund," once in the hundreds of millions of dollars, is depleted.

This farce of a program to rebuild schools will likely lead to the next round of school consolidations not seen in Ohio since the late 60's and early 70's. All of these school districts were sucked into building new school buildings by having the state pay the lion's share of their construction and the local taxpayers increasing their real estate taxes to pay the balance. Now that these schools are constructed, the school administrations are learning that these new facilities are a lot more expensive to maintain. They go to the voters for additional operating money. The taxpayers rebel, honked off over the higher sales taxes and property taxes their county governments have imposed and the higher costs for energy and other necessities. Now, these schools are cutting their staffs to the point where they offer little more than very basic curriculum, no college preps, and in some cases, no extra-curriculars.

I never have seen a period of time in this state where so many schools are so strapped for money at the same time. I don't think it was even this bad 30-25 years ago.

[WLKjr]

104. Gotta love Mike Oxley too....

I heard the guy doesn't even live in OH and has the worst voting record probably of the whole legislature. I hope Benjaman Konop defeats him come Nov. Thank you for taking the time to read my post.

[mbee]

96. The chimp was on C-Span at the Minority Journalist meeting

or something like that and I have never seen a group of people who actually have more angry looks on their faces than they did as he spoke. I don't remember any applause at all. He was up there talking about his education improvements and bla, bla, bla. When Kerry spoke there was lots of applause. I don't think King George is the popular Resident anymore as previously proclaimed on CNN day in and day out. Wonder when shrub will tell people to shut up and sit down like his Daddy did?

[WLKjr]

105. Couldn't tell ya

From what I understand he wasn't really popular from the beggining anyhow...;) but thank you for taking the time to read my post.

[VolcanoJen]

97. You made the FRONT PAGE of DU, WLKjr!

Congratulations. It's a very deserving post.

Thanks for taking the time to write this... I'm bookmarking it.

[WLKjr]

106. It did? Could I get a screenshot?

that's awesome. I am taking to my english class tommorrow morning to edit it down some more so I can get them in envelopes to newspaper editors in the state of OH. Thanks VolcanoJen for taking the time to read it.

[Window]

98. Profound!

Thanks for sharing. I have grandchildren your age. An extremely refreshing read.

Peace

[WLKjr]

107. Thank you

Peace right back at you.

[Dancing_Dave]

99. Awesome Piece! A Timely Eloquent Classic!

I'll try to distribute it among some teachers who no doubt will appreciate it greatly.;-)

[WLKjr]

108. That's okay with me.

have them spread it around too. I would like to hear their input also. Thanks for reading my post.

[KBlagburn]

100. School Supplies

We live in a small Alabama town and in our county in the last 2 years almost every plant has been shut down and now the largest employer here is wal-mart. Last week my wife saw on the news where the TV stations in the larger cities were doing a charity drive for school supplies. She worked for a solid week calling and going to places. She got places to donate door prizes thinking ppl would donate school supplies to register. The local Pepsi vendor donated a refreshment trailer stocked with sodas and a $250.00 mountain bike to be raffled. One local supermarket donated hot dogs and buns to be sold. The local newspaper did an article on her efforts. We then set up in the local park from 9am till 4pm and I think we got maybe $200.00 of school supplies. (No one bought drinks or hot dogs). We then took the supplies to the local food bank to be distributed. The sad part of it all was that 90% of all the supplies we collected came from elderly ppl on fixed incomes. It IS a shame when those who have cannot help those who are least among us. We have 4 children, 3 in school, 1st,3rd,4th grades and it is difficult at times to buy what they need. I guess that is what makes us able to appreciate what others go through. I sometimes think that the prevailing attitude of our society is survival of the fittest.

Thank you for sharing your story. Maybe through ppl like you, my wife and others spoken of here, we can all have hope.

[WLKjr]

109. Hope is there, just not often practiced

I never like to be pessimistic. NO ONE SHOULD. But sometimes that pessimistic feeling also leads to that thought of "I'm getting mine, screw you." attitude I often see. IF everyday one does good towards another and that person does good for another before you know it good deeds are being done everywhere and everyone starts being happier and starts doing them more often.

I know a lot of people in my area are poor. A lot are elderly. Most of them I know would help all the time, but are unable to do because they have to take care of home first.

Your wife must be a wonderful person, you are lucky to be able to have someone like that.

Hope is on the way.

[LWolf]

101. That sounds like a typical august for me.

My school used to supply everything we needed, and parents and I chipped in for "extras." We had an open supply cabinet. About 3 or 4 years ago, we got a supply budget for a year. They still gave us "start up supplies" to make sure we were ready to go, and the budget covered paper, pencils, etc. for the year. Interestingly, I think it cost more with the budget. With an open supply cabinet, you never need to take more than you need. With the budget limits set, you save up and "hoard" things. Two years ago, the start-up supplies got subtracted from the supply budget, and so did the copy budget. Without telling us. My yearly supply budget was gone by Sept. 10th, and I bought everything for the rest of the year out of my own pocket. Last year, the budget was cut so drastically that I supplied everything, start-up supplies included, except for the paper all year. And burned up a multifunction machine with a scanner making the copies that our copy budget didn't cover. I went through an ink cartridge every month.

I did call on parents to supply things like cups and tissues; for the rest, I always wanted the school to supply everything. Here's why:

When pencils, crayons, etc. are supplied by parents, you get a competition between students for "who has the best stuff." You have storage problems; the over-achieving competitors always have to have more and bigger. Their backpacks are the equivalent of a hummer. The poor kids stand out like a sore thumb. Their backpacks or book bags equate to a 70s vintage Pinto. Class warfare begins young. Then you have the kids with all the "stuff" constantly displaying it. There's not enough room in the desk for all of that stuff, and they can't get started on a task, or see a task through to completion, without digging around in the desk and backpack, rearranging everything for a pleasing effect, etc. Of course, if the task includes using crayons to color something or colored pencils to graph something, etc., one kid has a box of 8 different colors and the other has 64. When we all use the same stuff, it equalizes the playing field. It also saves a lot of time wasted on organizing way too many personal items; you just get your stuff out and get started.

[WLKjr]

110. That is a idea I have heard floated around

Around where I live and also on here. Many I have spoken too said they wouldn't mind their school taxes being a little more if the school supplied pretty much everything. Schools could buy the stuff in bulk and everyone could pay a one time fee to the school of say 50 bux(that's about how much it would be for all the paper, pens/pencils/markers/crayons, a calculator, artbox, folders at a local store. Keep the basics and have just parents just bring one box of kleenexes every other month to school. Or even throw those in.

Anyways, thank you for reading my post and taking the time to respond.

[WLKjr]

111. shameless kick

n/t

[CatWoman]

113. nother

:kick:

tho it's not shameless :D

[PDX Bara]

114. A very thoughtful and evocative post

You are an inspiration. Just a little over a year ago, I was "retired out" three years before I had planned to retire. Because I was a service rep who maintained workstations at both my office and at home, I have two sets of office supplies (in addition to what I maintain for personal purposes) which I will contribute to a local school. And yes, I hang my head in shame that I did not do it sooner.

[WLKjr]

115. Thanks for taking the time to read the post

retired out, I take it that was a early termination tactic used by your former employer?

[BeachBuckeye]

116. Everyone who supports * should have to read this!

Its right on point and cannot be refuted. Thanks for doing such an excellent job of explaining your feelings and the feelings of millions of others like you who have a heart and a soul.

[WLKjr]

117. Air it on the Guy James Show

might cause it to get more listeners or win some more people over. I don't mind as long as I get credit for it. Thanks for taking the time to read it and feel free to pass it along.

[PDX Bara]

119. Add perceptiveness

...to all your other wonderful qualities as you are 100% correct. That was the first wave of the company downsizing due to the w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l economy inflicted on us by George Dumbutt Bush. I was one of the lucky ones (made the cut by only two months!) who received a "special retirement package" so I was very, very lucky. All who followed our group received severance packages only. Until the law changed earlier this year, the conditions of the retirement package would have lost me all my retirement benefits if I had had the audacity to return to "active employment." Although I am very thankful for what I got, it was a devastating blow to a person whose major persona was defined by work since early childhood. Anyone who grew up on any kind of a farm will know what I mean - you started working as soon as you were able to take direction and "do chores."

[WLKjr]

120. I Kind of Know What You Are Feeling

I felt it for 9months straight after I quit my first job at 16. I felt worthless not having a job or any thing to do, and I know it's not a good feeling to have. I can only imagine what those who lose their livlihoods with a company for 10yrs^ must feel when they are told they are no longer needed........it's a damn shame. I think a person loses that feeling of self worth when they are on the unemployment line. Pretty much everything falls apart after that for some, I have seen it in my own family with an uncle who I see it hurting his "image". Thanks again for your post.

[WLKjr]

118. Please Keep Kicked for Monday Crew

Thank you for all your responses. I will try to repsond back to each as soon as I can. thanks again DU'ers

[Iris]

121. You sound like one hell of a 19 year old!

Keep fighting the good fight.

Maybe you could send this to your local newspaper?

[WLKjr]

126. I am, and I will always fight the good fight.

Till The day I die. Maybe someday WLKjr will be remembered as a True Great American Patriot who fought for the people of this nation.


smack: wake up bill.........lol

Thanks for taking the time to read my post.

[iconoclastic cat]

123. Will you do us all a favor and start a blog on all this?

I think if you blogged these observations, you would have a huge following, and you might even reach some of the people your age who feel disconnected from society. Go to http://www.blogger.com , set up a site, and start writing these great essays to the world!

[WLKjr]

125. never knew such a site existed, Thank you

Thanks for that info and for taking the time to read this post. Nominate it for the homepage again if you want to(it made it once already) and spread it around. I am sending it to newspapers after tommorrow when I get home from school around OH. Once again, Thanks.

[iconoclastic cat]

127. Yep, It's free, too!

I really do not understand how they manage to provide all that server space from the one banner ad that they put up on your main page.

Hey, do me a favor: let me know when you have it up! Also, feel free to message me if you have any questions; I'd be happy to help out! I'm currently helping a little jazz club down the block put together a site, and I'd be glad to answer any questions you have.

[WLKjr]

129. I will remeber that, pm me so I wont forget you

or I will ad you to a buddy list if I can find it on here. I think DU has one.....but thanks again!

[nofurylike]

124. kick n/t

[roguevalley]

128. thank you for the note. teachers do that. I used to spend about 3 grand

a year in my classroom because if I or the kids needed it, that was the only source available.

[WLKjr]

130. Thanks for the reply

Do you come from a poorly funded School District? Teachers like yourselves are the ones I say don't just 'give up' on the youth of this nation. By doing what you do you make impressions on the children you teach that will follow them well on into their elder years. Thank you for what you do and might I had you shouldn't have to spend YOUR money, what little I am sure you do get for being an educator, because that isn't right. I applaud you for your service, as I do every educator in the world. Your deeds might seem to go unoticed, but like I said you make an impression on the younger generation and next generation teachers. Once again Thank you for reading my post, spread it around.

[Nobody]

131. Last winter there was no heat in the school in my precinct

And I live in Minnesota only 5 hours away from Canada. It gets cold here. We voted to raise our property taxes to pay for the schools but the money didn't end up going there. And last winter, the kids tried to learn in an unheated building.

When Bush said "No child left behind" I think he was referring to the Tim Lehaye series of novels.

[WLKjr]

132. That's sad, why THIS doesn't make the headlines is beyond me

I hear about things like this and I don't think America's Education System. What you describe sounds like a Third World Countries Education Program Failings. But then reality check for me, it does happen here at home because schools here do not get the proper funding they need not only to educate children properly, but to even operate from day to day. It's sad.

Enough Is Enough And It's Time For A Change!
-WLKjr, Aug. 8, 2004


Thanks again for sharing your story and for replying to my post. Spread it around if you like. Everyone should read it, expecially That Familar Voice supporters.

[WLKjr]

133. Shameless Kick For Monday Morning

not trying to overdo it, just would like to have quite a few DU'ers that are gone on the weekends to see this post. Please keep kicked.

Thank you.

[Mara Steele]

134. Wow.. thank you..

Brought tears... :toast:

Beautiful sentiment and infuriating story... thank you

[WLKjr]

135. Thanks

I plan on mailing it as a letter to the editor to newspapers here in OH tommorrow when I get home from school. Thanks for taking the time to read it and spread it around to others.

[Martin Eden]

136. Please read this speech by Bill Moyers: THE FIGHT OF OUR LIVES

WLKjr, thank you for your heartfelt post. You are not alone.

I think you will really appreciate this speech by Bill Moyers:
http://www.alternet.org/story/18954

[WLKjr]

137. Thank you, please keep this thread kicked for Monday

Thanks for the link, I will have to read it in the morning, got to get some sleep now so I won't be late for school. I bookmarked that link for later. Thanks again for taking the time to read my post, spread it around to others and try to keep it kicked for Monday DU'ers. Thanks again.

[GoneOffShore]

141. We're Kickin!

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[WLKjr]

143. I will probably be gone all day monday so it would be greatly apreciated.

Thanks for your support and for taking the time to read the post.

[Martin Eden]

144. You're welcome /nt

[Tight_rope]

145. Kick...

[WLKjr]

153. Please keep this kicked for Monday Morning DU'ers, Thank you!

not trying to overdo it, just would like to have quite a few DU'ers that are gone on the weekends to see this post. Please keep kicked.

Thank you for all of your repsonses. I will try to respond to each individually as soon as possible.

[Lerkfish]

154. keeping it kicked! n/t

:kick:

[Valerie5555]

155. Maybe you should also see my post about "Wonder if some should consider

this SCARY in a way" on a similar theme in relation to teachers and librarians.

[WLKjr]

156. give me a link and I will check that out

Thanks again for reading my post.

[WLKjr]

157. Monday Morning Kick

n/t

[WLKjr]

159. Late Afternoon Kick

[tilsammans]

160. Echoing what the others have said . . .

WLKJr, THANK YOU for sharing that story -- and for your empathy, your thoughtfulness, and your positive spirit. You’ve written one of the best posts I’ve ever seen on DU – and the message must be spread far and wide.

Kickin’ it for the five o’clock world!
:kick:

[WLKjr]

162. FINAL KICK

Thanks everyone for the appreciations and for your replies. I have gotten this edited down more for spelling and grammer usage and it is ready to be mailed out to newspapers. Thanks again for all of your wonderful responses!


Final Kick for Monday Evening. Now off to lick some envelopes.......