Do not make the mistake of thinking that because my conclusion is the same as another person's that my reasoning is the same
Padlocked libraries. No after-school drama club. Fewer intriguing electives such as desktop publishing or the culture of Greece and Rome.
It's back-to-school week in Massachusetts without the frills -- and, some fear, without the fun.
"You're going to have a bunch of shortchanged kids out there," said Paul Schlichtman, a member of the Arlington School Committee.
The gloomiest fiscal picture in two decades is clouding this week's stampede back to the classroom for dozens of school districts statewide, as budget cuts exacted on paper become a reality. While schools try to shield core classes, electives are taking a hit, and so are school clubs that made the school day not only passable but enjoyable. "That's my worry," said Kathleen Donovan, Arlington's superintendent of schools. "I think it's as important to provide for the student that's going on to college as I think it is to provide for the student that's going to be a chef and support himself."
Classes kick off in many districts today, tomorrow, and Thursday. School administrators promise their teachers will soldier on, but they have nagging questions about the long-term effects of slimmed-down schools on this generation of children. Nationally, the back-to-school outlook is grim: Legislatures in 11 states, including Massachusetts, cut funding for K-12 education this fiscal year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.