What's Da Buzz?

Yes, the title is not a spelling error. FAPE stands for what the USA’s public education system is supposed to be which is Free and Appropriate Public Education. However with even more changes, FAPE is down to P.

Let me tackle each letter and how it relates to Health & Wealth. Or let me say how it relates to the nation’s health and the individual’s wealth. It is also really handy to know quite a few people and have a former public teacher for a hubby. (Former educator si hubby ko)

P is for Public. Okay, there is no argument on this. The public education system is paid for by the taxpayers with money coming from local Property taxes and some from the Federal level. There is a problem with this though. They overspent and now do not have the resources to address the needs and requirements of facility maintenance, teaching staff (paid so little the best potential teachers stay in the business sector thereby getting so-so quality), administration and implementing all of the requirements of the Federal level.

All of that brings us to F. F is for Free o Libre. It isn’t free.- hindi po pala libre. The school districts routinely have referendums asking for more money from the taxpayers each year. Often, these are defeated as the schools keep getting further and further into the crazy curriculum. The gas prices have also hit the school districts hard. It doesn’t matter what side of the political aisle you are on when the schools can’t afford to bus the students.

The Washington County area of Wisconsin has come up with an idea. Charge the parents of the students who ride the bus $600 for gas (Sa atin po sa pinas, pwede na makapagtapos ng isang school year for college ang 6 hundred dolyares). That is depending on whom you are and if they feel they should exempt you or not. No, it is not fairly done. Those that send their kids to public school often do because they cannot afford the options. With rising costs of gasoline, food, heating fuel for the upcoming winter and all of the other prices of living here, many will not know how to make it and if they will have enough to pay all the bills. Keeping your tires inflated is not a solution for the pinch hitting many. Kung sa bisaya pa mamaktas nlang ta ani bisag ga snow hehe.

A is for Appropriate. This depends on the opinion of the individual. Our district and many others think promoting the Islamic faith, homosexuality, celebrating the concepts of a torturer and a rapist, denouncing Christianity (bawal ang topic about Christianity sa eskwelahan dito)  and teaching Kindergarten kids about their genitals is a good idea. My husband, many others along with me highly disagree.

E is for Education. This is what they are supposed to be doing right? In the Philippines, we have it  (mostly-opinion ko lang!) right. In the USA, they focus on self-esteem and feeling good. In the Phils, you get a kick in the rear to remind you to learn or starve to death. Civics, your nation’s heritage, sound mathematics, basic logic, science based on facts, history based on facts are all NOT taught. Instead, opinions of those who want to install a different religious view in your children are taught.

The only thing left of FAPE is the P. In most places, you flush the P down the toilet or step behind a tree to let the P go. The school system here already has abandoned the P. In doing so, they have undercut the ability of the USA to compete in the global market. That in turn means they are ensuring the loss of their own job security. Maybe they’ll get back to the basics. I will not hold my breath though. Homeschooling is a much better option. I know my daughter will have a chance to truly make it on her own. Trying my best po!

FYI: My daughter’s homeschooling annual fee with CLASS is cheaper than that $600 to ride the bus to the public school.

Thank you,

Anah

Photo credits from www.thenotebook.org