Bill Warzecha, Eastern District remediation supervisor for the DEP, said the town is in the process of entering into a Pollution Abatement Order being drafted by the DEP. It would put the town on a strict timeline to take steps to solve the salt contamination problem. See the Norwich Bull.
I know it is harder to come up with an idea than to try and poke holes in it like I did so I don’t want to loose sight of that fact. Your idea on its face is a good one that basically amounts to taking a segment of the student population and working to increase their academic performance. Creating a situation where the best and the brightest receive a better education will undoubtedly have a positive long term outlook for our community and country.
My problem comes down to the fact that it will cost money here in Woodstock to implement: in new books, planning, curriculum, possible education on the teacher’s part and (oh no) possibly hiring a new teacher if the ratio of “gifted” to “non gifted” students doesn’t work out right. Now don’t get me wrong, I think it would be a good use of money. But I now have some experience with some of the factions at work in town and can reasonably come to a conclusion what their reaction is likely to be.
I think you know the people of whom I speak. From my experience they are not at all concerned with improving educational outcomes, they are concerned with maintaining the financial status quo. Any new spending is viewed as an opportunity to attack the BOE in a effort to keep public opinion against any proposed increases in spending. I doubt it would matter if your cut the money from somewhere else to fund it; even if you did whom would you cut off? Read the rest of this entry »
