I have to say that I find it absolutely despicable that the School Board be allowed close Franklin Elementary School.  Apart from being an excellent school and a part of local history, there are not many communities or cities left in Canada where you can send your child to enjoy the benefits of a small classroom with exceptional attention for development by their teachers. All recent reports are of overcrowded classrooms where children get minimal attention but through no fault of the teachers, simply cost cutting.  What will it take before the school board realises its mistakes – a drop in the quality of education, lower than average grades, fewer children graduating and fewer still attending college or university?

My husband and his brothers from Rockburn attended Franklin and have fond memories of the school.  We now live abroad, however, should we return to Rockburn we would want our children to attend a local school with English as their first language and French as their second and certainly not to be forced to attend a French school or to have to travel on a bus for several hours on a daily basis. That

simply is unacceptable.  With the recent baby boom in Rockburn, Covey Hill, Franklin and other localities where will these children go to school?

I do believe that with a lot of support from the local community and hard work it may be possible to keep the school open.  Please keep your chin up and persevere – our children are a cause worth fighting for!

Regards

Paula Macfarlane

Staircrete Ltd

Unit 4

Muinebheag Business Park

Bagnelstown

Co Carlow

Ireland

T: +353 59 9720300

F: +353 59 9720301

pmacfarlane@staircrete.com