Cons far outweigh pros in harvest debate

Cons far outweigh pros in harvest debate

To the editor:
    I am the parent of a kindergarten student in Presque Isle. I have been watching/reading with great interest the issue of changing the school schedule in order to save $62,000. This topic is one that I can’t let slide by without voicing my opinion. 

    I think there are several points that are being missed here:
• Elementary school is such a vital time in our children’s education. These early learning years set the tone for the rest of their schooling career. To give them three weeks off unnecessarily compromises their education. Our children need to be in school during this time, not sitting at home playing video games or watching television. To require young children to start school, then give them several weeks off, then come back to school, and expect that not to affect their grades, is ignorant at best.
• My son has Asperger’s Syndrome (also known as High Functioning Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder) — he thrives on and needs routine and schedule. I am sure he is not the only child, special needs or not, who needs the type of routine and structure that being in school regularly affords them.
• While I am a stay-at-home parent, and able to be home with my child, I do have to consider those parents who aren’t able to do the same thing. What should they do now faced with the possibility of having to find childcare for those three weeks? Who is going to foot that bill? That’s right, the parents will! For many parents, working isn’t an option, it is a necessity, and having to suddenly foot another bill for something like childcare at a time when a child would normally be in school is unfair to the parents.
• The amount of students who actually participate in harvest and work on the farms I am sure is dwindling. Sixteen years ago when I was a high school senior at PIHS, I used my harvest break to work more hours at my regular job. I, by no means, was working on a farm picking potatoes. I can’t for the life of me figure out why we are even willing to entertain the idea of shutting down a whole school system in order to accommodate the handful of students who do actually work harvest on an actual farm? Why not give those kids a pass and let them have the time off, and keep the rest of the students in school where they belong?
    Frankly, I think the very fact that this idea is being tossed around is irresponsible. Implementing this would be a huge disservice to the children of Presque Isle and surrounding communities. It would be a huge disservice to the very future of Presque Isle.
    I hope that as this goes before the school board they will think about this with their minds and not with their pocketbooks. This is something that has the ability to hurt all of us in the end.