POINT BLANK: Water For Profit??
- W. Nugent
The Underground Economy In Our Public Schools
By Winston Nugent
The underground economy or black market is 1.) a market where all commerce is conducted without regard to taxation, law or regulations of trade, or 2.) an expression used to describe a market exchange that goes unreported either because it is illegal or because those involved want to evade taxes.
I had reservations about writing this article simply because a part of me realized that certain things happen or occur in our territory that sometimes baffle justification. However, when I consulted my journalistic instinct, I couldn’t bare to abuse my conscience. So, putting aside my contradictions let me say, I had no choice but to tell this story which involves the education of our young people and the exploitation of them by those who are supposed to be teaching them not only right from wrong, but lessons to prepare them to face an unpredictable and undaunted future.
This story started just recently when I had cause to visit one of our public high schools. While I was there I got thirsty. I needed a drink of water. As I was searching for a water fountain, which I couldn’t find, I saw a student walking towards me. I stopped the student and asked where the drinking fountains on the campus were located? The student pointed in a direction that seemed a mile away.
When I looked at the distance to get to the water fountain, I turned to the student and said;
“Excuse, is that the only water fountain that is close by?”
“No,” the student said. “There is another one, but it’s all the way down to the vocational section.” I supposed the student saw the disgust on my face, because the student added that there was a classroom where I could go to buy a bottle of water for $1.00.
“They are selling water in the school?” I asked surprisingly.
“Yes,” the student said.
“Where?” I asked.
“In Room 302.”
I walked away from the student and decided to walk the mile to the water fountain instead of spending $1.00 in a school for water. When I finally reached the water fountain, I was shocked and disgusted. The water fountain was filthy, old and rusted. When I squeezed the button for the water, it barely flowed through the nozzle area. In reality, to have gotten a drink of water from this fountain, you might have had to use a straw, or place your mouth over the hole. However, no one in their right mind would want to drink from this fountain especially in the advent of the H1N1 flu virus. In my mind, I said to my self, not even my dog I would have allowed to drink from this disgusting thing. How in the world a school with a population of some 1,500 students or more be subjected to such a condition? No wonder they are selling water!
Still thirsty, I decided to walk to the vocational section to check the other water fountain. It also turned out to be a disgrace. Now, this is where my mind began to click. That deductive area of reasoning in my mind began to speculate and as a result, several questions began formulating in my mind. Is this a deliberate set up? Is the school’s administration in a conspiracy of deliberately sabotaging the drinking apparatus systems in the school, where students are unable to get free and clean drinking water and now must resort to buying water? Why does the school administration allow for the purchasing of water when such have already taken care of by tax dollars? Is the Department of Education aware of this underground economy running in our public schools?
Not suffice to say, I decided to purchase something to quench my thirst. I had no choice but to spend $1.50 for a Gatorade from the soda machine located by the cafeteria wall. By this time it was lunch period. As I was walking down the long corridor, I saw a group of students parading out of a classroom with several boxes of pizzas. They set up a table, spread out the pizzas along with coolers of sodas and other drinks and began selling. In my mind I was wondering if they don’t serve school lunch anymore?
Not wanting to cause any aspersion, and to make sure that I wasn’t judging these activities as something out of order; I further decided to investigate what appeared to be an underground economy. The major premise under which I decided to approach this research was to ask myself, is this activity only taking place in this school or is such activity prevalent in other public schools? To my surprise, I found out that such economic activity was indeed prevalent in most of our public schools, particularly in our elementary and junior high schools.
Now, let’s be fair here. The activity of selling things in school can be something of importance and for a good cause. It could be for supplementing a class or a school project, or in a normal setting, say for instance, on the high school level, students in a business class who were studying bookkeeping, accounting or business management, could conduct the sale of goods and services because they could learn the practicality of how a business is conducted. However, in this circumstance, such was not the case. These children were not learning to sell, save, and invest in anything. This underground economy in our public schools was simply for self gain; an opportunity for greedy, selfish and corrupt individuals to make money by creating and exploiting a situation for the basic biological need for water.
Now, let’s take this scenario for example:
One can purchase a case of water which holds 24 bottles at a cost of about $3.25. You then bring it to your school and sell 1 bottle for $1.00. That’s a net profit of $20.75. Let’s say you are selling this water at one of our high school with a population of approximately 1,500 students. Now, the average student might drink 2 bottles per day that would be $2 x 1,500 students which comes out to be $3,000 per day. As you might not know, the school’s calendar has approximately180 days in regards to instruction time. As you can see from this scenario, with 180 school days x $3,000 (bottles of water sold per day) one would realize a gross profit of $540,000. Now, does this qualify as an Underground Economy? You decide.
The significance of the above scenario is that I am only speaking of the sale of water in just one high school. What about the other products that are being sold in other schools such as chips, sodas, juices and possibly candies, just to name a few? While some of these activities may be beneficial to some schools in one way or another, how many of them are legitimate? Do the proceeds from these sales benefit the football team, the volleyball team, the track and field team, a scholarship, buy supplemental books, the school band, or for educational field trips?
If the schools were using the above scenario, as I have said before, for purposes of educating these students in the “art of business” by showing them that they don’t have to be just consumers, but that they could also be business managers or entrepreneurs, then the activity of buying and selling in the public schools could be something enterprising. However, what I have seen and now know is that such activity is being done solely for the economical gain at the detriment of our students. Clean, fresh drinking water in our public schools should be free of cost, and the reason for that, is that, we the parents have had already paid for such through our taxes.
Now this is a good article! There is a surprising amount of questionable commerce going on in some of our schools. A lot of it can be justified, but the effect on students is not positive. Many see it as a status symbol to be able to flash a five or a ten at the Friday bake sale.
A very in depth story Mr. Nugent. Furthermore, you are right. If they were putting these kinds of money into the athlethic programs in the school, the children wouldn’t have to be beggng for donations to attend sports’ events.
I remember not too long ago, the school lunch program only had tuna to serve for lunches. Have the lunch program improved for a variety of foods for our children? Or are the food selections going to workers and not the children in the classrooms?
This is the best article for revealing the government lack of oversight and graft to others I have ever seen.
Persona Non Grata, thank you, as one of my most ardent critic, I feel motivative, and that is for real.
Mr. Nugent,
I have read your article, and I have found that you have not presented one shred of empirical evidence to substantiate your allegations and attack(s) upon the students of the public schools.
Your article is based on pure speculation and may be described as circumstantial at best.
You asked this question, “Do the proceeds from these sales benefit the football team, the volleyball team, the track and field team, a scholarship, buy supplemental books, the school band, or for educational field trips?”
My question to you is this: Did you actually investigate the matter fully to determine where the proceeds really go?
If not, your comments regarding our “public school” students are very close to being libelous in nature and willful with intent.
Very revealing indeed were your comments regarding whom you support with your money: you wrote that you had preferred to buy Gatorade for $1.50 from a “private vending” soda machine rather than water for $1.00 from a “public school” child.
In conclusion, your own choice of words upon close examination has conclusively proven that you have written on what YOU BELIEVE TO BE THE FACTS rather than on what YOU KNOW TO BE THE FACTS.
Maybe between trips around the world, Wayne James, who is over the committee on education, can investigate.
Annie,
Now, there is a legitimate subject, which bares journalistic investigation of the type that Mr. Nugent is so-called trained to investigate!
But will he investigate or even comment on Senator W. James? Hell No!
It is easier to pick on the “public school” students.
I totally agree with you EyesWideOpen…..he would not touch Wayne James with a stick b/c he fears the political repercussion that he may face as an employee of the legislature.
The author of the review above stated: “Now let’s be fair here.” “One can purchase a case of water which holds 24 bottles at a cost of about $3.25.” “The average student might drink 2 bottles per day.”
Therefore, based on the analysis, each student may spend $2 per day, $10 per week to purchase water in school. Wouldn’t it therefore be logical for these students and/or their parents to purchase a case of water for themselves directly from a vendor?
Notwithstanding, there is a need for accountability, to ensure that funds and other resources are not being improperly used or commerce of any kind, improperly taking place within schools.
And yes, clean and fresh drinking water in our public schools should be free of cost.
Mr. Nugent’s article is assinine! Many sales in schools support clubs, teams, trips, etc. The School Lunch Program has greatly improved since the days of “bread and cheese”, however, not many students participate in the program for fear of being seen entering the “hungry house.”
The scenario that Mr. Nuggent poses, of a school employee selling water at $1.oo per bottle, students buying 2 bottles per day, etc. shows his true ignorance. If he had contacted the Department of Education he would have found the school with the largest popoulation has a student population of no more than 135o students, not 1500 students.
The lack of research on Mr. Nuggent’s part is astounding. Most sales, if not all sales, are regulated by the school administration. It is the school administration that grants permission, location of the sale, time of the sale, etc.
I cannot believe that Crucians In Focus would allow such dribble to viewed from its pages. Incredulous!
According to Morgan’s show this AM, we have a lot of funny business going on with water sales, food sales, vender’s outside of school’s and children selling goodies for profit in the schools. This coming from teachers and nurses who see it on a daily basis.
Biggest issue besides the selling is that we have again NO maintenance in the schools at now the water fountain. At the very least, water bottles (5 gallon) should be placed by the defunct coolers until they are fixed. It is what we have already paid for by our tax dollars.
Where is Terry at these days? Malloy be at his other job at
Bridges Academy, school he own with wife, who should be at her other job at Woodson. WHERE is the accountability? Senators? Governor?
Valid points were raised in this article. I believe that there is a Federal Act in place that came into existence about a year or so ago, that prohibits unhealthy foods and sugary drinks and snacks from being served on our campuses. My kids are in private school and presentations were made at our PTSA meetings about this. Parents were put on notice about what foods and snacks the kids would receive at school. They were also instructed about the lunches that kids who did not participate in the school lunch program should eat. No more birthday parties if you were serving cakes and candies. All the soda and juice machines were removed from the campus. A list was generated to indicate the acceptable foods, snacks and drinks. To do otherwise, parents were told, would result in fines, penalties and the possibility of loss of the school lunch program. My kids have water vending machines on campus and too be honest, I prefer they purchase water than use the supply provided at the school. The cistern and wter catchments are old and I am not sure about the purity of the supply. Where is the oversight from the Dept. of Education? Why is this still happening?
Access to clean drinking water is one of the hallmarks of a civilized society. The global commodification of drinking water will increasingly limit poor people’s ability to cook, clean and live a healthy life. This is a worlwide issue. Bottled water has become so commonplace and marketed so ingeniuously by huge advertising budgets we have come to take it for granted. So much so that now our children have to buy a bottle of water if they are thirsty at school. I personally have no problem with teachers and/or school clubs selling drinks and snacks to supplement budgets for supplies, school trips, etc. The students however, should always have easy access to clean drinking water coming out of clean, readily available water fountains. And that water should absolutely be FREE OF CHARGE.
These are the facts that I know:
The primary human wants are:
(a) Air to breathe.
(b) Water to drink and for trade and domestic purposes.
(c) Adequate, wholesome and nourishing food.
(d) Sufficent clothing to keep us warm and to enable us to conform to the accepted standards of decency.
(e) Land on which to build our houses.
(e) A house or shelter to protect us from the sun, wind and rain, and to ensure the privacy necessary for human beings in a civilized society.
(f) A fire or fuel to enable us to cook our food.
Note:It is important that you should realize that we live in a civilized society and that we have certain moral, social and community oboligations.
Mr. Nugent was closer to the truth than he knows.
Here is April 2009 video footage of an illegal snack sales operation during school hours on school grounds.
http://www.thejohnnycakefiles.com/candy/
Great video, but where is your Undisputed Truth?
Before you go too far with your inquisition and condemn “the guilty “ to the penalty of the Grand Inquisitor, you should first clarify at least three basic questions:
1) Do the school administration approve of such activities?
2) Are the proceeds generated to support school-related causes?
3)Are there any reports that may be examined?
Until these questions clarified, WE REALLY DO NOT YET KNOW THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH!
It is a great video, but your questions indicate you may have your eyes half shut or maybe only one eye open.
The key to the entire circumstance is the identity of the videographer!
YES! WE REALLY KNEW THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH BEFORE THE VIDEO WAS POSTED!
Otherwise, how is it possible to open the eyes of those who claim their eyes are WIDE OPEN?
Mr. “The Undisputed Truth,”
What do you mean by your phrase, “The key to the entire circumstance..”
I will tell you what it means; the subject matter is still circumstantial.
We ought not to pre-judge and determine what the undisputed truth is until we have examined the matter some more.
What you allege may very be true, but we still don’t KNOW!
It is not the same as for example: A paper trail of ample evidence of using “public money” of over one-haft a million dollars to enhance a “public official’s private residence.”
Instead of focusing on ”penny issues” of “Public-school students” why not, turn your jaundice eyes towards the “haft-a million dollar issue” of Mafoliegate.
Comparatively speaking, you have the nerve to speak of “pennies” and ignore “hundreds of thousands of dollars?”
By the way, why ARE YOU involved in the videotaping of minors?
Corrected and Resubmitted:
Mr. “The Undisputed Truth,”
What do you mean by your phrase, “The key to the entire circumstance..”
I will tell you what it means; the subject matter is still circumstantial.
We ought not to pre-judge and determine what the undisputed truth is until we have examined the matter some more.
What you allege may very well be true, but we still do not KNOW!
It is not the same as for example: A paper trail of ample evidence of using “public money” of over one-half a million dollars to enhance a “public official’s private residence.”
Instead of focusing on ”penny issues” of “public-school students” why not, turn your jaundice eyes towards the “half-a-million dollar issue” of Mafoliegate.
Comparatively speaking, you have the nerve to speak of “pennies” and ignore “hundreds of thousands of dollars?”
By the way, why ARE YOU involved in the videotaping of minors?
To Eyes Wired Shut:
Not only are you myopic, clearly you are part of the problem when it comes to recognizing and addressing widespread corruption.
Surely with you sitting in the self-assigned seat of impartial judgment, more Mafoliegates are sure to follow.
Whether in the public or private sector, there is no reason to provide inside details to the blind, ignorant and naive. You qualify.