Editor:

    The Portland Press Herald characterizes the people
speaking out against school consolidation as primarily being employees
at risk, like superintendents and teachers. It is foolhardy to assume
the critics of Governor Baldacci’s school consolidation scheme are
limited to educators. No, the citizens speaking out against school
consolidation represent all facets of the community, most importantly
parents, tax payers and property owners. They are a very large voting
block. It’s not just the educators who are up in arms about these
misguided schemes to “provide tax relief.”

    Parents fear losing influence over the curriculum
their kids are exposed to five days a week. Tax payers fear losing
control over how their hard earned dollars are spent (or wasted) by the
educational establishment. Property owners can imagine a scenario where
consolidation leads to poorer school results, higher taxes, less desire
for folks from away to move to their town, thereby depressing property
values.

    The paper also condemns the tone of the comments spewing forth from the masses.

    We as Americans should embrace and encourage such
passion in our civic affairs! The Democrats’ attempt to impose this
plan and intrude on our rights to manage our local schools only adds
fuel to the fire and passion to our words.

    If school consolidation is forced down the throats
of the people of Maine, don’t be surprised when the people rise up to
spit out this bitter pill along with the Democrats in 2008. That may be
the very medicine Maine needs.

David Sawicki

Cape Elizabeth