| Subject: Ya Gotta Love Those “Christians”! |
Author:
Karen
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 10:14:01 08/19/03 Tue
Christian: Chris"tian, adj. Characteristic of Christian people; civilized; kind; kindly; gentle; beneficent.
DISCLAIMER: Not every private school parent at last night’s School Committee meeting behaved badly and un-Christian-like, but there were certainly plenty who did.
One would think that when a parent CHOOSES to send his or her child to private school it is for the religious beliefs as well as the education. In fact, most private schools in the area are religion-based. “St.” Patrick’s, Central “Catholic”, “Bishop” Guertin, all have a common theme—they include religion not only in their titles, but also in their teachings. One would also think that religion and Christianity is a major part of these parents’ lives, else parochial school would not be as important to them as it obviously is. If their behavior last night is any indication, then they are not adhering to those Christian beliefs.
I was one of a handful of public school parents at last night’s School Committee meeting and was absolutely appalled by the behavior of these so-called “Christian” private school parents. Intimidation, threats, belittling comments, rudely interrupting, heckling, and best of all, yelling “OH SHUT UP!” to a person with a differing viewpoint. You kiss your private school child with that mouth?
The tone was set immediately by the sheer number of private school parents who showed up at the school. (Gee, how many of them have EVER gone to Town Meeting?) Their sole intent was to intimidate the School Committee into changing their decision of discontinuing private school busing. This tone continued with the first speaker, a Ms. DeCastro, who labeled the School Committee as “despicable” and “irresponsible” and threatened that all her relatives would soon vote them out of office.
When Mr. Campbell informed the audience that the School Committee had worked for 5 weeks and came up with what they thought was an equitable solution ($150 user fee/person; $300 max/family) that was not good enough. Time after time private school parents spoke and not once did anyone interrupt them or say anything rude to them. However, this was not the case when Ms. Hayward spoke in favor of the School Committee’s decision. Private school parents interrupted her from the audience, yelled out rude comments, and disputed everything she said. Ms. Hayward was not given the same courtesy these so-called “Christian” parents afforded their counterparts.
The “Christian” private school parents had tolerance only for those with the same viewpoint and would only listen to those who said what they wanted to hear. If this is what is learned in religious private schools, I’ll gladly be an agnostic and a public school parent.
Ms. Paquette said it well. Her job as a School Committee member is to provide services for the PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Private school students can take the public school buses all over Dracut if they wish. When they CHOOSE to go OUT OF DISTRICT is when the fees arise. Taxes pay for PUBLIC services within the town—fire, police, schools, and elderly services, to name a few. Taxes DO NOT pay for PRIVATE services. The private school parents should realize how fortunate they are that the School Committee was willing to work with them on this matter. Do they see any other town in the area that provides transportation OUT OF DISTRICT to private school children, even for a fee? It doesn’t happen anywhere.
Educating one child costs $6450 per year. Average taxes are $3000 per year and they include ALL town services. You do the math. The attitude that private school children are “entitled” to be bused out of district because they somehow “save” the town money is ridiculous. Oh that’s right, private school parents never call the cops, use town hall, parks or the library, drive on the streets and throw out trash. I forgot. Why again do you live in this town and not in the one that houses your private school?
I have some questions for the private school parents:
1. How do your children get to Lowell private schools in August, when the Lowell school system begins? Do the parents—GASP!!—make OTHER ARRANGEMENTS?
2. How do NH private school students get to school during vacation weeks? Do the parents—GASP!!—make OTHER ARRANGEMENTS?
3. What if your child had chosen a PUBLIC school in Westford? (because, you know, there is school choice) Would you expect the Dracut School System to bus your child?
What it all boils down to is CHOICE. Parents who utilize private schools CHOOSE to go outside the system, therefore they are not entitled to the EXTRA services that the system does not cover.
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
| |
Feedback: 