Who will really benefit from an educational voucher system in America?
Children from all socioeconomic classes, races and cultures can get up every morning of the school year, go to a public school where they are welcomed, and know that they can learn and mature there until they’re 18 or, in some cases, 21. Even transportation is provided. They can participate in athletics, debate, music, drama and arts, field trips, and robotics and math forums. They can go on to good colleges and universities, or get jobs and vocations that will support them in life.
Decades have been spent perfecting the certification and licensing of our public school teachers. Millions of hours have been expended on creating the best curriculum, the most necessary courses, the most efficient delivery system of public education.
Now, in New Hampshire as well as nationally, because of people who have never worked in public education, and whose motives are not to help students but to destroy public, free education, our public school students and teachers face a precarious and uncertain future.
Those who promote so-called “school choice” seem intent on stripping taxpayer funds from schools and instead supporting schools where many truths are censored. Voucher schools often exclude curriculum designed to truly open childrens’ minds. They may lack the diversity that reflects our country’s demographics. Accountability sometimes is much less transparent than in a publicly funded school, which is more responsive and responsible to its community.
Frank Edelblut and Betsy DeVos, please talk to public school students and faculty. Learn from them what courses are important, what activities are offered, how the students thrive and grow.
Everyone needs to stand up for America’s public schools. If we don’t all fight for them, they’ll be gone.
Martha Popp and Alix Olson
Canaan
A recent letter to the Valley News asked why immigration laws should not be obeyed. The writer can answer that question by considering the following:
We have a family-based immigration system that does not offer sufficient legal entry possibilities to meet our labor needs. This is particularly true with regard to unskilled labor. It is as if we had a sign at the border saying help wanted — keep out.
Numerous reforms have failed to address our needs in a way that protects American labor and provides our industrial and agricultural sectors with needed workers. Attempts at comprehensive immigration reform have failed in the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations, largely because anti-immigrant forces insisted on enforcing borders first. Today net immigration from Mexico is zero.
We need an immigration system that is adequate to our needs, enforceable, and consistent with American values. Entry into the U.S. without a visa is a misdemeanor. Many undocumented aliens live in mixed-status families with American citizen children and spouses. One has to consider whether it is consistent with American values to break up families. Our ancestors who arrived before 1924 were not subject to numerical restrictions.
A total of 1,470 economists from both parties, including Nobel prize winners and former Secretary of State George Shultz, wrote the president and congressional leaders outlining the economic benefits that immigrants bring to our country, and urging the continuation of the rich history of welcoming immigrants. If Congress were to heed their advice, the workers who man our dairy farms can continue to make a contribution to our region’s economy and we can continue to enjoy good local cheese.
Evangeline Monroe
Quechee
A week ago Friday, my husband and I attended Northern Stage’s production of Mamma Mia. We have been season ticket holders for over 14 years, and this show absolutely topped them all! The set was stunning, every single voice was up to the task and the dancing was wild. The whole audience leapt to its feet applauding after what we thought was the end, only to have the whole cast come back out in over-the-top glittering costumes for two more songs. We didn’t want it to end. Then on Wednesday night, we attended the Shaker Bridge Theatre’s production of Fully Committed — 34 separate personalities all trying to make reservations at one of the city’s most sought-after restaurants (dinners starting at $250!) The incredible part of this show is that one energetic actor —Matt Crabtree, of New York — portrayed all 34 people. He changed his voice, his demeanor and his energy in split seconds to vocalize every caller in to this reservation desk.
We highly recommend that you don’t miss either of these shows. This area offers a huge variety of talent in art, music, education, sports and theater. We are very fortunate to live here.
Betsey Child and Jim Shibles
Enfield