Looking good by comparison

Brian Wagner

Oregon schools have been financially-troubled for years. That is no secret. But let us all pray to whatever deity or sports team we worship that we don't end up like Kansas (leaving aside all the other reasons I don't want Oregon to end up like Kansas). CNN reports that the Kansas Supreme Court is threatening to force all Kansas public schools to remain closed in September if the state legislature does not increase education funding in the budget by that time. This all stems out of a 1999 case brought by parents who said the state was not providing adequate funding, and who won, though what they really won is unclear. This elevates the notion of bleeding the patient to save the patient to a whole new level.

If Oregon ever ends up so financially-troubled that we decide we'd rather have no school than bad school, I will officially move to Kansas--it can't get any worse there than it is now. The state education head is trying everything possibly to funnel money to the school districts now before the court starts blocking bond payments and closing doors. It has the makings of an action film: a small, noble band of underground freedom fighters seeks to maintain all that is dear to them in the face of overwhelming odds. Now if only the plot revolved around something a little less crucial to life than education...

By Brian Wagner July 02, 2005