Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the House on August 13, 2002

Click here to view bill details.

Yes,
My comment will be short and to the point. If the public school is not good enough for the child to attend. Then it is not good enough for the child to participate in any fuctions of the public school. These fuctions are for students who attend the public schools and not for the parents who want there child at home. Now as taxes payers we have to pay for this to.
GIVE ME A BREAK.

...if it's acceptable to keep certain children out of extracurricular activities because their parents choose not to enroll their children in a local public school on a regular basis. Then it should also be acceptable that these people be exempt from paying any local school taxes since (according to your logic) they're "exempted" from using the facilities that they're already compelled to pay for?

Sorry, it doesn't work both ways!

I'm a homeschool parent and a homeowner/property-tax payer. My kids are active in various community activities and relate super with the rest of the neighborhood children. Our eldest just turned 18 and finishes 12th grade this coming May, so I've been paying taxes (just like any other property owner) and supporting my neighborhood public schools for 13 years.

As a taxpayer I feel STRONGLY that my kids are entitled to the same extra-curricular options as any other taxpayer's child...including the option to participate in such activities as sports (football, soccer, etc.) and theater.

It is only "fair" that this taxpayer's children be allowed to try out for the teams and plays like any other child. If my kids can contribute to the activity, he/she should not be discriminated against on the basis of who his/her teacher is. You seem to be against the concept because you're angry that we don't make the same choices that you make.

I don't understand. Is it anger, or is it fear?

Every person should take time to read scan through the Michigan School Code and other statutes to be informed.
Most teachers/administrators are newly degreed and don't know the system very well.
You can't expect a person 26-years-old to have 30 years of experience. But subconciously thats what we expect and it causes friction.
When I had trouble I was patient and courteous and persistant and photocopies of statutes/and or administrative rules were presented to the teacher/coaches/administrators when I had an issue
My homeschooled kids participate in public school activities. you can also purchase a Legal studies curriculum for your children. Its worth the money and you learn plenty along with your kids. It pays to be informed on court decisions and legislation. It pays to take the time to be up to date.

I enjoy living in this country. And I enjoy paying my fair share of taxes. I thought about going to New Zeeland, but hate the spiders.
Thought about Canada-but there goes my gun collection. People who don't wish to pay taxes are like a group of 15 people going out to eat at an expensive restaurant and one or two try to get out by not paying. That leaves the others to foot the bill for Police, Fire, Education and military protections and benefits.
Or maybe one or two complaining about paying their portion of the bill.
I have experienced third world countries. The Filth, disease and low pay .75 cents a day.
No due process. public executions.
No Thanks.
I will stay here and gladly pay the tax bill.

wje@japanimation.com

You hit the nail on the head. We easily forget (including myself) the benefits of living within our society, which is mostly orderly and secure. We can reasonably expect, from birth to death, to live a life that has nowhere near the turmoil, uncertainty, fear, hunger, injustice, etc. that others in the world have day to day. I have no doubt that any American, if he found himself having to live in some of the worse places elsewhere, would curse the day he complained about the taxes he had to pay while in the US. I don't like unreasonable taxation, but I join you in being glad to fulfill my obligation as a citizen with respect to taxes, which I do not try to dodge.

I have recently made the tough decision to home school my two young sons and leave my career. I am not making this decision because of religious reasons or because I want to protect my children, (although I respect those whose basis reflects this ideology). I am making a free market decision in a competitive marketplace. Niether my local public school or private school can offer my children what I have to offer as their parent-academically. Unfortunately, by choosing to meet their academic needs at home I am forced to forfeit their social and extracurricular experiences. This disappointment is compounded with resentment knowing that I have paid for the services that my public school provides yet am denied access to. Why do I have to take the whole package if I only want a part of it? Successful businesses strive to meet the consumer's needs, maybe public schools could benefit from their example. If we are really concerned with the education of each child in this state we need to focus on meeting their needs.

We need this legislation. Public school is ruthless system. It does nothing to invest in the improvement of staff members who have student contact. (Teachers, Instructor, Aids and Parapros)
It just continues, and continues and continues.
And it Eats and eats our tax dollars. And no one cares enough to do anything about. Sun comes up, janitors clean and then the sun goes down.
continues and continues to be dysfunctional.
The board will provide an expense accounts and enrichment seminars for administators, but nothing for the teachers or staff support.
so remove your children and home school

One school district harassed a home school family for not enrolling their special needs child. Stating the home school parents were not “Certified.”
But if you look in the support staff qualifications for a teacher aid/paraprofessional who would be assigned to the special needs student in the public school. They have no certifications either! This is the person who would read the tests to the student, assist the teachers, etc. The teacher aid/Parapro is only paid about $7.00 an hour and is in constant contact with the student all day providing all kinds of support. Secondly the Aid/Parapro involved wanted to sign up for a special needs child psychology seminar, at a cost of about $550 and a Friday off to attend the two day seminar to sharpen skills and provide better support. Administration turned this person down and all others stating “Teacher Aids are not eligible for re-imbursement for seminars or excused absences to attend said seminars.”
But on the same token your superintendents and high level administrators do get several expense accounts and new cars leased by the district and other lavish perks! With no student contact time!!!!
So in reality There is no “Certified” special needs people working with your students with 100% contact time anyway at any district. Better write your legislators and ask them Why is it like this? and why aren’t we changing it?
And run for your local school board and change it!

I have paid my taxes, particularly school taxes, for 17 years and had no children in the public system. When my son came along, I felt strongly about getting some benefit from 'all' the taxes paid (in my district it was $9,805 per student '96-'97!)and enrolled him in the local school.
AFter 1/2 a semester we had to withdraw! Everybody pays, but every child is not served! How equittable is that?
I have wished that I could have just 1/2 of what I've spent in taxes on my child for homeschooling or private education.
Something has to change! And we can change it!

We need to repeal the teacher tenure act. These teachers form an elitist peer group. If your on the outside your a low life to them. Make no mistake about the phony smiles they give you. They have a bible in one hand and a knife in the other. They are untouchable! As of this moment

This is a reply to your comment. It isn't the public schools that we have a problem with it is the teachers teaching them - and not all teachers! If kids aren't getting the education that they have a right to get because of their pulic schools - then YES they should seek education else where whether it be home schooling or private. You might be someone that has been fortunate with the school system but there are alot of unfortunate people out there that haven't had that kind of LUCK!!
I think it is a shame that everybody is into the money thing instead of the education end of it!!

We all pay taxes but we are not all educated with our tax money. This is blatantly unfair and discriminatory. There is a paradigm shift in education thinking occuring. see thepowertochoose.org and mackinac.org.Read the Underground History of American Education by John Taylor Gatto 2001. Our tax money should be applied to the school of our choice as tax paying parents in the form of a tax credit.It works for K-12.