Businesses and raising children

To the editor:

My concern with NH Sen. Martha Fuller Clark’s position on Senate Bill 488 (“‘Reasonable accommodation’ sought for pregnant workers,” Feb. 19-March 3 NH Business Review) is that it is one more shift in the cost of raising children from their parents to the business community. That may be entirely reasonable, but not without more public discussion on the role business should play in raising our children.

Some issues have long been decided, such as free public education through the 12th grade, for example. But that cost is paid for by the general public, not businesses exclusively. There are trade-offs here, and they should be discussed. Applying yet another Band-Aid to make another “boo-boo” feel better is not the way to go.

John V. Kjellman

Victorex Inc.

Henniker