Since I grew up poor, I am infuriated when I read stories like this one that cast poor families as a problem. And, of course, every problem must be solved by government mandate that makes bureacrats and elected officials feel good about how much they “care,” but leaves the impacted families reeling from the hardships the policies create.

Today’s example comes from Wake County, where the public school system continues its controversial economic diversity policy, which is nothing more than busing kids around the county to achieve “balance” as supporters like to call it. In reality, it simply covers up the teaching and achievement deficiences at individual schools by hiding kids who need more help in a group of higher-achieving kids. Locke Foundation Education Policy Analyst Terry Stoops and I discussed Wake’s policy, and the lack of data to support claims that it’s helping kids achieve — in a Carolina Journal Radio segment earlier this year. You’ll find a clip of that interview here.

At a meeting held just yesterday, poor families are cast as a problem in Garner. From the News & Observer (emphasis is mine):

School board member Horace Tart was asked why Garner’s schools are out of balance with the district’s policy. He blamed it on large numbers of low-income families moving into the southern part of the county.
“We have to make sure we don’t become resegregated,” said Tart, whose district includes Garner.

Enough people wanted to talk about Garner that half the crowd remained for 90 minutes after the forum ended. Residents said they’ve had to make a fuss about the policy to get the district to listen.

Denlinger agreed that Garner has too many low-income students. “We believe in balance for everybody, not that some communities should be balanced and others should not,” she said.

I ask you this: Would it be okay to say that Garner has too many old people? Too many handicapped people? Too many veterans? Too many single moms?

Poor people are not problems to be solved by government. My dad, who raised four kids with only an eighth-grade education, is a proud man who, for 60 years, relied on himself to take care of his family. Government didn’t raise me.

Wake County officials could learn a lot from my dad, most notably about learning to show respect for others.