Editor,
When it comes to our tax dollars, it’s natural to question where they’re going and what they’re being used for. Skepticism is healthy, especially when it comes to investments in our community.
But here’s the crux: Education isn’t just another item on a shopping list or a gamble at the casino. It’s an investment in the future – in children, the community and the very fabric of society. So, while it’s important to ask questions and demand transparency, let’s remember the bigger picture and the impact that investing in education can have on us all.
Ridgefield, let’s talk: We all love a good “stated need versus reality” debate, right? But honestly, strolling the grounds of our schools, even the shiny new ones, feels like wandering through a post-hurricane encampment. We’ve got enough portables to house the entire traveling troupe of the hit Broadway production of “The Lion King.” We’re clearly bursting at the seams, yet some folks act like they’re living in a reality-distortion field. This isn’t some abstract concept, people. This is about our kids and teachers. Do we really want them learning in conditions that are like a marginally sanitized upgrade in accommodations at Burning Man? It’s hardly a picture of fiscal extravagance. Come on, Ridgefield, let’s be real.
And the concerns about investments in education being unsustainable? These proposed investments are like planting an orchard for long-term harvest, not burning through fireworks. We’re talking about measured steps. A strategic plan to address specific, quantifiable needs. It’s not like we’re building a solid gold school bus fleet fueled by unicorn tears.
Look, education isn’t some dusty old encyclopedia collecting cobwebs. It’s the fuel that propels individuals (and communities) forward. It’s the GPS that guides us through the ever-changing landscape of the 21st century, and for this new generation and the ones that follow, the rate of change is increasing exponentially.
Has anyone ever regretted sending their kid to too good a school? Seriously, has there ever been a time in history when we said, “Gosh, darn it, we educated our population too well. Now what?” No, folks. We’re not facing an epidemic of over-educated, intellectual zombies taking over the world. The real threat is falling behind while the rest of the world zooms past on a knowledge superhighway.
So, Ridgefield, let’s stop kicking the can down the road on this one. Let’s invest in our future, in our kids and in the collective brainpower of our community. Remember, an investment in knowledge pays the best interest: not just in test scores, but in a brighter, more prosperous tomorrow.
All of the so-called “questions” I’ve seen posted by the “I’m just asking questions” crowd have already been addressed by both the citizensforridgefieldschools.com/blog and ridgefieldsd.org/page/bond resources.
Kam Sween
Ridgefield
