During his presentation, Mr. Mala reported that RSD17 will be able to save $80,000 by not filling the Tech Ed teacher's position when the current teacher retires at the end of this academic year. Coming from a parochial school background, I had no problem with the proposed elimination of Tech Ed since those types of classes had never been offered to me as a middle school student. I think it is often true that you "don't miss what you never had".

After reading Rosemary Harry's recent well-reasoned Letter to the Editor however, I began to think that eliminating the Tech Ed program may be a disservice to the HKMS students. As Ms. Harry points out, as a nation, we need to emphasize math and sciences in our curriculum and look for ways students can practically apply these skills. My husband and I discussed Ms. Harry's letter and he offered his own personal reasons as to why the Tech Ed program is a vital one that should not be eliminated. My husband, Ron, now a Civil Engineer, explained that the Tech Ed classes he took in his public middle school years greatly benefited him and set him on the path of pursuing engineering as a career. As Ron put it, "it was the first time I got to really put math and science into concrete use and 'make' stuff".

Another important point that Ron made that I think the Board of Ed should consider is the fact that many students will not take advantage of Tech Ed classes if/when they are offered at the high school level. Once in high school, many students are trying to maintain a high GPA and enroll in "academic" courses to make themselves attractive candidates for entrance to top colleges. (I remember the valedictorian of my high school class telling me years after we graduated that he always wanted to take an "Industrial Arts" class but knew he "couldn't" because the class was not weighted strongly enough to enable him to maintain his rank as valedictorian.) Today the pressure on high school students to "build a resume" (e.g. service hours, sports, clubs, academic standing) so they can be accepted at top schools is stronger than ever. Given this climate at the high school level, it is far less likely that students will take advantage of any Tech Ed classes offered there.

Offering Tech Ed classes at the middle school level then, seems to provide a wonderful fit. During their time at HKMS, the students have more of an opportunity than they did in elementary school to "test their wings"; at the same time, these children do not yet feel the pressure that many of them will when, as college-bound high school students, they do not feel Tech Ed classes are a viable option as part of their high school course load.

I hope the Board of Ed will consider keeping the Tech Ed program in the HKMS curriculum. I urge you, if you feel the same way, to let the Board of Ed know your thoughts and concerns.

Joanne Sacchi

The Tech Ed program provides students hands-on discovery using basic tools (e.g., problem solving, measurement) that are critical in many other areas. Key aspects of this curriculum that are significant to their scientific and mathematical growth include:

- measurements and planning in building structures considering size, shape, weight and material use (through the design of a space station)
- physics and the use of math to calculate variables such as average speed
        Newton's Laws of Motion (building a car that must protect the occupant upon collision)
        magnetism and aerodynamics (designing a mag-lev car)
- electronics/electrical engineering (using a motor and propeller with the mag-lev car)
- structural design and engineering with trusses and beams (building a bridge and testing the amount of weight it can hold)
- mechanical engineering and machines (building a catapult)
- industrial design and operation with the use of plans, tools, and materials (building a metal race car frame with motor, wheels, and a switch)
- scientific concepts and disciplines in planning, implementation, and the completion of lab papers

As a parent, I must also add that this is a class that my child has really enjoyed and in which she has been proud of her accomplishments. This reinforces that math and science are something that children can enjoy and embrace, especially while learning in a creative way such as that offered by the Tech Ed program.

I have sent a message to the Board of Education about my concerns and requested that they reconsider Mr. Mala's recommendation to discontinue Tech Ed at HKMS. Any other parents or members of our community who feel likewise are asked to also send their concerns and request for reconsideration to the Board of Education as there is still a narrow window of opportunity for them to modify the proposed budget. The Board of Education can be contacted at: boe@rsd17.org. The members of the Finance Committee are Mark Almeida, Robin Chasse, and James Lippert.

In addition, the Annual Hearing and a Special Meeting of the Board of Education, where there is the possibility for modification of the 2010/2011 budget, will be held on Monday, April 19, 2010 at 7:00 pm in the Student Commons, Haddam Killingworth Middle School if anyone wishes to attend.