I can't say I was surprised by the number of comments I received from my last article, "Those who can do and those who can't teach". I was surprised by how the positive comments came from other teachers and young parents while the negative comments came from older individuals who no longer had children in the public schools. I understand these same older people no longer personally benefit from their tax dollars that go to the school but I don't understand how their memories became remarkably short.

I moved from Framingham, Massachusetts to York, Maine in 1977. My wife and I decided to leave a growing urban area to a place that was crowded during the summer months and desolate during the remaining 9 months. Summer back then started during the second week of June and ended on Labor Day. During the winter months I rarely saw a car as I went to work. One day I almost had a collision with another automobile because I never bothered to look to see if anything or anyone would be on the road. Both the driver and I got out of our cars to see if there was any damage. As we looked at each other we started to laugh. I told him I could see the headline in the "York Weekly" stating the first accident in over a quarter of a century occurred on a road where few people lived.

There are many memories during that early time in my family's history. One memory stays very clear in my mind because it defined a good portion of my life. Back in the 1970'3 through 1980's debates on school budgets took place in the gymnasium at the high school. I assume these same debates took place across both New Hampshire and Maine. Back then there was no such thing as a private vote on the school or town budget. After the debates ended, a show of hands were counted showing everyone in the forum what your vote was. I believe this is the best way to handle town affairs but I believe in many things that are destined not to come back.

At one such meeting when the economy of our nation was not doing well there were many in the audience that argued there should be no increase in the school budget. Many stated the schools were not doing well so why should they support a budget that took most of the money out of the town's taxes. I remember it being a heated discourse at times with the people who had children arguing for the budget while those who no longer had students in the system argue against it.

At the meeting there were two microphones at the end of the aisle that led to the main table where the school board and budget committee people sat. One after one they argued their case to the audience. Of course there were many moans and sometimes even outbursts by people who did not like what the speaker was saying. I  also remember an elderly gentleman who stood at the end of the line waiting for his turn to speak. I never saw him before but it was obvious he was a native of his town.

When it was his turn to speak he hesitated as though waiting for the whole forum to listen to him. His strategy worked because there was silence for the first time in over two hours of argument. He then began his statement by stating his family had been a part of his town over many generations. He then hesitated again making sure everyone was listening to him. He also stated that it had been years since his children were part of the York School System.

He then made a comment I will never forget. He described how when he had a young family, school board debates occurred in a smaller room because there were less people. He remembered people arguing for the budget while others argued against it. He went on to explain he also remembered an old man who stated that he remembered when he had a young family. He told that audience it was now his time to support the young men and women of the town even though he no longer had any children in the schools. He went on to explain that this was the way it was done and because of this all of our children had the opportunity to survive in their generation. He ended his statement by saying, "It was now his turn."

The present day audience stayed quiet even though the speaker stood silent. He then raised his head and told the audience that it was now, "his turn."

It is too bad we no longer have the system of open debates and open votes when it comes to town policy. Many state the older system was not efficient and took too long. I disagree because at that time a man and a woman had to show their community their thoughts instead of hiding them behind some curtain.

I am at a point in my life where my child is not part of any school system. I am also saddened by the fact I will never have the  opportunity to stand up with my fellow citizens and state that it is now my turn.

Jim Fabiano is a teacher and writer living in York, Maine
Maine Publisher's Association Best weekly column award for 2004
Email Jim: james.fabiano60@gmail.com