I came across a bit of history I would like to share with you. Recently I found a copy of The Andover Star which I used to subscribe to. The publisher was Julie Palmer Mayo and the dates of publication were from September 1988 and ended in November 1990. Do you remember this Andover newspaper?
As for history, did you realize that New Hampshire has a law requiring the teaching of the Pledge of Allegiance and the Star Spangled Banner in our Public Schools? The law is as follows:
New Hampshire Law: Title XV/Education/Chapter 189/School Boards, Superintendents, Teachers, and Truant Officers: School Census/School Boards, Transportation and Instruction of Pupils states: 189:18 Patriotic Exercises. – In all public schools of the state one session, or a portion thereof, during the weeks in which Memorial Day and Veterans Day fall, shall be devoted to exercises of a patriotic nature, which shall include a discussion of the words, meaning, and history of the Pledge of Allegiance and the Star Spangled Banner.
Source. 1897, 14:1. 1921, 85, II:23. PL 117:16. 1933, 3:1. RL 135:18. 2016, 67:1, eff. July 4, 2016.
On other subjects, I was asked “did I support public schools” and my position on “masks,” and my position on “vaccines.” Each one of us has a right to our opinion, therefore the following are my opinions:
1. I do support public schools but I also “totally support School Choice.” When it comes to a child’s education, one size does not fit all. The choice of where a child goes to school, whether it be public, charter, private, or religious, or home schooling is the decision of the parent(s). That decision belongs to no one else but the parent(s).
There is a subject that I have heard no school board, superintendent, teachers, and parents discuss together in a public meeting. And that subject is why are parents pulling their child from public school and enrolling that child in an alternative education? This year alone, 38 students were unenrolled from the Merrimack Valley School District during the period of July 1, 2021 to date of September 15, 2021.
In my opinion, until we all sit down (school board, superintendent, teachers, parents) as adults and listen to each other and choose to correct any problems, our public schools will continue to see parents opt to enroll their child for an alternative education.
2. As for masks, again this is my opinion. I am not against masks nor am I for masks. Adults in public and children in school should not be forced and mandated to wear a mask. As for attending school, the decision to wear a mask is a parental decision for their child. As for an adult in public, each individual should make their own decision whether or not to wear a mask. No government should be making these decisions.
3. No government in my opinion has the right to mandate the current vaccines. Each person has the right to make a decision for their body whether or not they want to receive any one of the COVID-19 vaccines. That is each individual’s decision and that decision belongs to no one else.
It is sad and disgusting what we are doing to people in that they are losing their jobs, yet they spent their time a year ago taking care of the sick people, and now we are turning our backs on them because they do not want a vaccine. Who have we evolved into as a people?
I hope the citizens of New Hampshire are gearing up to participate in the 2022 House Sessions and Committee Hearings on bills which will start in January. If you go to the New Hampshire General Court website you can find the bills vetoed by the Governor and Retained House Bills that will be brought up in January. This is your State and your input is valuable and wanted and needed.
It’s hard to believe we are almost at the end of 2021. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Let us all hope and pray that 2022 will be a better year for all of us.