Recently, concerned citizens gathered to demonstrate support for Andover Elementary/Middle School and public schools throughout NH. Their signs read: “Public $$ for Public Schools,” “No Bounties on Teachers,” “Democracy depends on Public Schools / Real History TRUTH Real Science,” “We (heart) AEMS / Support our Teachers,” Invest in our Future / Support our Schools,” and “AEMS teachers ROCK! / READ THIS? Thank a TEACHER”
Extremist groups like Americans for Prosperity are funding anti-education laws. Their goal is to kill public education by a thousand cuts. HB 1679 would have dictated the dissolution of cooperative districts by 2025. HB 1255’s McCarthy-era gag order on teachers would have allow citizens to report them if something they say could be “divisive.” HB 1671, as originally written, would have gutted all courses except English, math, and social studies, depriving students of necessary computer, electronics, and fine arts education. Legislators have backed away from some these extreme bills, possibly when faced with public indignation.
So-called “Education Freedom Accounts” were budgeted to serve 28 students at an average cost of $4,952, totaling $138,656. In reality, 1,635 students enrolled, at a total cost of more than $8 million. Granite Staters never wanted this. When FSA’s were originally proposed through a separate bill, five times as many people registered opposition to it at a public hearing as those who registered support. It was sneaked into law in the budget bill. To save our schools, we must contact our representatives and senators and voice our support for our schools and teachers.
Kent Hackmann
Andover