Elementary School “Cuts” part 5
Over the course of my blog postings on this subject I have received comments from a number of people who I respect. Some respectfully agree to disagree and others are in complete agreement. I have softened my rhetoric on the issue regarding the GES cuts because I’ve come to learn a few things along the way. Let me first issue the disclaimer and even add one more.
1) I do not speak for the Budget committee. The opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone.
2) No one else speaks for me. The opinions expressed here by others are theirs and not mine.
I’ve come to learn that the GES issue, like many teacher/parent issues, is very emotional based. There always seems to be a lot more dynamics at play when it comes to public education. There are those that prey on these emotions and ratchet up the rhetoric. Maybe this is true for both sides of the issue. However in this case a few teachers are drafting parents to make their case. Unfortunately, in doing so, they omit the reality of the supportive facts in this situation. I DO NOT believe that the majority of the concerned are taking it to the extreme. It is my hope that the majority of the concerned will see that the conclusions of the School board are based on sound facts and DO NOT jeopardize the children. I actually agree with a few reasoned statements coming from concerned citizens of Gilford. In the end, it is really quite simple.
With the proposed reduction in staff, the Children’s needs will be taken care of better than they have in the last five years. There is absolutely NO denying this. We are nearing a point that for every adult working in the school on behalf of the children’s needs, there are only 10 – 12 students. In the past, the children were only taken care of by 1 adult for every 15 – 17 students. A guidance councilor has 27% less students to care for than before. HOW CAN WE NOT DO A BETTER JOB???? With the proposed cuts, we have more resources than ever before to deal with our more needy children. This is the disconnect that frustrates me. However, when the parents absorb the reality of the situation, I believe they will set aside the rhetoric and be ecstatic that their children have never seen such an unprecedented level of care.
The only issue that could possibly resonate in this proposal is whether or not the Life Science program should continue as a course. I believe the core concept of this course is important. When I discussed this issue with my family, someone asked “don’t these children have mothers?” I explained that the educators claim that the parents of Gilford aren’t capable of teaching their children the basic skills of life. If that is true then I believe that the educators, Administrators, School Board and SAU can figure out how to provide these skills without adding staff; especially with the wealth of resources that will remain after these cuts. It's obvious that some of this individuals do not like the proposed solution. Fine, then come up with an alternative solution that meets the chalenge.
I think the community as a whole would be far better off if there was more emphasis on solving the problem with the resources available. There is absolutely no reason these dedicated and intelligent professionals can’t come up with a good solution for all if they would only set aside their person agendas and work toward that goal.
If the money is restored during the Deliberative session, I will not support the budget as a whole or any Warrant Article that adds money (yes that includes the teacher’s contract). I will work my hardest to convince the citizens of Gilford to vote NO on all items that add money to the budget. I will do the same if the Municipal budget is amended, by the library advocates as well.
I believe that it won’t be a difficult task to convince people to vote NO in an economy that is getting worse by the second! It’s unfortunate that the greed of a few might penalize the hard work and sacrifice of the majority.
It's important that the people come out to the Deliberative sessions and support the budget as recommended by your Budget Committee!
