The Little District that Cried Wolf!

I have been politically active or aware since the mid ‘70s. At one time a very good friend of mine and I would wager on the outcome of national elections. (I won lunch at Dee’s on North Temple when the Republicans took the Senate during the Reagan years. Admittedly, I lost a few too.) I worked for Jimmy Carter during the summer of 1976 and for Gary Hart’s short lived campaign in 1988.
But manipulation of the public by elected officials has always angered me. Why is it that city, county and state officials always threaten the public with the loss of public safety first. Agree to a tax increase or we’ll have to fire all of our police and firefighters. School districts and teachers’ unions are just as bad. If we don’t get more money, we’ll have to cancel art, athletic programs, math, reading and science and fire all the teachers!
In the late ‘80s if Proposition A, B and C were passed, our children would surely become Neanderthals and the education system and state would collapse. The fight over vouchers three years ago was met with the same dire predictions.
Every year for as long as I can remember, when class size and per pupil spending numbers have been released, our imminent destruction has been eagerly foretold by the UEA and the PTA. Any increase in education spending was met with cries of inadequacy. Any cuts to the budget were met with the inevitable and predictable, "there’s no fat left to cut."
Well, after more than twenty years of crying budgetary wolf, the Jordan School District has a real wolf. They’ve had a real wolf for the past two years. In addition to the current economic conditions, much of the blame is directed at the split with the Canyons School District. The Salt Lake Tribune’s front page banner headline last week told of 500 layoffs this year. The district, UEA and PTA just may be telling the complete truth for once.
Late last year the hearings required for a tax increase were packed with opposition and the district eventually backed away from a tax increase. But the tax increase is back on the table and according to the PTA is supported by parents. I think a tax increase might be necessary, but in my mind, neither the district nor the UEA have any credibility.
If props A, B and C and vouchers had passed; would we be in the same situation we find ourselves in now?
I don’t know. But if vouchers and the props had passed, I don’t think things would be as bad as they’re represented to be.
I know that it’s the Granite School District that covers the area served by this paper. But, the lesson behind the fable, "The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf" is valid here as well.
Did Peter Corroon threaten to eliminate his "Green Building" programs or fire deputies?
Think about it, won’t you.