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Florida Official: Buy Clothes, Not Booze
Fox News ^ | April 26, 2008 | Fox News

Posted on 04/26/2008 8:14:53 AM PDT by A_perfect_lady

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — A Florida school board member is drawing fire from some parents for saying they should spend money on school clothes for their children instead of buying alcohol and cigarettes.

School board member Jay Wheeler's comments were made in an e-mail response to parents’ complaints that they cannot afford the new uniforms mandated by the Osceola County School District, according to MyFOXOrlando.com.

"Everyone can afford Wal-Mart and if they can’t, they need to think about turning off their cable TV or stop buying alcohol or cigarettes and spend their money on their children," he wrote.

Parent Maria Quintana says Wheeler’s e-mail is insulting.

“I have a job and sometimes it's really hard. You have to struggle," Quintana told MyFOXOrlando.com. "And to have them say something like that is really degrading."

Wheeler stands by his comments, saying people should get serious about education and put their children first.

"I thought it might be a wake-up call and I think it's something people want to say but were afraid to,” he said.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: publicassistance; publicschool; thetruthhurts; welfare
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To: A_perfect_lady

That was the goal of the (socialist) system all along.


21 posted on 04/26/2008 8:56:17 AM PDT by darkangel82 (If you're not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. (Say no to RINOs))
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To: A_perfect_lady

recently a private charity turned down an application for energy assistance because he smoked!!


22 posted on 04/26/2008 8:56:46 AM PDT by griswold3 (Al queda is guilty of hirabah (war against society) Penalty is death.)
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To: A_perfect_lady

I would have liked Wheeler to have focused on the cell phone connection. There is an inner city junior high school where I live. The caucasian and African-American population is nearly divided equally. But the demographics are such that over 90 % are eligible for free or reduced price lunches. There is no official count on how many students have cell phones but from people who work there on a daily basis, I am told it is easily over 60 per cent. As far as academic achievement goes, the school’s statistics are dismal.


23 posted on 04/26/2008 9:05:39 AM PDT by Biblebelter (Barry, let your Uncle Jeremiah speak publicly, so he can set the record straight himself.)
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To: RepoGirl

We went to catholic schools for 12 years. Don’t forget to deduct the cost of regular clothing you would have bought before you figure the net cost of the uniforms. I didn’t like uniforms at various times, but in hind sight they prevent a lot of problems.


24 posted on 04/26/2008 9:08:48 AM PDT by purpleraine
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To: Unknowing

In a society that murders it’s unborn children, why would they even think of putting the children first?


25 posted on 04/26/2008 9:21:20 AM PDT by WVNan
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To: A_perfect_lady

A neighbor (rental cabin) got tossed from his rental cabin due to not being able to keep up with the rent. Never seen without cigarette. Spent as much on cigarettes as rent.


26 posted on 04/26/2008 9:24:23 AM PDT by RightWhale (Repeal the Law of the Excluded Middle)
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To: purpleraine
Thanks for the tip, I didn't even think about that. I'm pretty okay with uniforms, but admittedly, she hasn't even started kindergarten yet. We'll see. She's got a taste for Lily Pulitzer and Ralph Lauren, so she's not too happy about the concept of uniforms.

The only thing that gives me pause, and it's a minor one, is they don't have a long pants option in the uniform for when its cold. A pair of kahkis or dress pants, anything like that. Just jumpers, and legging/tights for cold weather. But, again, that's minor.

27 posted on 04/26/2008 9:26:34 AM PDT by RepoGirl ("Tom, I'm getting dead from you, but I'm not getting Undead..." -- Frasier Crane)
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To: bill1952

“saying people should get serious about education and put their children first.”

He’d better be careful! If parents get serious again about their kids education, they may start demanding to have better curriculum, better teachers, etc. etc. Could have a snowball effect!


28 posted on 04/26/2008 9:26:34 AM PDT by swmobuffalo ("We didn't seek the approval of Code Pink and MoveOn.org before deciding what to do")
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To: swmobuffalo; All
I read the “School Uniform” and it is nothing more than what our kids have in their school. Simple cloths you can buy at K-mart, Wal-mart and Target just to name a few.

Plus, mid size kids grow fast and you can “yard sale” the uniforms at the snap of your fingers.

Bravo for him.

29 posted on 04/26/2008 9:34:14 AM PDT by PeteB570 (NRA - Life member and Black Rifle owner)
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To: A_perfect_lady

try:

jaylwheeler@embarqmail.com

that one seemed to go to him.


30 posted on 04/26/2008 9:47:57 AM PDT by spacejunkie01
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To: A_perfect_lady

I agree with the spirit of what he said- but I will say money was tight at my house when my children were little and the school used to nickel and dime us to death with this that and the other. By the time you buy school supplies and clothes you catch your breath and they start putting there hand out for things you had no clue about.

Another thing- about the poor kids having all the goodies- my daughter is a single parent- gets no child support; her ex’s family will buy my grandson the latest video games, camera- yes and toys, etc. but not help with school supplies, etc. Sometimes it is not the parents buying the expensive goodies.


31 posted on 04/26/2008 9:52:06 AM PDT by Tammy8 (Please Support and pray for our Troops, as they serve us every day.)
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To: Tammy8

Perhaps, but when I ask the kids who bought the electronic toys, so far they have always answered “my parents.” Always. 100%.


32 posted on 04/26/2008 10:11:59 AM PDT by A_perfect_lady
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To: A_perfect_lady

This man deserves a presidential medal. Way to go!


33 posted on 04/26/2008 10:17:58 AM PDT by lilylangtree (Veni, Vidi, Vici)
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To: A_perfect_lady
If there's going to be one good thing about this economic downturn, it's going to be a changed focus on what's important and what's not.

Yesterday my wife and I had to go to Walmart to get a prescription for me. We walked through the food section. There were so many snack foods and chips and pre-made meals, and very little canned meats and vegetables or pasta and oatmeal.

We became a society of telephone sterilizers and marketers a while back, all riding the “B” ark to nowhere. With adversity, maybe people will think about what's important.

34 posted on 04/26/2008 10:43:28 AM PDT by GAB-1955 (Kicking and Screaming into the Kingdom of Heaven!)
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To: spacejunkie01

That one failed, too. I don’t know if it’s because he’s being inundated with mail and shut off his mailbox, or what. But we really should think of a way of getting supportive messages to him.


35 posted on 04/26/2008 10:52:50 AM PDT by ottbmare
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To: A_perfect_lady
I gotta go with the school administrator here.
I am so sick and tired of standing in line at the convenience store and listening to people buying lottery tickets and cigarettes complaining about the thin gs they can not afford.
Sorry of you are buying a carton of smokes at $40 and laying out another 10-20 gambling then you have only yourself to blame for your economic circumstances.
36 posted on 04/26/2008 10:59:10 AM PDT by SECURE AMERICA (Patriot Guard Riders - Standing for those that stood for us.)
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To: AnAmericanMother
*** For Cowboy Action? ***

Yes that too, *hopefully*.

But also I'd feel better having the option of putting a 225gr .45LC hollow point into some fool breaking in my house than just my 9mm or my Makarov (9x18), even with the hot loads I have for them.

(don't have a shotgun and a .45 Auto is out of the question for now)

37 posted on 04/26/2008 11:07:55 AM PDT by Condor51 (I have guns in my nightstand because a Cop won't fit)
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To: A_perfect_lady
*** His point is not that you shouldn’t buy what you want with your money, it’s that you shouldn’t buy what you WANT and then demand that tax payers buy what you NEED. ***

No offense, but I know what he was driving at and agree with him. I was just being a tad sarcastic and having some fun. (guess I need to take another 'humor pill')

38 posted on 04/26/2008 11:14:24 AM PDT by Condor51 (I have guns in my nightstand because a Cop won't fit)
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To: Condor51
As you know, I'm a big .45 ACP fan.

But a Vaquero in .45LC would certainly get somebody's attention!

39 posted on 04/26/2008 11:18:28 AM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ministrix of Ye Chase, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment))
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To: A_perfect_lady
The truth will get your teeth knocked out.
40 posted on 04/26/2008 11:21:36 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Islam is a religion of peace, and Muslims reserve the right to kill anyone who says otherwise.)
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