The Value of School Sports

It was with interest and pleasure that I read Skip Chalker’s column that questioned the need for school sports in the June 5 SundayValley News. It reminded me of Ambrose Bierce, who in his Devil’s Dictionary written in the late 1800s, gave us these two definitions: Academe, n. An ancient school where morality and philosophy were taught. Academy, n. (from academe.) A school where football is taught. Academe or Academy — that is the question. I think that Skip Chalker and I would agree on which is nobler.

Gerald R. Kozak

Lebanon

Long Live Poetry

The latest column by Vermont Poet Laureate Chard deNiord, made me sad. As a poetry lover, reader, occasional writer and former teacher, I can reassure him that the students with whom I worked for many years in the Brookline, Mass., public schools heard, read and wrote poetry on a regular basis in every grade from kindergarten to eighth grade.

A local published poet, Judith Steinbergh, shared her expertise with both students and teachers. In my own classroom, no unit of study, including STEM subjects, was complete without poetry as an integral part. We often began the day with a poem. I imagine the poetry seeds we planted have borne fruit in many parts of the world, wherever our students have set down roots.

Poetry is one of the most positive parts of my life. I send gifts of poetry to friends via the internet, weekly. DeNiord’s book interstate is currently on my bedside table. “Ah, beautiful!”

Judy McCarthy

Grantham

Capitalism and the Alternative

The NewVista development being proposed in Vermont has garnered much attention (“Developer Spells Out Vision,” June 3). Some of the goals for a sustainable, healthy community are admirable, while several concerns about its local impact are also worthy of consideration. As head of Royalton’s Planning Commission, it is inappropriate for me to comment further on development specifics at this time.

However, as a private individual, I do have one observation I wish to share, not regarding NewVista per se, but regarding developer Hall’s philosophy of how economics and related governance work in such utopian communities. He suggests that financial planners will decide how community assets are allocated to residents wishing to undertake business ventures, with the returns going back to the community. This he believes will “harness the power of capitalism without allowing an individual capitalist to dominate.”

The flaw here is that Mr. Hall perceives only one side of capitalism . . . differing business ventures will compete for investment dollars, based upon their own plans for competing in the marketplace of new ideas. However, he makes no provision requiring the community investor itself to compete; who picks the planners, and without planners facing competition, how are they to be judged and held accountable for determining the best investments? What provision is made to give an entrepreneur with a great idea the freedom to seek alternate investors; why would an alternate investor from outside the community invest if any returns remain within the community?

These questions are relevant in a nation that today seems to be re-embracing socialism, despite the latter’s checkered history right up to present-day Venezuela, where yet another centrally planned economy has failed, leaving people dying in hospitals. What might work well in small communes does not always scale to larger entities. Bernie supporters please take note. When the government tries to pick winners and losers in the private economy, it leads to bad results and corruption.

Tim Dreisbach

South Royalton

Impressed by a School Visit

Recently I had occasion to spend a morning visiting classes at Thetford Academy. While I was there to take photographs for the school’s website, as a former teacher myself for over 50 years, I was keenly interested in observing the dynamics within each class. I was blown away by the exceptional quality of the learning. In every class there was a very high level of student engagement; much of the work was project oriented and required the students not only to work intimately with the material, but also in a collaborative way with each other. No worksheets and boring regurgitation. These young people were required to think critically, solve problems and be creative, all with a keen eye on a final product. Kudos also to the teachers and administrators who have created such a dynamic learning environment.

I also found it interesting that virtually none of the students seemed in any way distracted from their work by me or my camera. This was due, in part, to their focus on the work at hand as well as because they have grown up in a world of Facebook, selfies and other forms of public media. Very natural and refreshing!

Wonderful that while we read about the many ways in which American education seems to be failing our young people, here in the Upper Valley it is thriving and preparing young people for the 21st century.

Jim Wilson

Strafford

Homelessness Is Not a Crime

In his June letter to the Forum, “Help the Homeless in Lebanon,” Shawn Donovan of Lebanon hits the nail on the head in objecting to making homelessness a crime. Taking a social services approach, instead of the proposed policing approach to the informal encampment near the Route 12A Hannaford supermarket would speak well of Lebanon as a true community. The city’s promise “to connect the homeless with social services” is humane and laudable. A more tangible response from the city would be to provide serious support for Haven Executive Director Sara Kobylenski’s (and others’) efforts to secure affordable housing for local homeless residents. As Samuel Johnson said, “A decent provision for the poor is the true test of civilization.”

Bob Schultz

Lebanon

Seeking Office in Vermont

I am writing to announce my candidacy for Vermont state representative from Windsor 2, Cavendish and Weathersfield.

I am standing for public office to make Vermont more affordable for the present and future generations. I am deeply concerned about the lack of financial and political accountability in Vermont government during the last six years. Our elected officials are spending significantly more money than Vermonters can afford to pay in taxes while ignoring basic commitments to roads and state pension funds.

I am lifelong resident of Vermont. I was born at Springfield Hospital in Springfield, Vt. I graduated from Green Mountain Union High School in 1986 and from Lyndon State College in 1991 with a B.A. degree in history and economics. I am a former director of residential life at the Pine Ridge School in Williston, Vt. Pine Ridge School was a private high school serving students with learning disabilities. I have worked in the local public schools as a paraeducator, a substitute teacher and was a longtime school bus driver.

My wife and I are passionate about improving the quality of education for our own two school-age children as well as the children of Vermont. I believe this is achieved through active parental involvement with democratically elected local school boards. Our local school boards need real decision-making authority regarding what is in the best interests of the children in their care.

I have served on the Cavendish Town Elementary School Board, the Green Mountain Union High School Board and the Two Rivers Supervisory Union Merger Board. I currently am the chair of the Cavendish Fire Department Prudential Committee District 2.

I will advocate for the establishment of an ethics commission for state government, term limits for elected officials and restrictions on politicians becoming lobbyists once out of elected office. Vermonters need to demand a higher standard from the people we send to Montpelier to represent us. If elected, I intend to raise the standard.

I look forward to getting out this summer and listening to the concerns of my Vermont neighbors and friends.

Stuart Lindberg

Cavendish, Vt.