TUSD is at is Again

[CDL-A]

Originally Posted by BillyBaroo

I haven't done a search on it, so I'm just guessing that government funds, probably through public Universities, have been used to do research.

Here's an article that you might find interesting. It's about the Harvey Milk High School in New York.

Gay kids get own school / Harvey Milk High opens in New York (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/09/09/MN292862.DTL - broken link)

Well, you're certainly on the spot about the Harvey Milk HS, though from reading the article it sounds like its actually focused toward gay and lesbian students. I didn't actually discover anything there directed toward transgender students in particular.

As my own child only transitioned early this year, and I had NEVER even heard the word transgender prior to her experiences, my guess is that you have been exposed to a lot more in society about this than I have. We don't even have a T.V., so we don't get wrapped up into the whole pop-culture way of thinking on it.

With that said, having a transgender daughter has brought the issue home to us that there is nothing covered for treatments that she needs. The government taxes do NOT cover educating the staff at her school on how to handle this issue, educating the medical community on how to treat her, educating counselors or therapists on how to approach her, not even a general interest class for families to network and build support groups. All of this she needs, all of it has come out of our personal pockets. Later there will be much more expense related treatment that will not be covered by taxes (or medical insurance) or anything besides our own checking account.

So yes, while you did find a gay and lesbian friendly school in NYC that is also open to transgender and straight students, I still cannot say I've experienced anything being covered for my transgender child by taxes. If she were afflicted with autism or diabetes, then she would have an educated public with trained professionals openly treating her, and it would also be covered by insurance. Not so for trans-issues.

Note: I can almost hear some people wondering why I keep bringing insurance into this. With my husband in the USAF (active duty), our insurance really does come from the tax dollars we all (us included) pay into the system.

[terrence81]

Hey y'all don't live in Tucson but hey I have an opinion anyways. I see what you're saying CDL, about being doubled taxed when you pay for your daughter's private schooling. Basically what you're suggesting is to privatize education across the board. No public schools all private. That way we're only paying our fair share. It's not a bad idea but it's flawed.

Well unfortunately not everyone can afford private school. Well just tax a certain percent of their income you say. Well...we could do that. But the problem with that is that our already flawed public schools would fall apart because there wouldn't be enough revenue to keep them afloat. Well those in poor neighborhoods would have those problems. The wealthy and those who already were able to afford private school before by whatever sacrifices necessary would be just fine. Eventually this could lead to a widening gap between education for the poor and rich. Since education is the best way for social mobility the poor would remain poor or become poorer and the rich would well be just fine.

So I just don't think that would work. We all have to pay taxes for things we don;t use. Now if you want to argue my next point please prove me wrong. From my understanding the only countries that have this type of system of everyone paying tuition versus free education, are poorly educated third world countries, with huge gaps between the poor and rich.

Now what would be a good idea would be to increase the amount of tuition you can claim on your taxes.

[CDL-A]

You've just crushed my idealistic dreams Terrence.
Now they were just thoughts, dreams if you will, of how to make it fair for everyone. It still grinds me that we have to pay tuition for our girls and then taxes for the public school we can't use. I do see what you're saying about the potential for a Cast Society though, and no, I don't want to see that happen. Just wish there were a better way.

Originally Posted by terrence81

Now what would be a good idea would be to increase the amount of tuition you can claim on your taxes.

Well, that would be something at least. Hope we don't have to pay too much in April!