From IHM School

Mary Catherine - Class of 2013

February 17, 2010

Dear Mr. President,

Thank you very much for reading this letter. I respect the fact that you take your time to read the letters of concerned persons and give them some thought. The education provided by public school is a subject that has been on my mind, and I think it needs some improvement. I would like to bring up some of the problems I see and suggest solutions. This is America, and she deserves to be among the best in everything, especially education.

Mr. President, I have heard that there is discussion about imagination classes being taught in public schools. As silly as this is, kids and teens don’t know how to use their imagination because of all of the electronics around them. Schools really can’t teach imagination, but they can certainly give kids an opportunity to use their imaginations by simply not allowing electronics in schools. Then there would be no need for unnecessary subjects such as imagination class! This would also solve other problems, like texting in class, not paying attention to the teachers, sexting (which is illegal, anyway), and other things that would involve a cellphone with a camera and Internet service.
The behavior of teenagers in school is usually very poor. More than a few get away with being disrespectful, arrogant, ditching classes, and swearing. I think that schools need to have a lot more discipline than just getting a little talk from the principal. Discipline is something we all need, especially this generation, in order to ensure the better future of our country.

Mr. President, I don’t know how you feel about sexual education being taught in public schools, but I think that it should be a special parent-child conversation. I strongly oppose Planned Parenthood teaching teens sex and encouraging the use of contraception through the public school system. The effects following abortion and contraception are not even mentioned (women are physically and emotionally damaged by these “procedures”). Not only that, but other useless subjects like evolution and homosexuality cause divisions between children and parents. It is very important for students to have a good and healthy relationships with their parents. I’m sure you, as a parent yourself, want a good relationship with your daughters.

Mr. President, I heard that you are thinking about shutting down private schools and making homeschooling illegal. I think that, by reducing the education competition of our nation, the level of education will decrease. If parents have real options about which schools their kids go to (and a voucher system is a big incentive), then schools will try to meet the parents’ requirements in order to maintain enrollment and this will eventually remedy all the problems I’ve mentioned. Parents know what’s best for their children’s educational future, not the government. My adoptive parents have tried hard to find the right school for me. When I first came to the United States from Russia four years ago, I tried out a public school, but it was the wrong fit for me. Then I was home-schooled for about two years until it was decided that I needed something more. Now, at the age of fifteen, I go to a very small private Catholic school that seems to be a good fit. While my parents are making a big sacrifice by sending me to school miles and states away from them, they know it’s for my own good. And they aren’t the only ones making a sacrifice; the people I am boarding with are also making one. I guess what I’m trying to say is: since your own daughters go to a private school, please don’t take away this opportunity from the rest of the American children.

There are many other issues I’d like to discuss with you, but I do understand that you are a busy man. Please consider handing parents’ jobs back over to them. I think that they should be the ones choosing and monitoring schools for their children, not the government. Thank you very much for your time.

Sincerely,

Mary C. [last name removed for privacy]

Variations of this letter were sent to NH Representative Barbara Richardson, NH Senator Molly Kelly, US Congressman Paul Hodes, US Senator Jeanne Shaheen, and US Senator Judd Gregg.

Representative Richardson sent the following handwritten response (postmarked 3/1/2010):

2/25/10

Dear Mary Catherine,

I appreciate your thoughtful letter. It does seem that cell phones and the various electronic means of communication and activities are taking up more and more time of adults and children. I too [sic] wish that people would spend more time in other ways. I also feel badly that school and teachers do not receive the respect they should from students (and sometimes even the students’ parents!).

Regarding sex education: most children and their parents have a good, trusting relationship and can have questions answered truthfully and thoughtfully. However, some parents are not as open and honest as they ideally should be, and those children need honest, thoughtful information about many issues including sex education.

I do not believe the president is considering shutting down private schools and making homeschooling illegal. I think more and more charter schools are opening for students who have difficulties in learning in the regular public schools. Homeschooling is certainly flourishing in many parts of the country. one of my daughters homeschooled her three children and another neighbor child for a number of years. And homeschooled youngsters have proven very successful in college admittance and careers. I doubt there would be any successful legislation to remove the opportunity for school choice.

You ask about current legislation in New Hampshire. [Kate asked her to support current legislation in the House on this topic, including: HB 1523 (with amendment), HB 1580, CACR 29, and HB1555.] HB 1523, having to do with pupil bullying, is certainly needed. The homeschooling bill (HB 1580) will not, I believe, make any changes in the current system. CACR 29 has already been declared “Inexpedient to Legislate” in committee, so if that position remains when presented to the full House of Representatives, it will not go on to the Senate. I was a co-sponsor of HB 1555, allowing an exemption from immunization for conscientious beliefs. Many, many people came to that public hearing. I certainly hope it passes both the House and the Senate and is signed by the Governor to become law.

I wish you success in your schooling and in your future. It is important to keep an open mind and to be willing to listen to various points of view. Respect for differences is important, in my view.

Sincerely,

[signed] Barbara Richardson

Received 4/12/2010

March 25, 2010

Dear Mary:

Thank you for contacting me with your concerns about public education. I appreciate hearing from you.

Like you, I believe it is important that our nation’s public schools teach students the knowledge and skills they need to become productive members of our society. I also recognize that parents play a profound role in educating their children and that it is important for their views to be taken into account when a public school’s curriculum is developed. Hence, I understand your concerns about the educational curriculum being taught in your child’s public school.

I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts with me. As you may know, the federal government does not play a role in developing the educational curricula taught in New Hampshire. Instead, curricula development and implementation are the responsibility of the New Hampshire Department of Education and your local educational agency. Though the federal government does provide some funding to public schools through the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001) P.L. 107-110), curriculum development is the responsibility of state and local officials. I would encourage you to contact your local education officials to express your concerns about the curriculum at your public school.

That said, I appreciate knowing your thoughts on this important issue. Please be assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind should legislation regarding this matter come before the Senate for debate.

Again, thank you for contacting my office; I appreciate the opportunity to respond to your concerns. If there are other issues of importance to you, please do not hesitate to get back in touch with me.

Sincerely,

[signed] Judd Gregg

U.S. Senator

Received May 10, 2010

Dear Ms. [name removed],

Thank you for contacting me about public education. I truly appreciate hearing from you, and I am working hard to stand up for New Hampshire’s interests in Congress.

As a parent, I understand the importance of a quality education. I am committed to providing every child with the best education possible so that they can prepare to become productive members of our society.

I commend you for taking an active role in the civic process at such a young age. Contact between citizens and their elected officials is an important part of our democracy. I also appreciate your concern about each student having access to the education system [sic] that is right for him or her. There is no legislation to abolish homeschooling or private schools.

The federal government should help our public education system by increasing funding to provide our teachers with the resources they nee. It is vital that our teachers and children have the support and resources to strengthen our schools, fully fund special education, and modernize our classrooms. Please know that I will continue to support education.

I encourage you to continue to contact me about the issues that are important to you. Please feel free to visit my website [sic] at www.hodes.house.gov where you can share your ideas with me, learn about the services I can provide to you, and sign up for my periodic e-mail updates on what I am doing to help New Hampshire.

Sincerely,

[signed] Paul W. Hodes

Member of Congress

Received June 14, 2010

The White House

Washington, DC 20500

June 9, 2010

Dear Friend,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on education. I appreciate hearing from you. I am committed to providing the best possible education for our Nation’s students because our children deserve it and because, today more than ever, America’s prosperity rests on how well we educate them.

Across the country, we have many great schools and dedicated teachers. We should be proud of these successes, and eager to discover and support what makes them great. We must also realize that not all children get the education they deserve, and many schools need urgent reform to better help our students reach their full potential.

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), my Administration had made a [sic] historic investment toward improving public education and providing greater access to a complete and competitive education for every child. This investment will make high-quality, early learning programs available to more young children. ARRA will also help strengthen the teaching profession by recognizing talented teachers who improve learning and by encouraging them to stay in the schools that need them most. We are committed to exploring innovative approaches that advance teaching and learning through high standards and expectations for all students, and developing meaningful assessments. These steps can ensure our graduates are prepared for success both in their higher education and careers.

A child’s education does not begin and end with a school bell, and responsibility must extend beyond a school’s walls. Our future success depends on a greater level of engagement between parents, communities, and schools on behalf of children. We all share the duty to educate our students, and if we hold them to the highest standard, they will meet them. Please join me online at: www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/education.

Thank you again for writing to me about this important issue.

Sincerely,

[signed or stamped] Barack Obama