Commentary

‘Twas the beginning of school office budget construction….”

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by Lynn Smith, Essex Junction

Twas the beginning of school office budget construction

Not a person would affirm the need for reduction.

In superfluous, unnecessary, irrational spending

And demand an overhaul, a purge, a budget upending!

The children of the district are woefully behind

In mathematics and literacy, but not manipulation of mind.

“Social and Emotional Learning stands strong in our midst”

Says Director of Equity, with smile affixed.

The board is on top of the declining enrollment,

With all the administrators leveraging controlment.

Downsizing now, when it’s been a problem for years?

What drove the change in the admin’s gears?

The verbage is clear. . . “we must eliminate teachers!”

What about admin? Are they too valuable as preachers

of political ideology, of negative renderings, of diversity,

equity and inclusion meanderings?

There once was a time when this district stood tall,

The envy of others both large and small.

“What happened?” we say.  “Why the fall from grace?”

Maybe, just maybe a cleansing should take place.

What about a return to fact, not feelings-based learning,

with a faculty and staff more bent on discerning,

Than following what the politically correct say – 

with superintendence that does not lead astray.

So there you have it in a rough nutshell,

thoughts on which all of us should dwell.

Do we keep failing our children with little remorse?

Or do we set our sleigh on a new course?

It’s a great time to think about revamping the system,

a season to reflect and encourage true wisdom.

Using knowledge proven through time and testing.

This is certainly not a time for laurels resting. 

And now to bring this all to a close

And remembering Rudolph’s guiding red nose,

lest you think I won’t say it due to fright – 

Merry Christmas to all, and to all good night.

  • Received by the Chronicle Wednesday, December 20 from the author, who wrote: “I’m submitting my revamp of Clement Moore’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ written especially for the EWSD board and administration, though it’s appropriate for most of the districts around the state.”

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Categories: Commentary

8 replies »

  2. Great one!! And here’s another!

    On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
    Twelve lousy school boards
    Eleven budgets busting
    Ten woken supers
    Nine clueless bureaucrats
    Eight mediocre principals
    Seven entitled teachers
    Six wailing parents
    Five million free lunches
    Four DEI directors
    Three sports-banished schools
    Two poor achievers
    And a lesson in critical theo-ree.

  3. It most definitely applies to the Mount Ascutney School District #86. Costs could be substantially cut by closing the Albert Bridge School. The 60 plus or minus students who attend AB could easily be incorporated into the Windsor School reducing the 12 million dollar budget to a more reasonable level.

  4. All the districts especially in Chittenden County are more concerned with pushing diversity inclusion and acceptance then the fact that the school testing schools are horrible.

  5. Just by writing this the author will be called all kinds of names by the left. How dare you use common sense.

  6. The VOTERS need to get a grip on the schools. Before the school budget in my town was decided by Australian ballot, I attended the final school budget meeting using the town meeting format. Before the meeting even started, we were told that we didn’t have any say in about 87% of the budget. No wonder the whole system is broken….

    • “…don’t have a say in about 87% of the budget.” YEP…Well, there you have it. Had enough yet? Lets not spend the resources on organizations, let’s spend it on learners. Shouldn’t the money follow the kid? Can’t decide what teachers, curriculum and ed. services they want?