This Education Brought to You By...

by: greentuna

Thu Aug 23, 2007 at 13:28:30 PM EDT

It may be presumptuous to speak for the universe, but I'll go out on a limb here and say I think everyone agrees that its best to spend within your means and that excessive, long-term debt is bad.  And while the topic of fiscal responsibility isn't as exciting as poring over todays list of Who's-Who in Rehab, it's an important part of life and one that shouldn't be ignored.  It comes down to being an adult.

Despite all those things we agree on, the devil is in the details and we-the-government spend an inordinate amount of time dancing with the devil.  It seems so simple: Recognize and identify the problem, propose solutions and take action.  The problem seems to be the constant bickering over who is going to lead, and will it be Tango or Rumba?  The next you know, somebody has stepped on somebody else's toes, backs are turned, harsh words are spoken, long gloves are slapped across faces and it's pistols at 40 paces.

Well...maybe it's not quite that dramatic, but looking at all parties involved, all I can say is, "so much for being an adult."

Out of sheer desperation, school districts have had to come up with other sources of revenue.  One popular choice was the installation of vending machines in public schools.  A 2006 study from the State of Utah concluded

Utah's schools earned an estimated $3.25 to $3.75 million in vending revenues in fiscal year 2005.

Beverage revenues from Pepsi and Coca-Cola were about 70 percent of schools' vending revenue. Snack vending and occasionally milk or refrigerated foods (sandwiches, fruit) make up the remaining 30 percent.

The Ingham County School District recently announced a deal with Pepsi to bring "healthier" choices into school vending machines ...  students are making healthier choices, too, has lessened the district's reliance on soft drink dollars.

"We've become more concerned with empty calories during the school day," Joel Raddatz (Williamston Community Schools' Superintendent) said. "As our kids become better informed and change their habits, they're just naturally not buying as much as they used to. If they're not buying it, the company is not making any money."

Notice they aren't getting rid of the machines.  They are making adjustments to make them more profitable.  Johnny had better keep those quarters handy.

"Every school district is looking at where they can generate new revenue," says Lansing School's director of transportation Nathan Rowen.

"You might see something from the Milk Producers of America telling you to drink milk, you might see something from the Navy or Army or Marines," Rowen says.

Budget deficits are a horrible problem.  The state is suffering.  The schools are suffering.  But no matter how we-the-government decide to ultimately work things out, it shouldn't be at the expense of the children.  We've already emptied all the quarters out of their pockets and filled them with junk food and soda pop.  We shouldn't be filling their heads with the advertisements.  This is an adult problem.  It should be an adult solution.

Pass the waffles.