I have paid taxes to support public school funding for almost 50 years. I have done so even though I have never had children because it’s the law. I had that free schooling as a boy, and I would rather live in an educated community. But now part of my taxes go to support private and religious schools through the voucher program called Education Freedom Accounts at the expense of the public schools I do support.

First, I strongly object as a citizen of New Hampshire where our state constitution specifically outlaws taxes for religious schools and that the current New Hampshire legislature is debating how to change that constitution to allow such a thing. Second, as an atheist, I will never support the teaching of any religious dogma. I think the New Hampshire constitution protects me so I am about to engage in civil disobedience by not paying the percentage of school taxes that are presently going to private and religious schools on the school portion of my property taxes. I need to take a stand and frankly our government is not just.

Jack Shields

Penacook

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