News – Politics – Opinion – Podcasts
Ann Marie Banfield 
The Merrimack school district is in the middle of a storm. Parents and residents are demanding better from the people in charge of running their school system. Please read Part 1, Part 2, and Part3. There are simple measures that will help students succeed in school, but much of that is undermined by the curriculum … Read more
After describing the numerous problems in the Merrimack schools with their science and SEL programs, now is a good time to look at one of the English Language Arts programs used in the school. Oddly enough, it was mentioned during the budget committee meeting that Merrimack chose three E/LA programs for the students. One of … Read more
If you have not read Part 1 of the disaster in the Merrimack schools, you can read that here. You will learn why Merrimack residents are pushing back on the school budget along with the poor quality of academics. It is a good preface for looking at the other problems in the district. Merrimack has … Read more
A message went out to parents across New Hampshire about a data breach by one of their online vendors. It’s good to see that administrators are notifying parents about this data breach. But did they tell you that some of these online vendors are in court, accused of selling student data? I didn’t think so. … Read more
Parents showed up to the recent budget meeting in Merrimack to ask the committee to reconsider what the school administrators are proposing. The school budget, and spending, has climbed by an alarming rate over the last few years, $5M per year since 2021. This is in addition to all of the ESSER (federal) funds Merrimack … Read more
Bow administrators decided to double down after they issued No-Tresspass orders to parents who attended a girl’s soccer game in the Fall. Three spectators wore pink wristbands with XX written on them to express their support for girls-only soccer. The three pushed back and took the school district to court, citing their right to free … Read more
From the moment the New Hampshire State Board of Education voted to adopt the Common Core Math Standards in 2010, I knew it would be a disaster. Fourteen years later, we see the proof. Schools across America still use Common Core-aligned programs in their schools because those math programs align with their state academic standards. … Read more
It’s that time of the year again when the School and Town budgets are presented to taxpayers at the town meetings. This is the time to ensure you are part of the process so your elected representatives understand what you expect from them. Pembroke voters rejected a $3 million dollar school budget last year, indicating … Read more
This is a follow-up email sent to the Superintendent of SAU65/Kearsarge. Dear Superintendent Fortney, I am taking my time to inquire about any steps you or your staff have taken to alert families in the school district about the crimes committed by Marc Jacques. Not only was he walking freely around children, soccer players, and … Read more
This Article Includes Sexually Explicit Content Available to Children in School Dear Representative Tanner, I wanted to send you an email to ask you about the Op-Ed you wrote in the NH Union Leader: In your article you reference Governor Sununu’s withdrawal of his nominee for State Librarian. You also mentioned attempts to “target books” … Read more
In over 20 years of my research on public education, it’s easy to see how federal dollars are flushed down the toilet. There is plenty of money being spent by the federal government that does nothing to improve education, but also assists in its demise. DOGE is the new federal Department Of Government Efficiency that … Read more
No one should be surprised that U.S. Students continue to fall behind their international peers in Math and Science. The latest scores are in from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), and it’s not good. According to: US students’ declining math scores are ‘sobering,’ expert says:“A new international study showing a significant … Read more
A few weeks ago I received a call from a journalist who wanted to talk about the safe spaces in college campuses around the country. She was trying to figure out why so many college students did not have coping skills to handle the outcome of the election. As we began to chat, we talked … Read more
Part 2 from the court case involving parents vs. Bow School District. In part 1, of the lawsuit against Bow School District, you will read a summary from the court proceedings involving parents who were issued no trespass orders for wearing a pink wristband to a Bow girls soccer game. Those parents then filed a … Read more
Three Bow parents took the school district to court today after they allege the school district violated their free speech rights. Three parents wore pink wristbands to a girls soccer game with XX written on them. They did this to express their support for girls/women’s sports. Some described this as a peaceful protest since there … Read more
Parents need to ask their Superintendent and School Board what they plan to do with this information:
Strong Foundations Charter School is n the process of developing a school policy on flags that are hung in the classroom. A Google Meeting with parents and administrators last week, called for a committee to develop a policy on PRIDE flags hanging in the classroom. A few parents made the argument that PRIDE flags should … Read more
The following email was sent to the following public schools in New Hampshire. Some of them will be required to hand over documents per the 91-a, Right to Know Request: To the Superintendents and School Board Members, My name is Ann Marie Banfield and I am a parental rights advocate in New Hampshire. My focus … Read more
School administrators are contemplating whether they should allow their girls’ sports teams to play against a team with a biological male on it; instead of the adults in their school making this hard decision, the girls and their families are refusing to play. It sure makes you wonder where have all the leaders gone? How … Read more
Joanne Jacobs recently published an article titled, “Georgetown students ‘have trouble staying focused on even a sonnet.’ Jacobs mentions how an article from the Atlantic reported that: “Many students no longer arrive at college — even at highly selective, elite colleges — prepared to read books,” writes Rose Horowitch in The Atlantic. Students tell professors … Read more