Public schools is big business

Many professions have associations for workers with similar jobs to share ideas and successes. The government "public" school industry takes this concept to an incredible (and costly) level.

School boards, administrators, business officials, principals, public relations officials, nurses, science teachers, psychologists, transportation directors, special education administrators, superintendents, social workers, food service managers, counselors, personnel administrators, and school attorneys (to name a few) all have "associations." For a partial list, see chrisjenner.org/SchoolAssociations.htm.

Many of these associations maintain legislative agendas, some of which promote more and more revenue, while very few drive for responsible spending or improved student achievement.

The annual climax of school associations in Illinois is Nov. 21-23. Over 12,000 school people swarm over three downtown Chicago hotels, all courtesy of Illinois taxpayers. No fewer than nine seminars are offered on how to raise taxes. More than 250 vendors will tout their architectural, financial, and legal services; carpets, roofs, bleachers, etc. A handful will offer products and services that actually relate to learning.

Ask your local school officials what's spent on this "conference" and how the improvement in our schools is measured. What did your public school district's architects, accountants, and lawyers spend entertaining their "clients" - with what's ultimately public money?

Chris Jenner

Cary