Letter to the editor: Keep education solid

Talk about it

Our family – just my mother, my sister, and me – had very little money when we moved to Silver Bay in 1958. My mother, Harriet Pope, taught fifth grade at Campton Elementary for many years. I often recall how influential my teachers were to me. I never had a better teacher in college and certainly not in medical school. I owe my Silver Bay teachers and my mother a great deal. They emphasized the importance of education, and it certainly rewarded me with a professional career. As the son of a teacher, I also saw how many hours she devoted to her profession. Classroom time was only a part of it. I also experienced living on a single-parent teacher’s salary.

Now we are in an economic crisis that affects all of us, including our school. I believe that every possible thing has been either implemented or has been proposed by school administrators and the school board to reduce the costs of giving kids the good education and inspiration I received.

I know it seems very difficult to ask for even the small amount of money that the levy proposes: $5 to $9 dollars a month (depending on which option one votes for) for property with a taxable market value of $100,000, and all the money stays in our school district.

I believe we all have a responsibility to the kids — your kids, grandkids, and any kid — to insure them the best education we can provide.

I’ve experienced living on a very low income. Because of my Silver Bay teachers, my education has rewarded me with a significantly better living. If you want the same thing for the kids who go to Silver Bay schools, vote “yes” on all options on the levy ballot.

From George Pope, Silver Bay

Tags: two harbors, opinion, letters to the editor, levy