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January 12, 2000

Recruit seniors to teach Junior

Eugene Gibson, whose letter to the editor argues in favor of continuing a two-thirds vote requirement to pass a tax, nevertheless misses two other important ways to insure that property owners aren't "unfairly taxed."

(1) allow only landowners, to vote, and/or

(2) Require that passing votes on all bond issues must be unanimous, or three-fourths, or seven-eighths, or 90 percent.

It makes as much, or as little, sense to require a 90 percent Yes vote as to require a 67% Yes vote. One number is as rational as the other. If your concern is to avoid one-vote majorities, where only a couple of votes separate the yeas and the nays, require 55% ayes to pass. For every nine votes against, you would need 11 in favor. That would mean enough of a majority to avoid a voting fluke.

Howard Jarvis and Paul Gann snuck one through on all of us with Prop. 13. It was cunningly devised to suck in homeowners, then keep them from complaining. What's worse, even though I am well aware of the tremendous harm Prop. 13 has done to California education, libraries, and other parts of our state and county framework, I wouldn't like to lose the benefits I get from that horrendous initiative. I've been sucked in like most other people. Jarvis had little interest in my welfare, though. Primarily, he was out to help those who make their profits from apartment houses. The only reason owners of single family houses were helped by Prop. 13 was to provide them an incentive to vote in its favor. It was a carrot on a long pole, held out in front of the donkey.

At the same time, I agree with Mr. Gibson when he says "money is not the answer to the woes of American education." I believe money is only the start of the answer. But money is the only way to start. Money puts roofs on school buildings. Money puts food in teacher's mouths. When orders of nuns provided most of the teachers for Catholic schools, those nuns took vows of poverty. They were single women dedicated to serving their religion through teaching. Their reward was in heaven. Most teachers need to be rewarded in this life, no matter how much they enjoy teaching, and no matter how dedicated they are. Most teachers need to feed their families. If I was a Superintendent of Schools, looking for the best teachers, I might find it wise to seek out senior citizens to teach a few classes each, especially in the elementary grades. And I don't mean just retired teachers. I mean people without credentials, but with a deep interest in children. A retired travel agent might teach geography. A retired pharmacist might teach chemistry. A retired credit manager might teach business math. There is a mountain of expertise waiting to be mined in the ranks of the American Association of Retired Persons.

How do we spend our education funds most wisely? Not with classes of 50 or 40 pupils. Not by cutting back on education budgets. Not by hiring teachers from the least intelligent parts of college classes. To truly educate our children, we must tap the best, including the best of the oldest generation.

Some recent Reactor columns may be found at Paul Azevedo's website, http://www.thereactor.net/ Reach him by e-mail at Paul@thereactor.net

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