Originally Posted by
DnvrFox
We circled the silos in our old handicapped-equipped van. There were many, each with a label on the side. Some were large, some smaller.
We immediately noticed that none of the silos were connected by a pipe or other device to move its contents to any other. Each was separate.
The first silo was labeled “Salaries.” It was full of money, but there were workmen at the top of the silo frantically adding additional layers of red bricks, as it was getting full and more space was needed for the money for the salaries.
Another silo was labeled “Bricks and Mortar.” It was also almost full and had recently been enlarged. There was money there also to purchase more bricks and mortar.
We drove a bit further and found a silo labeled “Computers, Office Equipment and Supplies” It was nearly bulging at the seams.
Down the hill was a smaller silo labeled “Organization Charts.” We were worried about spontaneous combustion and a fire from all the paper.
Then there was the “Audits and Studies” silo – it looked like an auditor sitting on the top so the wind would not blow them away. Paper was being hoisted up by a conveyor belt.
Another silo, this one almost filled with money, was labeled “Administrative Costs and Overhead."
There was a silo nearly overflowing labeled "Committees" and we looked with our binoculars, and as far as we could tell, it was filled with camels!
The silo labeled "Boards of Directors" was most interesting as it was filled with signs that said "Yes" and "We agree." It was fenced with a gate and a sign stating, "Only team players allowed."
There were many more silos.
And, way off to the side, not even in the silo field, was a tattered box labeled "Inclusion of Families and Individuals with Disabilities." It was almost empty!
I saw a “Director” walking in the silo field and asked, “Where is the silo for “Direct Services to Individuals with Disabilities.” The Director said that there was no silo for direct services. The rule was the money for direct services only came when all the silos overflowed. The silos in the main field all had to be full first before they could turn the faucet on to serve individuals with developmental disabilities. However, the tattered box didn't count. The Director said that since none of the silos were interconnected, Direct Services would have to wait until all the silos were overflowing.
I like it.
Years ago, when my kids were attending the local schools, I had a similar inspiration. Prior to that point I had thought that the purpose of schools had something to do with kids or child development or education or something like that. Once I figured out that their primary goal was to obtain funding, everything suddenly made sense.
My daughter was elected to her local school board on Tuesday. Actually, she was the top vote getter in the election by a comfortable margin. Now we'll see how much she can do. I have a high degree of confidence in her - takes after her mother.