Featured Story

Featured Letter: Shield our children from the horrors of war

Every year, the subject of our failing educational system appears ad nauseam, in particular when a politician wants to garner your vote.

Recently, I was in possession of just two of the books our children in the third grade will be reading this year, the titles of which are “The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq” and “Nasreen’s Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan.” I assume both books are trying to point out the value of education and the importance of books. This message is portrayed through the eyes of violence, kidnapping, weapons, war and terrorism. Really? Books for 8- or 9-year-old kids!

Must we burden the hearts of our little ones in grammar school? Better to inspire them with hope, joy and dreams of a better world to come. The reality of terror, violence and war will be pressed upon them all too soon. We, the taxpayers, are paying between $16 and $18 for these books of so-called “truth.”

I ask Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Commissioner of Education to consider an alternative to the books in our schools that expose our youngest students to terrorism and violence.

Barbara Kelling, Greenport