I don’t fully understand all the intricacies and details of Gov. Paul LePage’s current plan about school choice, nor have I been diligent (and I’m guilty for this) enough to dig deep into the public school’s base of facts and arguments.

I have, however, been witness to my own two children’s experience at Cornville Regional Charter School. From that experience, I know that many of the in-class and out-of-class experiences offered are unique, some bordering on extraordinary and typically are presented by passionate volunteers, who not only give their time, but often gift materials.

From my perspective, when passion to help, teach and inspire is at the root of one’s motivation, no matter whether they are teaching in public environment or a charter, it seems vital in my opinion for us as a society to not only figure out a way to support them, but also to allow parents and kids the ability to seek out and choose these individuals and institutions.

In almost all facets of life, we as Americans pride ourselves on our freedom of choice. We can choose where we live, what we eat, what car we drive, where we buy our groceries, where we worship, where we don’t, what we say, who we say it to and how we say it. We love choice. Our freedom to choose our destiny, and make our way in the world is ours, “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

To let the charter versus public school debate boil down to dollars and cents, party lines, union versus nonunion etc., is to trivialize, or maybe ignore that at very heart of this issue lies the issue of choice.

Scott Barden, Anson


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