Last Thursday’s Board of Education vote was a perfect example of a moment where raw power in politics ignores the will and voice of the people. The majority of our children, some 130,000+, attend public community schools with licensed educators and a locally elected school board that certifies graduation credits. Only 32 students participated in the commissioner’s “Learn everywhere program” last year. Despite overwhelming opposition throughout the state, letters to newspapers and legislators, and the testimony of an overflow crowd of citizens at the State Board hearing, the Board voted unanimously to accept PragerU’s ‘edu-tainment’ series of videos for financial literacy.

This program was developed not by trained financial advisors or educators but by a right-wing talk host who wants to change minds by presenting misinformation and promoting a far-right agenda. Local school boards will be required to accept this video series from PragerU for graduation credit. This vote robbed our children of a quality financial literacy program and legitimizes this highly political PragerU with a NH Department of Education endorsement. The state board and commissioner are Sununu appointees, not elected officials. They have one boss and do not answer to the public at large. They’ve become agents to dismantle our public institutions with a laser focus on our community public schools. In November remember how your voice was ignored. Ask the candidates for governor if they will appoint a commissioner and Board of Education that will support and promote our community public schools not destroy them.

Linda Tanner

Georges Mills

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