Put your Money Where The Kids Are!

by Richard G. Hall, JR. (PNN Prison Correspondent)

Former U. S. Supreme Court Justice, Earl Warren used to become emasculated by the mere thought of reading the daily newspaper. I guess his gut twisted in a tight knot reviewing press packed with corruption, criminality, social incompetence, in humanity and down –right failure! In the face of such a daily deluge of ‘Cess. The good stuff has little real impact. Mr. Warren always read the sports page first, to spare himself a serious stomach ulcer. Because the only thing dirty in it, was the athletes uniforms, it really made no difference how the chips of victory or defeat fell. The very best that the human spirit could give, was always exemplified to the fullest.

On March 5, 2003, I forgot all about the Earl Warren Technique. And just had to read the “Bay Area” Section of the San Francisco Chronicle, First. The caption that busted my eyes said: “Out of Balance – Oakland has more special needs students but less money.”
Rest assured, the article was both appalling, and certainly tear jerking. And this is nothing short of an understatement.

Nearly 6,000 Oakland, California school children with an array of mental, and physical disabilities, are possibly on the verge of suffering for even more unfortunate circumstances. Not because of any fault of their own. But because adults incompetently managed the economic affairs of the “Oakland Unified School District.” As it stands, certain folks are complaining that over the past 3 years, the Oakland Unified School Districts cost to care for and educate special needs kids, Has increased by one-third- to $31 million in 2002. Even though the number of special needs kids has relatively remained the same. It would be very interesting to hear the 411 on “Oakland’s Military Academy.” Which was allocated a few cool $million, to militarize and educate less than 500 kids.

Nevertheless, this is not the time to waste time elaborating on printed paper currently. Regardless of California’s current budget fiasco. There are exceptions to the rule, when it comes to the budget ax. Especially disabled school children. It’s ironic how the U. S. Government can fling American tax-dollars to countries all over the Globe. In order to allegedly assist them in improving their social condition. That’s all well and good. But what about the downward spiraling conditions of Americas poorest communities? And it is even more of a slap in the face, that U. S. Government officials would even consider extending “Turkey” possibly $30 billion. Just to use that country as an allied task force military launch pad. For the sole purpose of the destruction and bloodshed of war against Iraq.

That’s a brilliant idea! The U. S. Military could park a few jets and tanks on the grounds of a few Oakland Public Schools. And charge the government a couple billion dollars. That would certainly save the Oakland Unified School District from losing its educational freedom to the scourge of bankruptcy! So what if it now costs $31 million to educate special needs kids. America’s – professional athletes in quite a few cases, have contracts bigger than that. How much does a single nuclear weapon cost.

All that matters is, 47% of Oakland’s special needs kids have learning disabilities. What so-called moral citizens should worry about, is the 25% of those kids who are afflicted with language and speech impairments. Who is unempathetic enough to look the 12% of them who are mentally retarded, and tell them they may be booted out in the cold because the O. U. S. D. is short on cash? The most despicable wretch on earth would not dare stoop so low! Did I mention the 2% that suffer from Autism? I could bring up the 1% who no sweat off anybody’s back that fewer than 1% are deaf, deaf and blind, have multiple disabilities, and brain trauma injuries?
It is bad enough that Oakland’s healthy school kids are suffering from the O. U. S. D’s Below substandard promotions. Now This!

Another stupendous irony can be reflected when the “California lottery” was started. What happened to the high sounding punch line!” It Will Help California Schools?”
Considering quite a few California School kids don’t even have text books to sorta learn from. And many of them that do, use outdated ones. So much for the California Lottery helping school kids. While every body is being spooked about possible terrorist attacks to come. Especially the so-called threat of Bio Chemical weapons. It might be a damn good idea to inoculate quite a few folks with ant- selective amnesia and selective empathy vaccines.

some folks have even gone so far as to claim, because of the money used on special education, the Oakland Unified School District is in the financial mess its in. Can you believe that? There’s no shortage of cash to slam folks in state prison, with a 25-to-Life sentence for stealing a G. I. Joe from J. C. Pennies. And I’ll assure you, if any of Oakland’s Special Needs kids, God forbid, Committed
adult type crimes. The only thing that will be out of Balance is real Justice! And God knows there will be plenty of available cash to lock them us. “God Bless America is an all wrong Song to Sing.” It should be!” God save America’s children. Especially those with special needs!”