Portsmouth School Board Fails Again!

"I need you to go grab some butter," I said to my friend as we walked the isles of the grocery store.

"Ok," he replied, "I'll meet you in the freezer section."  After waiting for a moment, he came up to me with a tub of margerine.  I looked at the canister, and then back at my friend.

"Does this look like butter to you?" I asked sarcastically with a hint of frustration.
"Sorry," he replied with a sly grin, "I graduated from Portsmouth."

 

That statement right there used to make my hair stand on end.  The insinuation that if you went through Portsmouth public schools, you were labeled as some kind of Dunce. I graduated from Portsmouth, and I thought I turned out ok.  It wasn't until years later, when my little cousin, whom I play a part in raising became a member of Clipper Country, that I realized the Public School System is failing this town and its Children.  I am a POrtsmouth native.  I've lived here for each and every one of the twenty-five years of my life.  I'm not alone when I say that the City Council and School Board members need to wake up and look around.

 

The school Board has disapointed hundreds, maybe thousands of Parents, teachers, and students in the past couple years.  Two of them are people I love very much.  My cousin, a twelve year old who came to Portsmouth Middle school is somewhat of a "problem Child."  He was instantly labeled upon his arrival.  I tried as hard as I could to work with the Middle School vice principal, but all she could say was "There's nothing we can do with him."  Yeah right! I was a "problem child," and there were plenty of services and staff members to get me on track.  When I suggested Speacial Education and councilors her response rendered me speechless.  "There is no Special Education.  We have so many other kids who have had a worse life than your cousin."  first of all,there's no way to know that.  And second, even if it's true, what happened to "no child left behind?"  The Public School staff members are over worked, and under payed to even think about  more cuts.  Do they even care?

 

To all the students who valiantly came to the aid of Councelor Shanyn Grenier, I applaud you. Do not take the board's decision laying down.  If no one has told you yet, one of the perks of being an American is our right to question authority.  It seems that the Board just wants you all to fail.  As if your Class councelors didn't have enough to deal with, now they want them to take care of your college planning?  I don't even want to think about how many of you will eventually fall through the cracks.  Stand up, and be heard.  You don't deserve this.  Shanyn is an amazing woman.  She's pulled me out of more gutters than care to count. She's one of Portsmouth's finest daughters, and has worked tirlessly for the advancement of ever student who walks through her door, and this is how Portsmouth repays her?  What a tasteless joke.  I just don't get it.

 

I'm the first to admit that I know nothing about balancing a budget.  I started acruing debt since I was old enough to do so, and it's just coming back to bite me now.  I have, however, learned a thing or two about priorities.  A new Gym? Not higher on my priority list than Speacial Education.  Money for an Ad agency to sell this town to tourists? Not higher than a Student's ability to rfealize their potential for a higher education.  These budgets do nothing but cater to massachusettes yuppies who moved here to get out of the big city, and the corporate developers defacing our town with hotel after hotel.  I've had enough of Portsmouth's Yuppification. I know I'm not alone.  It's time for Portsmouth's Son's and Daughters to re-claim their right to the Puddledock.  It's time for the School Board, and the City Council to listen to us.  It's our turn to be heard.