I’m finding it amusing in an odd kind of way that the same people who spent 11 months of the year firing off e-mails opposed to anyone who would spend money on the poor or needy are now spamming me on the “true” meaning of Christmas.
I’m not asking for agreement that even in times of economic crisis we have to protect resources to ensure healthy and ready-to-learn children from all demographic and economic backgrounds. I just seek consistency.
Odd, isn’t it, that some think the meaning of being a Christian can be found in an e-mail decrying the use of the phrase “happy holidays” while applauding as government cuts money for early detection and intervention of developmental issues for children?
But that is where we are right now.
Consider that I get several e-mails a day from people telling me the problem with our schools is that children can no longer sing Christmas carols (which also is silly in my opinion – we should celebrate all cultures), but have gotten zero e-mails expressing alarm over impending cuts of millions of more dollars for teaching.
How do we explain that?
We are preparing to raid again the Lawton Chiles Endowment fund of perhaps $1 billion to fill shortfalls in the overall budget. The fund was set up using money gained through a legal settlement with the tobacco companies to provide a safety net for funding for children’s health and care.
Early learning – school readiness – is another likely victim of budget cutting during a special session of the Legislature next month. That means simply this: Fewer parents will find safe, nurturing learning places to care for their children, and fewer children will come to school ready to learn.
The cost of both cuts will be steeper with longer-lasting implications for families, schools and our economy.
Where are the e-mails on that?
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