I have written a number of times on the impending judgment day type economics that are facing public school districts in Pennsylvania and (through the pensions) the entire state. I recently lauded Bob Hollister for making painful, but necessary decisions in Garden Spot. The next day another story popped up that made me want to write again:

Hempfield School District forum looks at deficit

I have a lot of respect for superintendent Becker, but there are a couple of things about this story that concern me. I think that getting people together to “air grievances” might be a good tactic, but I cannot imagine doing something like this.

I really like Superintendent Becker’s attitude toward competition—“Bring it on.” She asks, however, that public schools and their charter and private competitors be made to play on “a level playing field.” Really!?!?! I must be misreading this quote, but I am thinking that she is saying that public schools are somehow not on “a level playing field” with their competitors. This is true, but I am pretty sure not in the way that she is implying.

I am pretty sure that what this translates into is that she wants private and charter schools to—1) have to accept all comers, and 2) she wants them to have to meet all the government standards and fill in all the forms that they have to.

While I guess this would be some sort of a “level field”, let me suggest another. No one needs number #2, but she has to give up taxing authority, charge tuition (they can ask for donations too), and run pay and services that way.

Note, also that no real answer were laid out concerning how this funding gap was going to be closed. I was on Hempfield’s (excellent) website two days ago trying to find out when they were having their early dismissal. It was the same day (only a few hours after) I had read the story about the meeting mentioned above. I wondered if the irony was that everything pictured on the scrolling pictures on this site will have to be cut.

The slow train is coming. It will not be turned aside.