As an employer who hires publishing staff, I need highly qualified people with art backgrounds, literate in computer technology, and team players. I need people who are creative and curious. These are skills learned through different paths of learning. HB 1671 reduces state adequacy funding to local public schools to cover only English, math, science, and social studies curriculum and let towns determine if they want to cover art, music, computer science and physical education through local taxes. History has shown that a society that eliminates art and music and physical activity, dies.
As a former school board member and science teacher, and a parent, I believe children learn in many different ways, developing their brains through art and music, creating nerve synapses that improves learning. In this age of cell phones and computers, children need to experience physical activity too. Our public schools educate all children in all disciplines regardless of income or family experiences to prepare them to become productive adults.
Our public schools equalize these opportunities for all children regardless of family income. Children in public schools become exposed to a variety of physical activities, musical instruments, and singing and have become musicians and teachers of music, artists, and coaches and active members of their communities. This bill discriminates against New Hampshire children who live in property poor town or in low-income families. New Hampshire communities and its children will lose. Contact your legislators and tell them to oppose HB 1671 and stop attacking public education.
Debra Foster
Dunbarton