Is it an American truth that the less you pay for something, the less you can complain about it? For instance if you paid 100 bucks for a shirt that fell apart you feel like you were ripped off. But if you paid 10 bucks for a shirt that fell apart you got what you deserved. Generally I think this principal makes sense. But how much can we stretch it? Does it also work on society levels? For instance if someone pays thousands of dollars for their child to attend private school do they have more of a right to ask questions and demand answers about their child’s education compared to a family who sends their child to a public school? I think this is where the "get what you deserve line" is questionable. This past week I have been meeting with all the parents of the children in my program. At the end of my little talk I give I ask if there is anything they would like to talk about with me. A hand full of them spoke about their frustrations with the public school system in nyc. Their problems range from: school buses that seem to cater to the wealthy children, the after school programs that are held at the schools which cost thousands of dollars each semester, to the supply list at the start of the school year which the total cost adds up to 150 dollars for each child. And when they advocate for their child to the board of education, so often their words are lost in the system. AMERICA? Is this where we are at? Letting poverty define people from birth: giving them less then what they deserve? from my eye level it seems like the school are ok with this. and i know that there are huge financial problems in the school system. for instance if the kids don't supply the teacher paper, the classroom will have no paper at all. but in today's financial market were even the rich are struggling...are we willing to ask those who are poor for every last penny? and will they only gain a right to advocate for their child's education when that penny is handed over?

does the right to a good education only come when the check is written?