Fifth Graders Discuss Taxes

I have never been so excited to talk about taxes.

That is the focus of the new social studies unit we just started. As an intro to the unit, I gave the kids a pre-quiz to see what they already know about taxes.  I want to give the kids pre-quizzes for everything now.

Below I have transcribed the questions and the most interesting/ amusing of the answers, plus occasional editor's commentary.

Who has to pay taxes?

• The people who pay taxes are your parents and older sisters.
• A person who lives by themselves and if you buy a bed. 
• People who work or for instances moms and dads. Maybe someone who lives alone and has a job. [I think the word you are looking for here is "adults."]
• The common people who work and have houses. Rich people also have to pay taxes but they get less money to pay.
• Our parents pay taxes when they buy us things.

What are taxes used for?

• Taxes are used for the government to fix problems about so and so. 

Are taxes good or bad?

• I think that taxes are bad because nobody would want to pay an extra $2.83 for a $10 skirt. [This came from a boy/ aspiring football player who as far as I can tell has never bought a skirt, sales tax or no, but hey, way to reject heteronormativity, kid!]
• They can be bad if you don't pay them. The ISS can hunt you down. When you don't pay you get threatening messages to pay the governor. It is not optional.

What have you heard adults you know say about taxes?

• "You are too young to know about taxes."
• I have heard my dad say that when he has to pay for taxes they are too much. Also "OMG somebody help me."
• I've heard them say that Deval Patrick is going to raise I think it was income tax. [ For you non-Massachusettsans (wow, lord, is that the word for people who live in Massachusetts?), that is 100% correct. I just put this here so you could be duly impressed with this fifth grader.)
• "Oh, we have to pay taxes."
• Adults around me say that "geese my taxes are due." [I cannot stop laughing out loud at this. Is anyone else picturing a menacing human-size goose IRS agent knocking on the door? Or maybe a man in a park talking to some geese about his financial troubles? "Geese, you just don't understand."]

What questions do you have about taxes?

• Why doesn't upper class pay more?
• Can kids do taxes? [Remember, kids, stay safe and don't do taxes.]

Then of course, there's the not funny part. Several kids wrote things like "why do you lose your house if you don't pay taxes?" A few kids said:

• My mom says it is good because that money people pay the government gives her money or coupons I think and it's helpful.
• [Adults I know know say] That taxes goes to them because they don't work.
• Taxes are good because it helps adults pay for what they don't have the money to buy.

I'm both intrigued and a little nervous about the conversations we are going to have, given that many kids wrote things in the vein of "taxes are bad, why do we have to give away our money?" while other kids, like those above, clearly know themselves to be the recipients of welfare. 

... Or maybe my fifth graders can solve the fundamental and seemingly intractable disagreements from which our nation's current political polarization stems. 

I will keep you updated.