Finally Saying What I Want To…Part 1
I begin this with a statement of positionality: I am a white, 52 year old cisgender female raised in the upper middle class southern US, I hold multiple degrees from noted universities. What most would say, I am privileged. I also begin with saying I am a soul having a human experience and have spent these 52 years learning how to love more deeply everyday, when I am cut I bleed and when I am wronged, I hurt. This is all a lifelong learning journey here on schoolroom earth. I know I’m just one more white woman taking space on the stage, but I’ve kept quiet about all of this for way too long.
Like many in the social sector, I entered it with thoughts of “making the world a better place for all”. My desire to do so came from a profound experience of awakening to the reality that the “haves” like to keep what they have and the “have nots” are seen as those we should help, save, or support, sometimes forever. But, really, there is never a plan, a strategic plan shall we say, to move the “have nots” into the “have” category. I was about 24 when I saw this for the first time. Kudos to the well designed system meant to keep me from ever seeing it. Systems across the US (namely education, housing, and social support) are designed specifically to keep those “in need” perpetually in need. Inequalities are built in from the literal ground up.
As a single example, there are over 12,000 (and that number is shrinking annually…a story for another day) school district governments in the US. What most people do not know is that these governments are the most powerful in our country. They have the ability to levy taxes. A power that affects over 46 million students differently in each district. The funding formula for public schools has the majority of the resources coming from the local property taxes.
Why is this a good example? Because, a single state, and even a single district, can have wildly differing amounts going to educate each student. NYC for example, the highest per pupil annual spending rate in the US, is an average of $35,000 per student. However, hidden inside this number, that rate can range from $21,000-$65,000. Without even needing to look, I can tell the $21,000 area has low ownership rates on properties that have lower property value, likely highly industrial, and may even have a sports arena or two. How do I know this? Because, the lower amount implies a lower tax base, this means lower value properties, corporations that have received property tax breaks to come to the area, or sports arenas that were offered low or no property taxes to put their stadium in that area. But Aimee, those corporations and stadiums bring jobs! Yes, often low wage jobs that support renting a home and little to no property tax revenue for the schools. Getting the picture? All of the students in the NYC school district government are held to the same accountability standards. You tell me who’s going to Harvard, Yale, Columbia? Who are the future business and sports team owners who are scouting sites for their next locations? Most certainly not the children of the employees in these districts.
Why does this matter to the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors? More to come…however, before you judge me, I ask that you read for a bit and see if my thoughts might grow on you over time.
