Sure Money Matters

There has been plenty of research about how pouring more money into a school or school district, which is struggling, doesn't reap a decent return. The argument then goes, for people who see such expenditures as a waste, to stop infusing the schools with said funds.

Here's where it gets sticky. Of course solely pumping money into a struggling school and neighborhood won't work as well as one would hope. Taking care of one ill and not addressing other problems will likely yield a poor return. The school and neighborhood are connected.

The problem with most schools which are experiencing problems is that the community has problems just as great, if not greater, that the school itself.

Often the community may have severe crime, gang or employment issues. Property values are likely to be depressed in such areas. Poverty in such communities is a real concern. Jobs may exist but great paying careers...not here!! For people living under such conditions the future looks rather bleak.

So rather than throwing up our hands because the money put into schools doesn't seem to help, we need to invest in the community itself in addition to investing in schools.

Improving education means that funds have to be pumped into both schools and the communities. When government agencies decide to invest in neighborhoods in a comprehensive manner then they'll see that the money put into the school system is well worth the investment. Money does matter!

Dick