As a former educator of 38 years’ experience, a former member of the Pembroke School Board, and a former two-term member of the House Education Committee, I am appealing to the NH State Board of Education to reject the latest attempt by Commissioner Edelblut to further minimize the public education system in New Hampshire by inserting a program from the “so-called” Prager University into the curriculum. This program, although seemingly innocuous, could and should be rejected for a number of reasons. First, public school educators are perfectly capable of teaching, in-person and with discussion and dialogue, financial literacy. Secondly, substituting a video for one-on-one education is inappropriate. And thirdly, Prager U (although not an accredited university), has as its agenda, according to its founder, indoctrinating students with a conservative ideology.

Allowing Prager to stick its foot in the door of NH public education may open opportunities in the future for more of its programs. Teachers in New Hampshire have been falsely accused of purporting a liberal agenda. Isn’t introducing Prager programs somewhat hypocritical considering those attacks? Please reject the commissioner’s proposal and stand up for public educators and public school teachers in New Hampshire. Despite continued attacks from a number of sources, and a lack of funding, NH public schools continue to be of the highest quality in the country.

David Doherty

Pembroke

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