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dents. So different, in fact, as to make Mr. Buchanan’s purported comparison seem either naive, or, as is more likely, a simplistic support for a conclusion already formed.
While rural N.H. bears some similarity to Rappahannock County, there are, again, significant differences. I will mention only two. First, N.H. does indeed pay its teachers low salaries, as stated by Mr. Buchanan; but when total compensation is considered, that is, non-contributory, job-related educational benefits, retirement, health and dental care, and other fringe benefits, in addition to salaries, N.H. is seen to be more generous to its teachers than many states, and far more generous than Rappahannock County. Second, the high SAT scores attained by N.H. students were predicated on a N.H. policy to permit only the most able students to sit for the tests. In Rappahannock County, as in Virginia generally, there is no such selective process.
Neither Mr. Buchanan nor Mr. Lane mentioned these differences or gave any indication that they were aware of them, yet it was these differences that made Mr. Buchanan’s article irrelevant. In the absence of a presiding officer empowered to rule on the admissibilty of such irrelevant material, it was, in my opinion, irresponsible of Mr. Lane to put it forward to the meeting for consideration. It was in this context that I addressed the meeting and used the terms “irrelevant” and “irresponsible.” I leave it to the public to decide whether the terminology was appropriate.
Mr. Lane has repeatedly said, in letters and interviews during the past ^ few weeks, that he favors increased salaries for teachers. In reading Mr. Ruchanan’s article with apparent approval, however, he betrays his real bias - a bias against the school system, against raising teachers’ salaries, and above all else, against raising taxes. If this were not so, why did he not read an irrelevant and misconceived article purporting to show that raising teachers’ salaries would result directly in improved SAT scores?
Mr. Lane concluded, in his letter, that “ You all treated me like an ass the other night.” If his psyche was wounded, as I suppose it was, it was a self-inflicted wound.
LEE BIRD
Washington
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