What perfect timing! An article (BDN, Jan. 4) on the shortcomings in SAD 22 runs while I am home on break from college. I graduated from Hampden Academy in 1994 after spending my entire life in the SAD 22 school system. I am presently attending an excellent liberal arts college in Connecticut and interact on a daily basis with graduates of the top private schools in the nation. My education at Hampden Academy prepared me for the intellectual challenges I face as well as for life in the real world, or as close to that as college can be.

Cindy Philbrick would call my high school years a “sentence of mediocrity,” but I object strongly to such a generalization. If you submit yourself to four years of mediocrity, that is what you will receive no matter where you attend school. Quite simply, you get out of school what you put into it. The pursuit of excellence begins with a child’s values and their determination.

And in response to Becky Foster’s opinion that you would never see an “incredible” relationship between students and teachers at a public school, I would ask that she speak to some of the recent graduates of H.A. Most assuredly, those who wanted a “family type of atmosphere” and a nurturing relationship with the faculty found it in many of the teachers there. I established a working relationship with many of my teachers and subsequently discovered many lasting friendships.

As for teachers who would “do anything” for their students, as Foster claims they do at John Bapst, I would argue that this is not the best preparation for post-secondary education. I have yet to meet one college professor who calls me to see if my homework is done, or holds my hand through a difficult class. In college the professor doesn’t come to you, you have to go to them. If you do, they are usually very happy to help in any way they can. I find this similar to the kind of relationships present between students and teachers at H.A. On the other hand, teachers who “baby” their students are sheltering them in a way, and I would be hard-pressed to find the benefits in this.

I believe when it comes right down to it, a student who will succeed will do so no matter where you enroll them. The teachers of SAD 22 deserve a round of applause for all they have done, not a slap in the face. Tanya L. Dickey Hampden

I am writing this letter in reference to the article in the Bangor Daily News on SAD 22. I disagree with the negative picture that it paints of our school district. Yes, we do have problems, but we also have a lot of dedicated people who are doing a tough job very well.

In reference to Mary Wright’s reference to personal agendas. Yes, we have had people who have had them, but so has the Bangor school board. They made the news, but I guess she didn’t notice that. The article did mention that SAD 22 had dropped from seventh to 17th and had climbed back to 12th, one behind Bangor. But the article didn’t mention teachers, students, or parents views or opinions. I can tell you that I haven’t spoken to any one who is in favor of this article. This includes students at Hampden Academy and parents in the community. My three children, two of which have graduated, felt the article was in poor taste. They said, “cancel the BDN.” But we can’t, it’s the only one.

I know when the BDN editors read this letter they’ll sit back quite smug. But my advice to you is, when you do another article like this make sure you get an experienced reporter who knows to get both sides of the issue. Joshua Peppard Hampden

In regard to John Nash’s story featuring the Wright family, formerly of Winterport, what a great job of investigative reporting. I was riveted to yet another story about the same few citizens and former citizens of SAD 22 who have chosen to send their children to schools outside SAD 22. I must admit, however, that I am struggling to discern what purpose can possibly be served by presenting only one side of the story. Is it that the reporter or the featured individuals want to mislead the readers into thinking that Hampden, Winterport and Newburgh have such boring citizens, that only a few have opinions worthy of consideration?

Is this the first in a series of articles about individual families and their on going attempts to deal with the demands of educating their children? If either of these is the motive, then I will be expecting to read an article soon about those of us who have high praise for the education our children have recieved in SAD 22. Failing that, at least let us have an article about those parents in other surrounding towns who have chosen to send their children to schools other than those provided by their hometown. I would even settle for an article about how each student is ultimately responsible for his or her success in life despite the best or worst in school systems.

Oh, I realize that certain angles on issues are more newsworthy than others. I don’t begrudge your story. I just wish that even as we gladly allow the insufferable few to have their forum, their comments wouldn’t overshadow the sincere efforts of the majority of school board members, teachers and other school personnel, parents, students and other concerned citizens of SAD 22. I think we tackle tough issues every day and do as good a job as any other townspeople around. In fact, the only constructive item reported in your article was Superintendent Lyons’ efforts at fact-gathering. Apparently, he’s out there trying to do his job while dodging the arrows slung in part by people who shouldn’t even care any more.

We parents make many personal decisions on behalf of our children. Those decisions start before kindergarten and do not end with graduation, and they encompass more issues than education alone. It is our right to send our children to private schools, keep them home for their schooling, or send them to public schools. Could you give us a more balanced article, especially if the focus is going to be on one school district? Perhaps you could treat us to an article the caliber of those Wayne Reilly used to write when he was the news education writer. JoAnn Jellison Hampden