Gov. Scott dodged the fundamental issues with funding education in Vermont. Stating that delivery to students was the big issue is a cop out and a lie. In the Dec. 21 Independent article on the subject the real issues “a declining workforce, sluggish economic growth and nearly stagnant tax revenues” are mentioned but dodged by the governor.
In recent years “changing the way education is delivered” translates into slashing budgets, consolidating classrooms and gypping the next generation of Vermonters who are increasingly unprepared compared to peers in other more economically progressive states. Years of anti-business policies, overzealous bureaucrats and oppressive taxation have done exactly what history has clearly shown in the past with similar results. There is a trickle down to the most vulnerable among us. A similar unintended consequence of anachronistic business policies is being seen in the disastrous Department for Children and Families fiascos that are increasingly prevalent with no end in sight.
Rather than continuing to deplete the delivery of resources to the next generation, how about Vermont gets with the program and joins other progressive states in judicious pro-business policies, responsible and attentive bureaucrats (possibly mutually exclusive terms), and priority to safety and education of children.
Vermont is in a death spiral of an exodus of productive Vermonters and the dilution of vital services to the next generation, which will only make the problem exponentially worse. Only when we deal with the fundamental economic struggles created by years of bumbling can Vermont hope to compete in attracting, retaining and creating a workforce and student body competitive with more progressively minded states.
Anders Holm
Middlebury