I just thought I would spend a moment and comment about the article trying to encourage tax payers to support the school levy increase. You know, we never get enough of the liberal side of our newspapers constantly striving to become the hero of the average student or the parent or whatever, by always trying to get tax payers to spend more money on good things rather than the best things. Sure, football is entertaining and some parents enjoy it or enjoy the effects it has on their kids. Some parents favor small classrooms because it’s easier for their kids to learn.

However, I would like to spend a moment considering some other elements to this. In an unbiased world where ideally newspapers don’t take a side and actually just report the facts, you might consider posing some other views of parents who care very deeply for their kids and don’t think that we should give the schools more money. Take for instance those, who might feel that sports build a jock-like atmosphere conducive to societal ailments such as teen pregnancy, or how sports are robbing kids of some of the extra time they could use to further their educational pursuits in the fields of study they will actually pursue when they start considering college. Do you want to send the message that our students should be nothing more than entertainers? Do you want students who replace drugs with sports, or do you want students that learn to develop the strength to stand up for what’s right without a crutch?

Now consider for a moment a student who is too shy to speak up in a large classroom. Do you think it’s a good thing to do this? Or wouldn’t you rather teach that student the reality that they need to fight to get their voice heard in the real world and that sometimes it takes courage to speak in larger groups to become the next leader of millions. You can teach them what to do when a teacher is not readily available, like teaching them how to find the answers themselves or even ask their own parents for help.

I don’t think the principles I’m teaching are extreme. It’s simply the truth. They are quite necessary in today’s market. I want my kids to face the world head on and not shirk beneath excuses such as if only I had a bigger budget or throwing money at any problem will solve it. I’m getting sick of this and I’m sure many others are. What happened to news articles that defied expectations and weren’t wrenching in people-pleasing agenda? Sure, bringing some of these things to the surface can aggravate, frustrate or heaven-forbid change things; but isn’t that much better than being soft about these things and watching our people grow weak.

I honestly have more confidence that the parent can use that tax dollar more efficiently in behalf of their children’s well being than these schools can and I certainly don’t advocate paying them to do my job as a parent.

Brandon A. Hawbaker

Covingnton