The petitioner districts also lack basic and essential items necessary to provide adequate educational programming. Many of the textbooks, materials, and equipment used in the districts are old, outdated and in very poor condition. Students must share textbooks in some classes and cannot take them home at night to do assignments. In Claremont, some of the textbooks are in such bad shape that they discourage students from reading and doing their assignments.

Former state Commissioners of Education Jack MacDonald and Charles Marston testified that a 25% rate of high school graduates continuing on to 4 year colleges was too low and that it indicated a lack educational opportunities being provided to the students.

Old Apple 11e computers at Pittsfield High School

However the Superior Court complained that "a simple listing of numbers gives no information about the reasons that petitioner students attend college at lower rates."

For example, rather than a lack of adequate educational opportunities, the Superior Court stated that demographic and socioeconomic circumstances might cause petitioner students to delay rather than forgo their commencement of post secondary education.

The Superior Court stated that Materials for physics class ] parental education and aspiration are Claremont High School P1-664] important determinants of whether a child succeeds in school or continues on to college. Family educational background may be the most important influence on the success of students. "For this reason, the state may have little control over the rates at which students attend post-secondary educational programs."

The Superior Court goes on to cite a report the NEASC, (the accreditation agency for New England's schools), prepared on Pittsfield, which stated, "there is evidence, as judged by the visiting committee, that the expectations of the school--its staff and administration-- and the citizens of the town that earning a high school diploma is an appropriate terminal goal for its children."

The Court's explanation of the low percentage of Pittsfield's students attending a four year college echoes the disrespectful statements of one of the state's expert witnesses, economist Dr. Caroline Hoxby. Dr. Hoxby testified that in her opinion, people from property poor districts have a lower demand for education.

There was a great amount of testimony about the effort that the citizens of Pittsfield and the other school districts expend in trying to provide their children with the necessary skills so that they can take advantage of all educational opportunities.

Mark Jarvis, assistant principal of Pittsfield Middle-High School, stated that the rate of 20% of the high school graduates going on to attend a four-year college was not acceptable.