There is no such thing as a FREE public education anymore. Even in higher education, so-called state "supported" universities are now state "assisted" universities/colleges with no more than 12% of their budgets being made up of public tax dollars. When nearly 90% of the funding comes from sources outside of the public tax base, how can it be called public? It's quasi-public at best.
I can tell you that my parents could not have afforded $800 in school "fees" without severe economic hardship. We have already priced out many from a higher education. We are now pricing them out of elementary school.
Even private schools are tacking on fees on top of already exorbitant tuition payments.
As a fundraiser, I don't see how this can be sustainable. Fundraising was used to enhance education. Today it's being used to maintain basic education. We need private dollars to help pay the bills. Forget about strategic planning and a vision for "what could be." We can't support what we have, much less what we want to have.
This is the beginning. Where does it end? The system is broken and it needs transformation of the kind that will require pain and sacrifice. Are we willing to go through the short-term pain for the long-term gain? I'm afraid we are not and I worry greatly about the consequences for our lack of both discipline and courage.
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