Shock and Awe in Suburbia, or Fear Factor Tewksbury Style

As a general rule, I dislike paying taxes. All too often I disagree with the philosophy and methodology of redistributing my income and I’d rather have much more say, and direct interest, in the outcome of my disbursements. Suffice it to say, I often have opinions on where, and for whom, my money is spent. Yes, taxes are what we pay for a civilized society, I’m not a libertarian. But, I want my money spent largely on two things, indivisible goods and public education.

Foregoing the inevitably pedantic economics dissertation, indivisible goods cannot be measured individually for the good or service provided. National Defense is a classic example of an indivisible good since none of us can in any way seriously measure the individual costs and benefits of having a defense.

Much the same stands true for public education. Failing to properly educate our children means we’re just breeding kids unable to take over the reigns of national leadership when their turn comes. Properly educating our kids means, in part, moving with the times. A debate rages in Tewksbury about the merits and pitfalls of two articles in the upcoming election June10.

One article seeks funding for new desks and computers in the high school, two areas in such need that the New England Association of Schools and Colleges cited them in its Fall 2005 accreditation visit. “The school’s equipment has not been replaced when needed, primarily with regard to the aging, slow, and inadequate computers and the aging furniture that in part dates to the opening of the school in 1959. Some classroom chairs are disfigured and some classroom desks are broken apart or held together with strong tape.”

Last year’s override for additional funding to rectify these problems, lost by only 8 votes at the polls and indicates a bigger problem than simple lack of funds. Apathy.

I blame much of this lack of interest on the advent of the reality television show.

Seriously. These “reality” shows are incredibly popular with Americans so interested in escaping their own realities they prefer to watch horribly contrived situations and see what “normal” people do to get through it all. Finally, we have entered Richard Connell’s Most Dangerous Game, turning to hunting our own species for entertainment. While I’m all for escapism and television programming, I’m afraid that culturally we’ve left the national controls to spin willy nilly while we munch microwave popcorn and debate the finer points of Fear Factor.

We must ask ourselves what we want our children to accomplish in school. So often in this debate I read or hear about residents that find themselves so nonplussed with the town budgets and management that they plan to vote against these school articles June 10 as a punishment to local town officials. Or others that feel they got along just fine without computer classes, fine arts, and modern desks (the old ones were just fine, built tough), so why should kids today benefit at cost to taxpayers.

Well, partly because we have a rich cultural tradition in America for public education. We believe that educating a child not only benefits that child and parents but society at large. By not fully and properly advocating public education we do our children a disservice in the short term and everyone a disservice in the long run. This does not mean throwing good money after bad. However, if we educate ourselves as taxpayers, parents and residents and watch what our elected officials do with our money, surely then we will know better how to help manage Tewksbury’s schools.

Every year since 2003 the Town refused School Department requests for a bigger budget resulting in a levelly funded school system over the last three years. Much of the blame for the tight spot we’re in is often attributed to a decrease in Chapter 70 and other funds from the state. This is largely true, Romney cut many wasteful programs in the budget and cut back on others. For me though, I’d rather pay lower state taxes and higher property taxes.

With property taxes you actually live in the town the money supports. Residents elect the people responsible for budgeting and spending that money. When money is unwisely spent, voters may put that person out of office. The accountability makes real sense.

So I leave you with thus, I ask nothing more that instead of apathy, residents vote next weekend, June 10. I ask that you consider the merits of each article, encourage your neighbors, and come out that day. By not participating in this election we bring a reality upon ourselves far scarier than Fear Factor.