Get Government

Out Of Education

To the Editor,

I commend Daniel Kormanik for his insightful letter printed in The Bee last week (“Money Does Not Equal Performance”). It addresses one of the greatest issues of our time: the public education system in America.

Early in the last century the Progressive movement took over our education system as a means promoting their anti-capitalist agenda. By midcentury, the idea of school consolidation made it easier to gain control over a greater number of students and teachers. Gone is the camaraderie between small groups of students, teacher, and parents. Now, the high class “factory” (school campus) and the “employees” (teachers and administrators) are more important than the “product” they produce (educated children). Soon, this country will be at the bottom of Mr Kormanik’s list! Case in point: Newtown BOE is installing astroturf on the playing fields, while professional sport arenas are removing it because of the high injury rate of playing on plastic! But, it is classier! And that is more important than the students’ welfare.

It’s time we got government out of the education business and let the free enterprise system take over. This way, the technique/technology of imparting knowledge to the students will be advanced and America will soon move to the top of the list again! Schools like The Waldorf School, and the Sharon Academy in Vermont are way ahead of our public school system in preparing children for a productive and fruitful life.

Thank you Daniel Kormanik!

Thomas E. Gates

20 Still Hill Road, Sandy Hook                                        June 9, 2010