‘We hear the 
same promises’

Once again the sounds of school levies hitting the ballot are among us. Soon we will be bombarded with the usual wording to entice us to vote for them: “For the children,” “invest in our future,” etc. We have already received some notices in the mail with some keys phrases — “continuous improvement” and “revitalization of Middletown.”

I remember a couple of years ago a gentleman wrote in and told the citizens of Middletown that they were stupid for voting down the levy, and gave us a class on economics. In his basic economic course, when the levy passes, Middletown will thrive as a city and the schools will somehow jump to the “excellent” rating. He even offered to pass out basic economic books to every citizen.

Well, the levy did pass, but the school system has remained at the lowest ranking in the area, and the only revitalization I see are the ridiculous intersections by the Towne Mall.

I did look through my basic economics book, and it told me that school levies are the poorest investment someone can make. Answer this question: How many people actually live and work in the same district they graduated from? Less than 9 percent of the graduates. So the money I invest will ultimately go to another school district.

Remember the family that was upset because band would be canceled and the child needed that for college? Will he graduate from college and come back to work in Middletown and contribute to other children’s education? There is 91 percent chance he won’t.

We hear the same promises every time a levy comes upon us: Give us the money and we will do better. We should make them do better, and we will give them the money. My son is taking algebra in Middletown City Schools. You know, the students do not even have textbooks. We have new schools and millions to run them, but the basic needs are not being met. We do have some of the best teachers in the area, but that alone hasn’t reversed the academic trend and neither has throwing money at it.

Dan Kramer

Middletown