(Ed. Note: John Love, Manhasset High School Student Representative to the Board of Education, made these remarks at the Feb. 26 meeting of the Board of Education.)

"I never let schooling interfere with my education." I believe that this quote, from Mark Twain, capsulizes the argument of the student body. The parents, students, and faculty understand Manhasset's strong commitment to core curriculum; however, we believe that a good education is more than just reading, writing, and arithmetic. A good education is not only composed of cognitive development within the classroom, but also of artistic development on our stages, physical development on our courts and fields, and character development in our community. I believe that the proposed budget will severely hinder our, the student body's, quest for a well-rounded education.

I see in the audience many students representing their respective teams. These are the faces of the students whose lives will be negatively impacted by the tentative decision to cut sports such as crew, swimming, golf, bowling, wrestling, basketball, baseball, soccer, and yes even the most sacred of Manhasset institutions, lacrosse. I am quite sure that all of these students can attest to the fact that their participation in sports has helped their development not only as scholars, but as human beings. Forget athleticism, the friendships forged and social skills acquired are invaluable. To cut a sport such as crew, which this year had 60 participants, and has grown every year in popularity, would be detrimental indeed. Lacrosse, as I mentioned earlier is the most sacred of Manhasset's traditions. Our varsity teams are perennial playoff contenders and are usually among the top ranked teams in the country. Many of the players were able to develop their skills by playing in middle school, some even got their start there, and I think it is a safe assumption that if the middle school teams are cut the varsity teams will feel the effects. The same is true for basketball, wrestling, baseball, and soccer. The girl's swim team has won their conference two years running, and the boys won in 2002 and were one victory away this year. Although perhaps not as glamorous as the "showtime" sports, swimming has become one of Manhasset's most successful programs. I must reiterate the value of sports to our students. Athletics are a key part of Manhasset culture, they have often served to unite our community under a banner of achievement and pride, and to strip us of this would be unjust.

Earlier I spoke of cognitive development within the classroom being an integral part to a complete education. However, this development takes place not only in courses considered to be core curriculum, but also in valuable electives that teach students skills that cannot be learned anywhere else. The cutting of advanced language classes, advanced math research, the scaling back of science research and business classes, and cutting MECA and keyboarding, will serve to deprive students of intellectual development and enrichment that they cannot find elsewhere. I speak from personal experience when I say that business classes I took as a junior have provided me with intellectual development tantamount to what I experienced in any English or history course. Our research programs are renowned all over the Island. Each year we have several finalists in Long Island, State, Regional, and National competitions. Keyboarding classes help many of our music students gain additional skills that are not available to them in standard music classes, skills that do a great deal to improve the quality of our performances.

In addition to cutting electives, the proposal to increase the class sizes of core curriculum subjects by reducing the amount of sections available will have a disastrous effect on students' capability to learn. Large classes create an environment which is not conducive to learning. The amount of personal attention that can be devoted to each student is not as high, and there are more distractions present within the classroom, distractions that can hinder both the students and the teacher.

I find it hard to stomach the fact that there is a lack of funding within our school system when every day I see signs of waste. Mahogany armoires equipped with large-screen TVs grace many of our classrooms, apparatus that are hardly ever used. Art rooms are provided with computers, and it is a frequent joke that "at Manhasset even that bathrooms have computers." Neon lights which serve no real purpose assault our eyes everyday in the cafeteria. If indeed we are in a poor financial state, I think that we must look no further than poor fiscal decision making. If repair is needed, I believe that a good course of action would be more prudent monetary decisions.

Manhasset High School is proud of its reputation for sending students to the best colleges and universities in the world. But this reputation is at stake. Each year we send students to schools based on their achievements not only within the classroom, but outside as well. Whether it be through athletics, research, or music, our students are accepted to the top tier of schools because of the opportunities that were afforded to them. Tonight, these opportunities are in danger because of these proposed cuts, and I know that I speak for the entire student body when I say that it would be remiss to allow such cuts to occur.

John Love