Editor:

I’m writing in response to Jim Doane’s letter (April 25, 2008) which responded toKandi-Lee Hoy’s editorial the previous week, in which she used a business analogy to shed some light on the lack of accountability within the South Portland School System. She also asked that we vote no on the proposed school budget. I strongly disagree with Mr. Doane and his statement that “it is extremely unfair and dangerous to compare the social sector with the business sector,” and I think he totally missed the point of Kandi-Lee’s editorial. 

When calling for accountability from important social programs like education, no analogy should be off limits. Mrs. Hoy brings together facts as well as her strong opinion and calls for improvement in a system she feels has major flaws. By attacking her analogy he is missing the point, which is to hold school officials and teachers accountable. Taxpayers have a right to do this because they are the stockholders in this arrangement. Mrs. Hoy is clearly unhappy with her investment thus far, and has a right to speak up. The business analogy makes perfect sense, but it only takes us so far. These publicly funded programs are permitted to run by the taxpayers and the main goal is to raise capitol – social capital.

Doane says that a no vote would “…simply result in more redundant work for administrators where that time could be spent resolving other educational issues.” I was left very confused by this statement, as were many people I spoke with. Does he mean that they are already doing redundant work (which would explain a lot), or does he mean that working to improve our school system to run more efficiently and effectively is something administrators don’t have time to do? What educational issues does the administration address that falls outside of this spectrum?

Just as businesses invest in employees via salaries, as taxpayers we invest in teachers. Instead of 0’s in our bank account we expect intelligent, involved and accountable citizens. How can we do this properly if the administration in charge of this goal is falling short itself? Another goal of education is to facilitate children to be productive and respectful adults. Any words that call for that should never be shot down – especially by someone who is missing the premise of the initial argument. I wonder, what would our forefathers say about that? 

Benjamin W. Skillings

South Portland