Our state reps aren’t listening
I was appalled to see representatives Cyril Aures and Clayton Wood walk out of a public education forum because they didn’t want to “sit and listen” to constituents. They hold a job to represent the people in their communities, while implying those people don’t deserve to be at the table, asking questions, brainstorming solutions or that we’re even worthy of their time. They want to be heard, they don’t want to reciprocate. Listening, especially when it’s uncomfortable, is the job.
The walkout wasn’t just rude. It fit a larger pattern: shifting the cost of public education onto local property taxpayers while prioritizing business tax cuts and expanding Education Freedom Accounts (vouchers) that pull public dollars away from local districts. New Hampshire ranks dead last in state funding for public schools, so families make up the difference through some of the highest property taxes in the country.
Rep. Peter Mehegan stayed for the forum, but referred to funding special education as a “cancer.” That language is chilling, and it tells families exactly how some lawmakers see their children.
Lastly, when a representative says towns “want somebody else to pay,” who is “somebody else”? Right now it’s mostly working families paying higher property taxes, not the wealthiest residents and businesses who benefit from educated workers and strong communities.
If you live in Pembroke, Allenstown, Chichester, Epsom or Deerfield, call your representatives: stop expanding Education Freedom Accounts and start funding public schools and special education so property taxpayers aren’t left holding the bag.