“Every time you stop a school, you will have to build a jail. What you gain at one end you lose at the other. It’s like feeding a dog on his own tail. It won’t fatten the dog.”
– Mark Twain

Naturally, all of us wish for the best possible educational opportunities for the children of our community. Knowing with certainty what the best course of action is can be challenging, to say the least. So it is in consideration of the second K-8 charter school being proposed and debated in our city.

Proponents cite a need for the new school while opponents question its value and cost. Discussion and a close examination of the facts and probable effects of the adoption of the new school plan are important. Every concerned individual should consider attending the State Board of Education and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education public hearing on the matter on December 14, 4-6 p.m. at the Somerville High School Auditorium, to listen to arguments and pose questions of their own.

As Twain indicated, stopping a school – either a new or existent one – can do more harm than good, depending on the circumstances. This is an issue that ought to be thought through very carefully, most importantly, for the good of our children.