Raining on the McParade

Coming up: two "fun" fundraisers where teachers become "McTeachers." After a long day at school preparing for class, grading their students, revising curriculum, yard duty and, oh, yes, instructing children, teachers at two schools get to host a McParty at a McDonalds near you where they get to serve their students and their parents.

A generous 20 percent of what the store sells during the four-hour fundraiser will go to the school. Three local schools have hosted McParties recently -- all in the MPUSD -- and each has raised between $500 and $900 dollars.

Let's see. The revenue at MPUSD went from $5,781.35 in 2008 to $5,191.66 this fiscal year. That is, it's lost $590 per student. A cool $6 million.In real terms, that's meant fewer teachers, higher class sizes, fewer electives, reduced transportation for the students.

Do you know how many McParties the McTeachers would have to host in order to make up for the lost revenue? Let's do the math: 10,670 parties. I wonder how many of those they'd have to host just to reduce class sizes again.

I know, I know, I know, in this day and age of budget cuts, schools can't afford to look down on $500 bucks. So this is what it comes down to: teachers have to do their own fundraisers. They've done it before, for sure, but this one has a different taste to it.

I don't mean to poo-poo on the teachers efforts. My rant is not directed against well meaning adults who are trying to find ways to make up for lost funds whichever way they can.

My rant is against the system. Call it "rage against the machine" if you will. Teachers not only are getting the brunt of criticism this day and age when school reform is in vogue, they also have to show how well they do at serving hamburgers. This is supposed to be the most powerful country in the world, and teachers have to serve fries in order to raise a few bucks?

And corporations are just happy to oblige, contributing to events that get their name out there as philanthropic organizations -- while making a pretty penny on the side.

This is a joke, right?

For what it's worth, if you feel the McCalling, stop by for the McTeachers events: on Thursday, Nov. 3, Trinity Christian High School will host its fundraiser between 4:30 at 8:30 at the Happiest Place on Earth on 610 Del Monte Avenue, Monterey.

On Nov. 17, Los Padres Elementary will host its event from 4 to 8 p.m. at the store on 1365 N. Main St. in Salinas.