To the editor:

Mehlville’s Proposition R: Perhaps in-stead of seeing dollar signs, let’s remember that class sizes are growing in number and will further bloat if more teachers are cut next school year.

It’s my understanding that zoology at Mehlville High School was eliminated from this year’s curriculum.

Performing dissections sparked my senior child to pursue medicine in college. This spark was ignited by a tangible, hands-on approach.

She might be the doctor who will one day perform your brain surgery, examine your cancerous tissue sample under a microscope or perhaps perform your autopsy long after this tax-rate issue has been buried.

I would prefer my future geriatric practitioners to be well-educated, and that education begins in the K-12 period.

If some people believe our district “has enough” then OK, let’s be a mediocre district and lower our expectations.

Take out the pool, cut more teachers and dismiss more administration staff so parents can call the schools during daytime hours and listen to a recording ask us which building, grade, department and person we want.

Let’s have the band sew their own uniforms instead of spending $64,000 that Sue Jernigan complained about — oh wait, they can’t, cutting classes means electives such as family and consumer science could be dropped in the next few years.

Oh well. They can wear jeans and a school shirt; that’s a nice mediocre look.

Stamp out more after-school clubs, re-move more science classes and while we’re at it, let’s cut sports, too, and the teachers who receive a small stipend to coach them.

If we are going to celebrate mediocrity, then let’s embrace it wholeheartedly.

But there’s one catch: No complaining after we morph into a subpar district with inadequate test scores that cannot attract new residents to the area.

Christine Verduzco

Oakville