LETTER: We are in dire need of change in our educational system
Incredulous is the word that came immediately to mind upon reading a recent “In Our Opinion.”
The article is riffed with unbelievable statements.
I cannot believe that the author feels that “homeowners in New Jersey expect to pay high property taxes”that “it is a way of life we accept” and that “expecting to pay what other states pay” is unrealistic, and frankly, we shouldn’t want to pay what other states pay” and that “we get what we pay for.”
Unbelievable!
I doubt the author would have written the item had he or she bothered to do just a wee bit of research.
New Jersey schools did not make it into the top five states with best schools (Arkansas, Virginia, New York, Massachusetts and Maryland.)
Our cost per pupil is $5,294 more than the average of those top five school systems.
In N.J. there are 21 counties and 565 municipalities.
Also in N.J. there are 603 school districts and more than 641 school administrators, superintendents and principals with average salaries in the low to high $100,000 per year area.
So, seriously, should we really expect to pay such high taxes?
Furthermore, should we accept overly bloated, excessive school districts and their highly paid “management?”
Seriously, I think we are in dire need of change in our New Jersey educational system.
Belt tightening, better efficiencies and a consistent demand for good performance (no tenure) might be good lessons for all students and that is something we should expect.
Michael W. Franks
