A Conscientious

Objection

To the Editor:

I continue to be amazed by the half-truths, lies, and errors of omission by the staff and administration of the Newtown Public Schools. Recently, I learned that there are two levels of math in seventh grade. There is a “low” class and there is a “regular” class. I also learned that in eighth grade, there is a “low” class, a “regular” class, and an advanced course called College Integrated I. The reason I was shocked to learn this is twofold: 1) All communication from the Newtown Middle School refers to one course in seventh grade and two courses in eighth. 2) My son has been taking the “low” seventh grade course all year without my knowledge or without any educational data to support this decision. In fact, he scored in the advanced level on the sixth grade CMT. My son tells me that he is “about three units behind” the other classes. This is not the same course. He was unprepared to take advanced placement test and said that there were “things on that test I have never been taught.”

How did this happen? How was I not informed that this was being done to my son without my knowledge? It is one of many, many scenarios that we have become accustomed to in the Newtown Public Schools. The system is broken. This is apparent by the lack of transparency and accountability of the system to the parents and the taxpayers. If I can’t even find out that my son is in a “low” math class, how can I trust the system? Why is this information not readily available to the public? What else do I not know about my son and about the system? What other children are being inappropriately placed in this class? The system must work for the people not against the people. There must be accountability for actions. Parents must be informed about their children’s math placement. Trust must be gained from the community that the schools are doing what they have agreed to do — educate our children. As a parent of the Newtown Public Schools, I received an email from Janet Robinson to “support the schools” and “vote Yes” for the budget. I am finding myself unable to do just that — support the schools. Normally an active voter, I am choosing once again to not vote in the upcoming referendum as a conscientious objector. I invite you to do the same if you are so inclined.

Laura Main

42 The Old Road, Newtown                                               May 8, 2010