Claims our schools are headed 'downhill'

To the Editor:

I am in total agreement with an opinion expressed Feb. 26 in The Spectrum by Jeffrey McBreairty, stating education in the New Milford school system has gone down the hill.

America is the greatest, intelligent democracy in the world. Yet Chinese students excel the Americans in scholastic achievement.

Additionally, its economy is increasing 10 percent annually as against America, which is in recession with foreclosures and unemployment reaching 10 percent.

Recently, China loaned America a substantial sum of money to help our country in our financial crisis. Additionally, our schools are going downhill.

When I attended the New Milford public schools many years ago, teaching was at its tops.

Our teachers were hard-working, caring and dedicated. We received a solid background in reading, writing, grammar, spelling, American history, as well as the classics such as The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

I recall our teacher Genevieve Lynch when she read to us from Longfellows of Evangeline moving to and fro with tears going down her eyes.

When a new student arrived because his family moved to town late, she would place him at the head of the class at a table and personally drill him so he could keep up with the class.

In those days, students had the greatest respect for teachers, parents and police. They were taught the basics values in the classroom.

When we reached high school, we already had a background in ancient history.

When we graduated, we were able to balance our checking accounts.

Occasionally, a banker would call to remind a depositor that his account was overdrawn.

Today, the banks charge $15 per day for an overdrawn and pay nothing when you have a surplus.

The Board of Education is mistaken in belief that you can improve education by spending the taxpayers' money.

The mayor of New Milford, Pat Murphy, is doing an outstanding job. No one should receive a salary higher than hers, yet there are several who receive more money than the mayor.

This includes the superintendent of schools, JeanAnn Paddyfote, who receives an outrageously high salary.

The way to improve our educational system is to discharge teachers who do not perform. This can be determined by the results of the classes.

Let's get on the right track and discharge the underperforming teachers and reduce the salaries of a dozen or so town people whose salaries exceeds the mayor's.

Some of our top U.S. industries have moved to China, where they have built factories and hired Chinese labor.

Let's get rid of the unions while we are at it.

Harry Cohen

New Milford