Leave the students out of it

In April, the people of the High Point Regional High School district voted NO to the budget. This Monday, a meeting was held with the Board of Education and all five town councils from this district to consider cuts to the budget. Several hours prior to the meeting, the administration and teachers held a two-period long assembly during school hours with the student body in attendance. It was intended to promote the administration/teachers’ point of view on the budget. No opposing points of view were offered. According to a student in attendance, “Governor Christie was accused of being responsible for the current crisis.” In addition, “the cuts in state aid were unjustified and any further cuts that evening would be devastating to the students.” Some kids were so upset by the information provided by the administration that they ended up in tears. The students were advised of the public meeting to follow and encouraged to attend and voice their concerns. They did so. Along with their teachers, they packed the hall. I find it reprehensible that children are being used as political pawns by school officials. These kids are a captive audience and are being force fed propaganda by authority figures. Citizens expect that our school taxes are going to educate our children in the classroom. We never would have imagined that they would be taken from the classroom and placed in an indoctrination session. If these actions by these officials at this school are not challenged, we can assume that this tactic will be used in every school prior to every election from this time forward. All fair minded citizens should contact the Governor’s office and request that action be taken to prevent the education bureaucracy from abusing their power. We pay them to teach our kids, not use them for their own selfish ends. Michael Garrett Sussex