Updated: 09/08/2009 04:40:30 PM EDT
Recently the New Fairfield Board of Education voted 5-4 to allow the removal of the Education Channel (17) from the high school and give it to the town for town use. Decisions such as these that impact our students negatively should not have been made without any public input.
The primary intent and purpose of an education channel is to showcase the schools, its activities and its students by educating the students in all aspects of audiovisual technique, by producing, directing and editing programs and to develop a program that would gradually be integrated into the curriculum.
Our educational school side however, has never been emphasized, nor developed, over the years, with the focus increasingly shifted to, and centered on, town meetings and events. There is little or nothing coming out of our schools. This is absolutely wrong, and if this live feed is removed from the schools, the reason and intent of the generous $60,000 grant from the New Fairfield Community Foundation to our schools for the development of these educational opportunities will never be achieved. Not to mention the negative influence this decision will have on the future generosity of those who see their contributions diverted from its original intent.
The Board of Education needs to do what is most beneficial for the students and the school district by emphasizing and expanding this channel and to push for its development and support. There should be a teacher, or educator, in charge of the school side of the program for it to achieve its potential.
If the town wishes to broadcast its meetings live from the new Community Room, the town can find a way to do so without taking the opportunity and future potential away from the students, and their ability to broadcast live from their own facility.
Jody Gemmell
NEW FAIRFIELD
