Illegal Edu-Immigrant Students...
Our good friend Monroe Roark raises an important topic over at Henry.Talk today.
Monroe talks about students illegally attending Henry schools and says, "As a home owner and taxpayer, I’m very concerned about this. But since I don’t have children in local public schools, I’m not around the system on a day-to-day basis like many of you are. I’m curious about what local public school parents think about this issue. How bad is this problem? Is it being addressed properly? What else should be done? Are the families who withdraw after they’re busted paying any restitution to the school system? It’s worth thinking about, folks. After all, it’s our money."
This seems to be a problem, most notably at Dutchtown High on the *ahem* Clayton County border. Many parents write that they see many cars each day with tags on their cars from other counties. While this isn't a surefire way to say someone lives in another county, it is probably close.
On another AJC blog, the Clayton County writer asks readers if they, "Would break the law to get their children a good education..." One reader responds, "I’m a lifelong Clayton resident who has “broken the law” to give our kids better education. I like living in Clayton, always have and not ready to let others run me outta here. We own our land and home here. to find a comparable place in another county could drive us into bankruptcy or homelessness so no thank you. But won’t let my kids education suffer either. We cant afford private school even scraping by. Unless CCPS gets their act together I’ll continue to get my kids educated outside of this county they will not become a product of their environment if we can help it. for the record, my kids are excellent students, not troublemakers in another district not all kids from Clayton are lost cause."
That statement is enough to infuriate me. I don't want to be a single-issue candidate should I ever run for office, but I may consider running for school board against Brian Preston (should he run again) on this issue. What is the board doing about it? Parents, how big of a problem is it to you? Teachers, what are your thoughts?
UPDATED: I just read the comments on the blogs more closely. The above commenter said she will not let her kids become a product of the environment. Well, the environment she is in right now is one of a parent who cheats other kids out of the attention they deserve in school because she won't make the right choices to legally have her child attend another school.
Comments
From Henry.Talk: Why should it be a crime for a parent to want the best for their children?
Simple to answer: There is a huge difference between wanting and earning or deserving.
Like most Americans we bought a home partly because of the school district. We pay our 20-mil (Henry)property tax to the school system; we also pay our other taxes. We support the roads, police and fire services in our county.
Therefore, the parents who choose to steal from us are criminals.
Posted by: Larry Stanley | May 29, 2007 03:33 PM
I agree with Mr. Stanley completely. The biggest problem facing Henry's schools is overcrowding. Too many students per school results in trailer-classrooms, which do not enjoy the same safety or resources as the interior classrooms have. Adding kids who do not pay their way or even live in the area is indefensible. Having children is a choice, and stealing on their behalf is also a choice.
Posted by: Nathan Isenhardt | May 29, 2007 03:44 PM
Hey guys, the precedent has been set by the case of the woman in Cobb County(I think). The jury gave license to lie on documents. Fraud no longer exists. Why should we expect that anything different will happen if even one of the possible school thieves goes to trial? Every lawyer worth his salt is salivating at the possibility of taking on these cases.
The lack of respect for the law runs deep in the entitlement community and that comes home to rest in the illegal immigration debate as well........
How about just one big state school system, everyone can go to whatever school they want and we'd cut out all the local school boards and supers and save money in the long run.....(tongue in cheek here!!!!)
Posted by: Classical Jazz | May 29, 2007 04:02 PM
Josh, you need not be concerned about a one-policy candidacy. This is but one of many issues where common sense and community values should be examined.
Posted by: Larry Stanley | May 29, 2007 04:52 PM
Are you the Monroe Roark that attended Bethel Schools in Memphis Tennessee in late 1970's. The Roarks's that I know are from Georgia and I would really like to get in touch with Sam or Melba Roark. If this is not then I apologize for your time.
Posted by: Charles Clift | January 23, 2009 05:19 PM
because an economy is a collective network of individuals who add to its wealth.. each of us are getting far more wealth than we are creating from our own hard work--i.e. social capital wouldn't exist and neither would specilization within industry and trade. Therefore we're all free-riders at some level and guilty of theft accordingly.
Posted by: Jim Nichols | January 23, 2009 06:52 PM
I have heard plans over the years for one school district for the entire state and the abolishment of all counties to form one large legislative district that covers the entire state. Now that is just ideas that have been passed around here in Georgia for the past 50 or so years. It would according to those who propose it cut down on all costs and we would not need all that goes into local governments. But as I have viewed that idea it would be no better than the old USSR. One governmental body to watch over the entire state. We would lose a our identity in that proposal. I have watched for years as people from different school districts not only Clayton, but DeKalb and Rockdale crawl into Henry looking for a better education for their children. If they are going to come here they should pay their fair share of what we have built for our children to attend. My youngest son graduated here ten years ago and at that time the school required documentation as to residency. But there were still cars from other counties at the school. I think as stated above the cases would get into court and be brushed through by lawyers who love money and would love the chance to get on the news to promote their own persona's and not what is really right for the children or the people who are losing by letting those from other areas come in and use our facilities that were paid for with our tax money. If the BoE contiues to want more money for bonds then they should fight back at this problem and let the taxpayers see they are interested in stopping this problem. Children learn by the parents example and if they see that the parents are doing wrong by sending them across county lines to schools they are not supposed to attend then they will feel it is okay to do other things that are not legal as they grow older. Just some thoughts.
The Doctor
Posted by: The Doctor | January 23, 2009 10:35 PM