Shortsighted Budget Cuts

To the Editor:

In the article concerning the Board of Ed’s budget proposal for next year, I saw something that shocked me. The line that stood out to me, and was the source of my shock, was “Dr Robinson, later in her presentation, also said...removing two positions from the district, a district level music position and a district level health position, which would remove $170,757 from the budget.” Yes, it’s time to be more responsible with how tax dollars are spent, but let’s examine, for a moment, what cutting these two positions means.

First, the music position: I played the cello from fourth grade at Hawley School until graduating from Newtown High School in 2006. The music program, and all of its teachers, is an invaluable component to the education of Newtown’s young people. The experiences I had as a part of the NHS orchestra were beyond words. I had the privilege of traveling with the orchestra and chorus to Austria my sophomore year, and Italy my senior year. Due to the hard work of the individuals in the program to explore things beyond the typical math and science, it made us more well-rounded individuals. Isn’t that what this country needs, though? Can we really be expected to compete in the global marketplace if we are all one trick ponies, as the saying goes? Nontraditional classes, such as the arts, allows for more creative thinking, which encourages more effective critical analysis. If we only have linear thinking as dictated by people being proficient solely in the math and science fields, that limits our growth.

Second, the health position: as a nation, we use far too much time, and lose far too many working hours, to illnesses that could have been easily prevented. Proper and safe health practices begin at a young age, and if we cut out this critical part of the education of our community’s young people, we have compounded our problem exponentially.

Of all the positions to entertain the thought of cutting, Dr Robinson, these are two that would be foolish and extremely shortsighted to eliminate. If we want competitive and healthy future generations, we need these two people. If these people are cut, you have failed the individuals you have accepted responsibility for, and I do not say that lightly.

Respectfully,

Matt Cole

NHS Class of 2006

9 Scenic View Drive, Newtown                                 January 25, 2012