The Mountaineer has an article thoroughly discussing budget cuts for Haywood County schools. The complaint that more money is needed in traditional public schools because the per-student state funding is moving with children to charter schools holds no water. Complaints have raged for years about teachers buying their own supplies, students buying their own supplies, and students having to use old books. Gas prices are down, and costs for technology are falling as well. Schools supposedly are becoming greener to save on HVAC costs. So, what are we buying? Meritorious decisions were made to cut administration, including two assistant principals; and other non-essential items. On a special note, staff development and organizational memberships were cut, so maybe teachers can return to the three R’s and feel freed from the obligation of gesturing dramatically as they talk about “nurturing the whole child.”