Lessons from The Case of the Missing Dollar
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Q: When is a Compromise not a Compromise?
A: When it’s a Red Herring
We talked about “red herrings” in the previous posts about “The Case of the Missing Dollar.”
I occasionally do after-school presentations of MathMagic for the C.R.O.P. program in rural upstate New York. I’ve been participating in the program for years, as a local artist (magician). The program pays a very small honorarium, and a travel budget (Monday I drove 120 miles round-trip for peanuts) Most of the artists do it out of love of bringing their art to children who otherwise may never get exposed to it. It is a labor of love to all concerned, but it is a great mission.
The Creating Rural Opportunities Partnership (CROP) After School and Summer Program is a program which does just what it is named.
In it’s mission statement:
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The goal of CROP is to provide intellectual development and opportunities for academic achievement for students grades K-8 with a strong focus on middle school. In addition, CROP provides enrichment, health, wellness, life skills, recreational and cultural opportunities for 1260 middle school and primary grade students, community members and parents through a 21st Century Community Learning Center Partnership.
Over the last few years, funding for this excellent program has dwindled. Sound familiar? Art and after-school programs are typically among the first to get their throats cut when the government feels it needs to cut costs.
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