We need people to flip burgers

 We need people who know how to flip burgers!

 

There is a trial going on in Pennsylvania.  The issue is the proper and appropriate funding of public schools.  Similar cases will be showing up in Tennessee and North Carolina.

The plaintiffs, 6 school districts and three families, have argued that the state is putting their children at a disadvantage because the schools are underfunded.   There have been multiple budget cuts to schools.   These budget cuts have happened even though state research has shown that more money is needed to improve schools.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs are saying that children are struggling against odds they can’t control.  

The defendants, Republican leaders of the house and senate, have pointed to Pennsylvania’s high overall funding for education and question the connection between funding and higher quality schools.   They are also emphasizing the state’s school choice program.  

The plaintiffs are arguing that the schools are so defective that they are reaching a point of being unconstitutional.  They must be talking about the state constitution because there is no right to an education in the federal Constitution.  

Then there is the question of what is the responsibility of public education?   Is it to help children to attain academic proficiency.  Not according to the lawyer for the defense.  He argued that we need people who can do retail sales, make a pizza crust and flip burgers.   According to him academic proficiency is not needed for those tasks.  Would be interesting to ask the folks doing them.

Then there is the issue of who gets to decide which kids lack the ability for academic proficiency and, therefore, are consigned to flipping burgers and which kids could go onto college, become lawyers and make these kinds of jackass statements in court.  A sign in the window of a store in Rehoboth Beach DE read "all deleveries- please call".   Wasn't a fast food, but the folks there probably did reach academic proficiency either.

The trial is coming to a close soon.  But there won’t be a quick resolution, the losing side is expected to appeal.

I hope the lawyer that made his point about who needs academic proficiency isn’t planning to eat fast food any time soon.