Fiscal Responsibility and Social Responsibility

There's been a lot of discussion in Holliston lately regarding fiscal responsibility.  After poring over the data and statistics, we're convinced that Holliston has fiscal responsibility down.  A school system whose performance remains at the very top while per pupil expenditures and teacher and administrative salaries consistently fall below the state average is a great value. 

 

All the talk of fiscal responsibility, however, has drowned out an equally important question what about social responsibility? What about our responsibility to the youth of Holliston, who are so proud to call our town home?  What about our responsibility to the kids who would love to play a varsity sport but cannot afford the $450 fee? Are we prepared to become a town of where only the most economically advantaged can participate in sports and clubs-the kind of activities that have become crucial to securing admission to college? These activities don't pay for themselves. Parents are already paying steep fees for sports and activities.  If we don't come together to help our town's kids, we're shirking our responsibility.

 

Holliston prides itself on graduating students who excel in foreign languages-a skill whose importance cannot be overstated in today's global world. Without the override Spanish will be cut in the elementary grades against the better judgment of numerous and repeated studies indicating that language is best acquired in early childhood.  It is no coincidence that Holliston has a large number of students scoring high on the AP Spanish exam when they have been studying the language since kindergarten. 

 

We've experienced first hand the pride our adolescents feel when they perform plays and musicals for our community.  Is it not our responsibility to see that the youth of our town continue to have activities that make them feel valued and help them develop the communication skills and confidence to become great citizens?   Without the override the high school drama department will be cut. Many of our students have been accepted to prestigious programs in the performing arts and gone on to successful careers.  Without coursework in our drama department, these acceptances would not have been possible.  Students hoping to attend school in the arts cannot go back to high school after our economic situation improves.

 

Our schools are the pride of our wonderful town-indeed the reason we moved here thirty years ago. But when we arrived in Holliston we found something even more valuable a thoughtful and caring community filled with the kind of people who show up at your door to welcome you, look after your kids when you're running late, and drop off dinner anonymously during times of hardship. This sense of community is what has made it impossible for us to think of leaving, even after our last child graduates in two weeks. Holliston has done a fabulous job educating our children, and we'll show our thanks by continuing to support the schools now that our children have passed through them. Every child deserves the opportunity a great education will provide. No matter how you gauge it, fifty cents a day to invest in the futures our kids and our town is a good bet.  We feel a responsibility to the youth and community of Holliston and will vote YES on Tuesday.

 

Eileen and Gene Muller