Educational Overkill

To the Editor:

 In a very short time we will be asked to vote on a town budget. And once again, we will struggle to find out what the majority of the voters want.

There’s no getting around the fact that this winter has absolutely wrecked many of Newtown’s roads and more than anything else, the repair of those roads should have the highest priority. It is a pity that the town does not see fit to rely on us, the taxpayers, to determine whether we would like our roads repaired at the expense of the school system or to continue to enlarge the school system at the expense of our roads.

I reviewed Newtown’s annual report for 2005 and 2009 and found that in just four years, 100 positions were added to the education system. Our K through 4 schools have added 51 of those 100 positions, yet the number of class rooms haven’t changed, and the elementary school enrollment dropped from 2,135 in 2005 to 1,982 in 2009.

Can anyone explain why teachers in the elementary schools need to be supported by 11 reading specialists? Four math specialists? Six therapists? A psychologist and a few more faculty whose functions are not understood? And this is just in the Middle Gate School.

Those of us in our 70s got through elementary school with one teacher per classroom and a principal. I ask town people in their 50s how much extra support they had in the first four grades, and was it sufficient to go on to higher education and a good life. And I will ask the same of people in their 30s, as well and then ask if their children who have received a truly bountiful amount of support in 2005 came up so short that an added flood of faculty was justified in 2009?

We seniors are frequently criticized for opposing the school budget just because we no longer have kids in school, but in truth, we know what can be achieved with substantially less than overkill of faculty now being provided.

I urge all voters to get copies of the town report and see for yourselves why our school system is forever growing and costing more and more. We used to call this kind of thing “Empire Building.” Only we, the voters can stop it.

Art Niedzielski

 12 Fieldstone Drive, Newtown                                    March 29, 2011