Jason Monastra

My life and thoughts out on the web

I was reading the article most recently of the 12 yr old in Chicago that received a car for her perfect attendance during the school year.  This took place in Chicago, not a private school, but within the public school system.  She is not legally able to drive the vehicle (valued at more than 15,000 dollars) for another 4 yrs but that is of no matter.  Public administration cited the gift as a key component of combating truancy among young students and encouraging their attendance in school.

What a load of ……….  Can anyone else not believe this?  First and foremost, I am not against the rewarding of students that have perfect attendance.  I agree with incentives for children that follow the rules and showing the rewards that can come from bettering oneself.  But a car?  The child cannot even drive the car.   Was there not a more appropriate gift for a child that age?  I am certain that a 12 yr old was not asking for a car, as most children that age are more interested in things that directly effect their lives today - not years down the road.  Also, where did the 15,000 dollars come from?  I see countless complaints of aging educational products, lower teacher pay than needed, and countless other needs within the public schools….where do we get 15k to rattle off and buy someone a car?  My hope is that there was some donation that the school used as a buzz piece to increase the publicity of the event.  But seriously, if the school administration approved that and kids cannot get books - someone needs to be asking Arne Duncan a bunch of questions.

HA…..the politics of this country have taken the course of self serving and derived of nothing short of a non-existent moral compass that leads candidates to make decisions for their own personal benefit and that of their party.  I read with humor this public vs. private funding debate discussing the reasons why each candidate would go their way, and the agreement that was met between the candidates agreeing on public financing.  When public financing is not in the best interest of their self interest, what happens….they simply resign to their lower self serviceness and go back on their word.  Lies are easily washed over with “acceptable reasoning” and seen as a political tactic.  I believe I even heard Obama referenced as a quality opponent for this action.  How can this be?  When lies are part of a strategy to get elected and this is seen as positive?  What and where have we gone with this?

Now listen, I am not saying this is a democratic or republican perspective, but what I find the most interesting is the acceptance by the people of this sort of politics.  Moral guidance and strength of principles I feel is lost in this entire regime.  When seeking the leader of the free world, we are reliant on whom has the most money and offers the most elusive answers to the needed questions.  Does not that seem odd to anyone?  I am not a supporter of Obama for various reasons but this is something that stands out to me.  This little known entity a few years ago sprung to the leadership table and took a seat among the Clintons and other leading democrats touting change and leveraging a grass roots methodology.  Now that he is there, what has happened?  He changes to fit the requirements of the majority so he can get elected.  When will we get someone that means what they say, sticks with it, gets elected and carries through?  That will be the day and man that would be a great day.