School system's calendar survey was 'confusing'

Editor:

The News-Times editorial of Sunday Sept. 11th, concerning the Columbia County school calendar, was not only condescending and dismissive, it was misleading as well.

You stated that the school system "heavily surveyed parents before it ever changed the calendar in the first place." Although I was not one of those "heavily surveyed," despite the fact of having school-age children at home, those familiar with the wording of the survey may have shed some light as to why the results were as they were.

According to those I have spoken with, the wording on the survey was confusing and the survey itself did not clearly provide a choice between various alternative start dates. Instead it merely allowed the respondent to either accept or reject the timing of certain dates within the calendar. I have not seen the survey itself, despite efforts to obtain a copy, and can therefore not comment on the accuracy of those claims. Perhaps you can obtain a copy of the survey, as originally worded, and "humor" us by publishing it in your paper. That is of course, assuming you don't find the effort too "tiresome."

In any event, I am certain the tiny squeaky minority you referred to would be happy to put the matter to a vote. The question is, will we be given the chance?

Louis M. Pedraza

Martinez