Why Am I Paying For My Neighbors’ Education?
This time of the year, when I pay our property taxes, I always have to fight the urge to scream! This year I am paying over $2100 in the form of property taxes directly to the public school systems in two different counties. And that’s just the property taxes. In Florida, school systems also get a share of sales tax, impact fees when building a new house, and of course the lottery. (By contrast, we are only paying $11 for parks and less than $500 for emergency services.) I really resent paying all this money to the school system. All I can think about is what I could do with that $2100 for my own kids this year. People who do not have school-age kids, or those who pay for private school might get equally aggravated. I do not buy the argument that public education is everyone’s burden! I believe that if you brought a child into this world, then you are responsible for that child’s education, not everyone else who dares to own property. And why is it the property owners who bare this burden? Is there a punishment for owning property–You must then make sure everyone gets an education, even if it is a bad one?
There is so much waste in school systems. IMO schools get way more money than they need. The system in Florida is so top heavy and full of bureaucracy and waste. For example, I operate an umbrella school in Florida in which a few homeschooling families are enrolled. We do not have a school building; each family teaches their own children, in their homes. But in our state, umbrella schools are considered private schools just like a traditional brick and mortar school. So I get all of the mail that any school in FL receives. About 10 times a year I receive a huge box that has been overnighted to me, like it is some big emergency, that is full of about 50 full color, very expensive posters that I am suppose to hang up on the walls of my “school” and several hundred color brochures to pass out to my “students.” I can’t even image what the cost of these packages must be. I have called, emailed, and written the school system begging them to stop sending me these boxes, but to no avail.
I don’t think it would be too difficult to determine which property owners have kids in the public school system. These are the families who should be paying this tax. At the very, very least, I should be able to deduct from my taxes the cost of materials I buy educating my own children. It only seems fair, since I am paying for my neighbors’ children’s education. I think that those who pay for private education for their children should also be able to write off tuition costs.
Oops! I think my Libertarianism is showing!
on January 9th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
I disagree with you. Let me say first, I really respect the fact that you value your child’s education so much that you chose to educate them yourself.
You say that a person should be responsible for their own child’s education if they have chosen to procreate. I am led to believe that you are in an financial position to spend a large chunk of your time homeschooling. There are those who can’t afford to do that. Furthermore, not everyone has the educational background to be a viable teacher. Do you believe that the poor and uneducated do not deserve to have children? Or, if they do choose to have kids, should their offspring be sentenced to a life of relative ignorance?
Did you have a public education? What about all the other people who you say should not be paying school tax?
As for unfairness to property owners, do you think that property owners are willing to stop deducting their mortgage interest from their taxes? Subsidy works both ways.
I think the fact that school tax is based on local taxes is unfair because kids from poor communities get worse educations. We call this a meritocracy, then make sure that some people will have a distinctly lower chance of achieving that merit. Some overcome that disadvantage; most do not. Should the child have to pay for the decisions (or circumstances) of the parents? I would support eliminating waste in the public school system (and the example you give is a good one, lol!), but you seem to be advocating virtually abolishing the system entirely.
I’d be interested in your counterarguments. I think I’m right, but I’ve had to change my mind in the past.
on January 14th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Dear Rick,
Thank you for your thoughtful comments! I knew when I posted this entry that it would be controversial. I know that many, if not most, people disagree with me about this. I did not have this opinion until I had to start paying my property taxes as a seperate bill and saw everything itemized. (Prior to that my property taxes were paid as part of my mortgage and I never really thought about them). I am not against public education for anyone who wants it or needs it. In fact I thank God it’s available. I just think it should be paid for by those who use it, not by everyone. I think anyone (whether rich or poor) should be able to have children. But I do think that comes with responsibility. Don’t have a child and expect others to pay for it. I am not rich, very far from it. We often have to scrape money together to pay for school materials. I think I should at least be able to deduct these costs. Yes, portions of my education were public and my parents rightfully paid for it(in the form of property taxes or whatever) when I was in public school. But I don’t think they should have had to pay when I wasn’t. I don’t think that I should have to pay for public education just because I was educated that way (although you could hardly call it an education). I should only have to pay if I choose to send my children to the public school system. I respect your disagreements and you make good arguments!
on January 14th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Kathleen, thanks for posting my comment and taking time to reply. It’s obvious we won’t agree on this, but I’m encouraged that there are people like yourself who will still discuss something they feel strongly about in a reasoned, intellectual manner. So often the chance to exchange ideas quickly devolves into a juvenile screaming match.
on January 26th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Wow! Finally, a homeschooler who, like me, thinks we should be able to deduct our homeschooling expenses. I’d be happy if at least we could have our property taxes reduced by the part that would normally go to the public schools. We own four houses in four different states, including Florida, and homeschool our kids. We pay from $1400 to $3500 in property taxes per house. If I could keep the taxes from one house, I could get everything on my homeschool wishlist every year.