| The following column appeared in The River Reporter on June 4, 1998. |
it tolls for thee." — John Donne
By Bert S. Feldman
The Recusant Reporter
Thursday, June 4, 1998
The people of the Delaware Valley school district should hang their heads in shame. In one brief moment of thoughtlessness they hung an anchor around the necks of their children preparing to enter their adult lives.
If a farmer were to store his seed for the coming season in cardboard boxes in a leaky shed, prey to rain and rats, he would be considered a fool. He would lose money trying to save money. His next year's crops will be meager, if there are any at all.
Our most precious crop, our children, have to go forth into a competitive world, a world that grows more complex and in need of trained people. Our precious crop of children will only need to learn on thing without a full education, one sentence: "Do you want French fries with your order, sir?"
Irresponsible naysayers in our midst, with little or no commitment to their community, have assumed the role of the Pied Piper of Doom and have led good people down false trails to the ballot box. Look not to the hills of Sullivan County for the reason of their malcontent, look northward to the village of Minoa.
The deed has been done. Other school districts, such as Eldred, have also proven themselves to be pennywise and dollar foolish.
One-room schoolhouses with a supplies budget made up with an outlay of cash for two dozen pencils, a blackboard eraser, a pile of outdated "McGuffey's Readers," and a load of coal to heat the classroom stove are of the past. Today's budgets are considerably higher and consist of many new items ranging from computers to television hookups. These expensive items, necessary tools for today's students, are very costly, and small rural schools cannot afford them. So, in order to obtain these needed educational tools, school districts must join together and pool their resources.
Take just one item mentioned above. Just about everything being done today as we prepare to enter the 21st century is based on computers. Scientists need them to prove their premises. Retailers use them to keep a running inventory. Doctors use them to keep up with new information. Hospitals depend on them to keep track of their billing. Butchers, bakers, and candlestick makers all have need of them.
But computers are costly, and small school districts find it difficult to fit them into their budgets. Several smaller schools working together can buy them and share the cost.
Children have other needs. Some of our children have creative talents lurking within. Take music for one example. Children need flutes, drums, and pianos and specially trained teachers to educate them in the use of these instruments.
As our offspring venture forth into the world to do battle with the dragons of modern times, it is incumbent upon us to see that they are equipped with the needed lance of knowledge and the armor of education.
Delaware Valley parents, please don't let our kids down again. There will be another chance in a year.
