This comes under the heading of “some things never change.” I am going to quote directly from a letter that I sent to then School Committee member, Sue Adelson. Sue is moving soon and was cleaning out the back of a drawer when she unearthed my letter. She sent it on to me. This is dated Oct. 23, 1996:
We have recently moved to Florence from Holyoke, in large part because we wanted our children to be in the Northampton schools. I will not say bad things about their former schools, Holyoke schools being better than many people make them out to be, but still, we are hoping for a better education here.
I have lived through a teachers’ strike in Holyoke. I even spoke, as a concerned parent, on the evening news, in support of the teachers. I know how painful a strike is for all concerned: teachers, kids, families and the whole community. This is something to avoid at all costs.
I have seen fine teachers bail out of Holyoke, wrenching themselves from the schools they feel loyal to, in order to get a decent, better wage in another town. I know many personally, and it was a real loss to Holyoke. I have already heard about teachers leaving Northampton for the same reason. It is a horrible state of affairs to be in this beautiful community, far better off financially than Holyoke, and have our teachers being offered salaries below the median wage for the Valley.
Teachers should be the heroes of our society and certainly of this community. They deserve our support, financial and otherwise. I hope that the School Committee will work out a contract with the teachers, not against or in spite of them.
Now, 23 years later, nothing has changed?
Katie Olmstead
Florence