Education Adequacy Forum

I went to the Forum at Plymouth High School on Monday night to discuss Adequacy in Education. The Supreme Court has mandated, in their latest Londonderry case, that the Legislature must define an "adequate" education by July 1st of this year. Thus, this Task Force has been established to figure out just what an adequate education is.

I would say that a majority of the speakers conceded that a one-size-fits-all education is not desirable. Most also brought up the point that the definition of an adequate education is entirely subjective.

Also, as the coordinators of this forum stated, these meetings are about defining adequacy and not about how to fund it. This is typical. The legislators on the Task Force know that to fund an adequate education it will take a sales or income tax. They also know that everyone is opposed to both of those options. So their solution: 'Let's not talk about it then'.

But, it is ridiculous not to attach a cost to adequacy while defining it. First of all, it was mandated by the Court in Claremont and reiterated in Londonderry that the state must define adequacy and also fund it. And if price isn't made a factor then what is to prevent a gross over-spending? They could very well vote to define adequate as giving every child their own tutor, a personal laptop, and a limousine. That sounds outlandish, but something equally costly could come if they don't talk about funding it also.

Enough of the digression. I chose to address the Task Force because I have deep convictions about education, given my personal experience. In short, I urged this group to adopt a constitutional amendment in order to prevent centralization of our traditionally decentralized education system, and to also consider a plan for adopting a school choice program. I have the unique experience of having gone through two years at public high school and two at a private high school. I have a seen a world of difference. The private school has an environment that is more conducive to my learning. I only think it reasonable to give all children that option via school choice, such as vouchers. The competition will only serve to raise students' scores.

You can go Here to watch video coverage of the various forums. You can see me speak by clicking on the Plymouth link; I start speaking about halfway through.

I also urge you to check out The New Hampshire Advantage Coalition and School Choice NH. It's only sensible to allow parents to choose the school that is best for their child. And who knows, maybe school choice (and telling the Supreme Court to back off) could prevent a sales or income tax and save the NH Advantage.

In Libertate,
Tyler