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Letter: Children’s futures do not rise and fall with budget

Editor, Gazette-Journal:

“It’s not like it was when you were in school!” “Our children are our future!” “We need smaller classes!” “Teachers aren’t paid enough!”

Those were statements I heard 50 years ago in New York and have been perpetual justifications for more funds for schools everywhere since public financing of schools was initiated in the 17th century.

Not surprisingly, they were repeated at the Mathews County School budget hearing Monday night, even though actual evidence continually shows that increased spending does not improve educational outcomes.

No one becomes a better teacher because he or she is paid more. The critical factors that produce good educational results have little or no relation to funding levels!

There is no question that good teachers work hard, but so have most of the people who are going to be asked to pay more taxes for an increase in funding for the school system. To say the needs and de...

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