Gary Burton: Be careful selecting who is voted into office for months

To The Daily Sun, 

Years ago, I attended a meeting in Concord at which most of New Hampshire’s school superintendents were present. It was a mandatory meeting, called by NH’s Commissioner of Education. As the meeting progressed, one of the superintendents asked why the Legislators were passing education laws that were clearly disruptive to the daily operation of local schools. What were these “idiots” thinking by passing such stupid laws?

The Commissioner of Education, a fierce defender of public schools, stopped the meeting abruptly and asked us where we thought these “idiots” were coming from. Weren’t they the same people that we elected at the local level and sent off to Concord to consider laws under which our schools would be governed? Did we elect good people at the local level and send them off to Concord where they somehow became “idiots?" The Commissioner sarcastically asked, did we think NH laws were passed by people from Vermont who snuck into Concord at night, passed stupid laws, and then, before the sun rose, snuck back to Vermont?

My point: Be careful about who is elected at the local level to represent taxpayers in Concord. They’re the ones, and not people from Vermont, who are passing laws affecting how local schools must operate, what may be taught, and even what teachers may tell their students.

Please know that when it comes to our public schools, I am a strong supporter of local control with a community’s schools governed by locally elected school board members. However, be aware that there are some real “idiots” in Concord who are trying to tell us how we must run our schools.

Pay attention and stay vigilant as our laws are changing. If readers haven’t read any of the proposed bills to “improve” our schools, please do so.

Gary Burton

Meredith