Cold from the snow, sick from the rain, I march my way to school bright and early every morning. The school buses now only run outside of a two-mile radius from the school, so I find myself on foot patrol rain or shine. Upon arrival I am greeted with a late pass and a not so warm welcome from my first period teacher. Now that I have sacrificed my education for the love of walking, my body now suffers the consequences. Sick as a dog, to the nurse's office I go, only to be surprised that our new school nurse is also our gym teacher. Budget cuts are endless in the world of public schools, and with President Bush's proposed $87 billion dollar war budget, more budget cuts are inevitable. .
With the never-ending crime rate rising in highly populated cities it is no longer safe for a little child to walk to school everyday. Recently in Narragansett, RI, a fourteen year old girl was attacked by a sexual offender on her way to school. The school did not have a designated bus stop for her, forcing her to walk to school each morning. (Narragansett) Bush's proposal will not only take away from the busing that the children need, but it also takes away from the police presence. When children are no longer safe, that's where I draw the line. Safety should never be an issue when a child is attending school. With Bush's proposal the U.S. will be protecting other countries but we will be putting the youth of our nation in jeopardy, not a very good trade off in my book. .
Children have the right to medical attention, and with the budget cuts that medical attention is not always available. Recent events in Cranston, RI have caused a $3 million dollar budget cut directly affecting the public school system, these cuts will in turn cause faculty layoffs including nurses, teachers, and aids. If President Bush applies the $87 billion dollar proposal the layoffs in public schools will feel the repercussions of it, and school nurses will be part of those layoffs.
