Makes a case against school tax extension

Here we go again. Oak Park wants more money for schools when we previously said no. Instead of attempting to determine why so many families will go to extraordinary lengths to travel great distances to avoid sending their children to Oak Park schools, they bring students in from other communities, dashing the ersatz "community character."

Vandalism is up, drug use is rampant, teasing and bullying is tolerated, lives are constantly threatened by student drivers, property values are going down, and the poor, disabled, disenfranchised, dissatisfied and unemployed receive no exemption.

Good citizens develop at home, not at school, and they are nurtured by the company we keep. Plenty of great citizens came from impoverished schools, were home-schooled, or avoided public school altogether.

The socioeconomic demographic of Oak Park is such that the families it draws are the families that are likely to be able to afford tutors, and the time and opportunities that make their children the type of adult citizens they will become.

Ours is about the natural beauty, the weather, the proximity to family, friends and jobs. If no public schools existed in this community the children would still turn out the same, and in many cases, better.

If the teachers that could be let go were the ones who have dried up after 20 years and are nowhere to be found while an endless litany of parents do their jobs for them, including the work they say they do at home at night, I could see a concern. But the teachers that will be let go will be the new ones, those with interest, spark and drive. Sure, there are some good teachers, but have you any idea how much money is spent on tutors in this district?

If administration would listen to anything other than compliments and most employees didn't spend so much time patting themselves on the back, I would be inclined to think about shoveling more money into their pockets. Currently I am not.

I urge all voters, including all students who will be of age to vote for the first time, to cast your ballots in favor of your community and vote a patriotic and resounding no (as we already did) on Measure C, the parcel tax renewal.
Debra Herschman
Oak Park