Suffering Students?

To the Editor:

Why are teachers buying pencils? Isn’t that the parent’s responsibility? They seem to have enough money to purchase large homes, expensive cars, large screen TVs, cell phones are on every ear and $300 Ipods on the other, financing prom nights — all the things money can buy, except, apparently, school supplies.

One school teacher suggests impacting other services. Which ones? It can’t be road maintenance — many roads are in horrible shape. It can’t be the stinky, outdated dog pound, where people work and animals live 365 days a year. The comment was made about children suffering greatly. Many are suffering more from a lack of respect for teachers, parents, other authority, and the less fortunate in their own community, than they are, a lack of things provided for a quality education.

Getting a good education isn’t based on how much money the school budget gets. It’s parental involvement, teachers abilities (not salaries), and the desire of the student to learn. How else can you explain success stories of people like Bill Clinton, Condoleeza Rice, Oprah Winfrey, and Bill Cosby? I doubt those people had many of the advantages we already provide.

Aren’t schools becoming overcrowded due to families moving here for a quality education? How can that be possible if we taxpayers aren’t paying enough and the school is about to lose its accreditation? Why are there so many honor students, scholarships awarded, and colleges accepting their applications? I assume they have achieved some degree of academic excellence despite their suffering greatly!

Many people move here also, wanting a small quiet community. All we see are bigger homes going up to attract only those who can afford to buy and maintain them. It’s all about a profit on an investment you can’t find in other investment choices. What about families struggling to pay for pencils, much less a home and taxes?

Some people are tired of having their pockets legally picked as an unending source of money for school demands. Budgets should provide necessities first. As anyone whose salary doesn’t get increases to match costs going up, they make cuts to expenditures or go into debt. There are ways to enjoy life without all the possessions many seem to need to impress others. I don’t believe you learn to value much in life when it’s handed to you and you expect it from taxpayers and parental generosity.

Instead of telling people who have limited incomes and vote No to move out, why not tell people who vote Yes to move to towns that can afford to provide more for students? Many transient families moving here, do just that after three or four years — leave. Families still living here with ties to family, friends, doctors, and churches are faced with leaving due to heavy tax burdens.

Pencils are sold in packages of 20 at the dollar store but anyone driving a BMW to school wouldn’t be caught dead shopping there!

Barbara Field

Serenity Lane, Sandy Hook                                         May 24, 2006