Student member shouldn't have vote

school board shouldn't override voters

While reading the article on Allen Dyer's fight to stay on the school board I found two major questions came to mind.

Why is a high school student who is not elected by the voters of Howard County able to vote on the Board of Education? School is a time of learning, and the process of being voted in by classmates and other high school students is great learning experience. However, at 16-18 years of age, Alexis Adams does not have the maturity she will have 20, 30 or 40 years from now, which puts her at the same age of those elected by taxpayers onto the board. While her input is extremely valuable, she should not have an actual vote, as this should be considered training or an internship.

The other question is: Why do the remaining four members — Janet Siddiqui, Sandra French, Frank Aquino and Ellen Flynn Giles — think that their four votes are more important than the 54,148 votes made by Howard County residents that placed Mr. Dyer on the board? I would suggest to the board that maybe he was voted in because taxpayers do not want a rubber-stamp process.

While I personally do not like the measures Mr. Dyer felt were necessary, I certainly respect his willingness to fight for what he believes is right. The members who have voted to kick him off the board have just lost my vote in upcoming elections.

Tonya Tiffany

Columbia