Memphis City School Students and Parents Talk about Funding Crisis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The funding fallout between Memphis City Schools and city council has students and parents sounding off. The back and forth might be over, with the city forced to pay up. But the long term effects are here to stay, and some say they will reach far past the walls of school buildings.

White Station High School freshman Raegan Dickson has learned a lot about government, outside of class.

"I think it's pretty stupid that they're arguing because if we need it, we just need it," Dickson said.

The "it" she talks about is the money- $57 million to be exact. This is the price tag that the city council and Memphis City Schools have been battling over for two years now.

"I don't think it affects the kids at all. I don't think they pay attention to it in the schools," parent Kamilah Claxton said.

Oh but they do, and students will tell you, in their own words.

"They're basically telling us we're not important if they're going back and forth about something that we really need," Dickson said.

Travis Hill, a licensed professional therapist, said the middle and high school aged children are smart, and know what's going on. He said the psychological effects are far-reaching.

"If you give a child another reason to not believe in their education, then they're just going to use that to the effect to just add to their belief that no, this isn't important to me," Hill said.

He calls it cognitive bias, and said the effects of an issue, like the funding feud, is not isolated.

"You look at that individual child and realize those issues are multiplying because it's this child, and this one, and this one. And now you've got a community wide social problem."

Just after school started this year, administrators from the district were urging parents to register their students for class. Well that's because thousands were missing from city classrooms and parents say that alone should send a message.

"If a child doesn't have access to the education they need. There's other ways in which they can get it," Hill said.

"I would prefer private education, but it's not affordable," Claxton said.

So for the students who are still in the city school system, many choose to use this governmental issue as a learning lesson, not a lesson to live by.

"I really don't think they ever think about us first. They always put themselves first before they think about us," Dickson said.

Here are a few tips for parents:
(1) Talk to your students. Answer whatever questions they are not getting answered at school.
(2) Help your kids find alternatives. If school becomes stressful, they need a social outlet. Sign them up for extra-curricular activities.
(3) Ensure them its not permanent. This is only temporary and together you will overcome the problem.