School is in session and we need to talk about numbers.

Adams Friendship school is back and the school is busy with students filling classrooms and ready to start the new school year. Each year Adams Friendship school numbers have declined and this year is no different. But why?

Part of the reason numbers have declined are parents that are just fed up with the education students receive. Talking with parents, I have heard complaints of too much reliance on Chromebooks and less physical writing that occurs. Others are concerned with the acceptance of transgender students in the school and locker rooms, making students confused and uncomfortable. Other parents are frustrated at the inability to see and review curriculum and what the students are actually being taught. One parents was disgusted with what was available for students in the middle school to read in the library. Their disgust wasn't about Catcher in the Rye or Mark Twain but highly sexualized material that she wanted to protect her daughter from exposure.

These parents have left the school and are now fully homeschooling. They didn't want to homeschool and had to completely change their life and job because of this decision. They did it because they felt they had no option to protect and educate their children.

School is designed to educate children. We think about reading, writing and arithmetic. We want our children to have a basic but full education that improves their mind and helps them to see their future, not a mine field of confusion and indoctrination. This is what these parents are trying to avoid. They also know that 2-3 hours a day of solid curriculum will provide the skill their children need to succeed. 30 minutes on math, 30 minutes on language arts and 30 minutes on science along with a day helping a parent clean the house or barn, working on a craft, cooking, sewing, painting, singing, engineering and dreaming. This, along with time to read healthy and wholesome literature.

Numbers in the school district have declined because more and more parents are homeschooling. Adams Friendship school district isn't going to openly acknowledge this but its happening. These parents are now on their own. They don't receive $16,000 a year to educate their child. They get nothing and yet they will quit their jobs or rearrange their schedule to accommodate homeschool because they want a better education for their child.

Yay! Another referendum!

Now, numbers are declining. Student test scores are declining but Adams Friendship school district wants more money. And this is partially because the schools are NOT providing the education the parents expected and thus have decided to educate their children at home under their supervision.

Why do so many parents feel forced to homeschool? Curriculum, ethical

concerns, social exposure to inappropriate cultural material and experiences.

Why should the taxpayers of Adams County agree to a referendum that continues to poorly educate children forcing parents to choose homeschooling?

VOTE NO FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL REFERENDUM!