Commentary by Gina Maroney

As I’ve sent my children to school this week doing various activities to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday, I can’t help but compare the school budget fiasco to the story of Horton Hears A Who!. Imagine that “Horton” is the teachers’ union, the “Mayor” is the Board of Education (BOE), and the “Whos” are the children of New Hartford.

An excerpt from the story goes like this:

From down on the speck came the voice of the Mayor (BOE):

“We’ve really had trouble? Much more than our share… So, Horton (teacher’s union), please!”, pleaded that voice of the Mayor’s (BOE), “Will you stick by us Whos (children of New Hartford) while we’re making repairs?”

“Of course,” Horton (teacher’s union) answered. “Of course I will stick. I’ll stick by you small folks through thin and through thick!”

In Horton Hears A Who!, Horton is the hero and saves the Whos. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if New Hartford could have a happy ending too? I still have hope the teacher’s union will be the heroes of the children (and taxpayers) of New Hartford, and stick with us through thin and thick while we make repairs!

Gina Maroney is a New Hartford resident whose children attend New Hartford’s elementary schools.

To buy a copy of the 1954 Dr. Seuss classic, Horton Hears a Who, please click on the following link on Amazon: Horton Hears A Who!

To buy a DVD of the 20th Century Fox movie Horton Hears A Who!, please click on the following Amazon link: Horton Hears a Who! (Widescreen and Full-Screen Single-Disc Edition)

An image from the Horton Hears a Who movie made in 2008 by 20th Century Fox