Defeated Budget

I, like many of you, are so disappointed in the budget failing. What makes it more frustrating to me is that I believe many did it out of anger about the teacher's contract, but that won't be effected when cuts are made. A very wise man used this analogy (I LOVE a good analogy)! Education is a chain - and each year of schooling is a link in that chain. Weakening one link is enough to destroy that entire chain. When we think of areas which will see hardships during this recession we think of them being affected for a few years. If we, as a community or country, decide that education should also see hardships, the effects of the recession will not be felt for a few years - they will be felt for the next 30.

These are the types of things that off the top of my head I can think of being cut in recent years:

Late buses - I know those in Succasunna don't see this as an issue, but for those in areas where the kids can't walk home from an activity, it is. You would all be surprised how many kids I have driven home over the years. At the HS many kids just stand out in front of the school asking people to drive them home. I'm not sure exactly what they do if they don't get a "yes" from anyone.

Aides - one of the hardest felt areas to be hit. When Ryan was young aides in the younger classrooms were a given. With aides it is almost like having a smaller class size - there are two teachers dealing with the class. Children got the extra help they needed because there was an extra person there to help out.

Language programs - Spanish in the younger grades has gone to being on videos and taught by teachers who don't know the language. If you're lucky, you have a parent in the class who speaks Spanish and is willing and able to help out once a week. Check out the job ads some day - see how many require or request a second language. Not quite as unusual as it used to be. 8th grade and they are still only getting language for one cycle - I was getting more than that 30 years ago.

Art/Music programs - Not sure how the other elementary schools handle it, but at one point Jefferson had art on the stage. Not exactly optimal.

Enrichment programs - little by little our enrichment programs are getting chopped away. This progresses to fewer kids being able to take honors classes in the HS. This progresses to fewer kids having the necessary requirements for the better colleges. HELLO?! Anyone want to see their home values drop quickly? See what happens when the school starts putting out fewer and fewer kids getting accepted to four year colleges.


I urge those who voted Yes to the budget to attend the Town Council meeting and voice your opinion.