February 8th was my first day as a Volunteer Teacher's Assistant for a local First Grade class.  I will be doing this every Thursday for the next couple of month's.  It was both fun and interesting.

After class I spoke with the teacher about everything I noticed and was really concerned about.  One thing I noticed was there was not much time for the teacher to effectively teach the class on any particuliar subject.  The other thing I discovered was that a lot of the supplies where purchased by the teacher herself.  I also noticed that the playground equipment was very old.  One parent I spoke with told me that the equipment on the playground was the same exact stuff she played on as a child.  Teachers and parents both said that if the equipment was to ever be replaced it would have to be funded through a fund raiser.  I was stunned.  They even still have that old style bark on the playground instead of that recycled rubber.  Even something like that recycled rubber is safer for the children other then that old bark stuff. 

I finally broke down and asked if all of the experts and articles I have ever read saying that the children's first seven years are the most vital was correct or not? They told me it was very true and accurate because the first seven years sets the pattern for the rest of their lives.  So then I asked the question....does Olympia fund you like the Representatives say they will during Campaigns?  The answer was no they don't because it all goes to High Schools and that Elementary Schools are second tier to Olympia.  The other thing is that when the Teachers ask about the funding the Representatives always say that something is being worked out. 

But it never is worked out.  It is still all talk.  The Representatives for District 3 are silent on this issue just like every other issue.  I asked those Teachers today, that if somebody was ever elected to Olympia that had a voice and could not be ignored could ever make a difference?  They said YES!!!  But it would have to be somebody that is willing to stand up and shout out that we will not be ignored anymore.