This week, Watchung Elementary School's 4th grade students were asked to write letters to the Montclair Times expressing their feelings over the proposed outsourcing of teacher aides in the district.

Betsy Thomas, Watchung's school secretary, said the project was a writing assignment and that children were not told what to say.

"They were not told what to write but the issue of the aides was talked about because the students all know about it anyway and they all know [the outsourcing] may happen," she said.

Indeed, union members held a rally in support of the aides outside Watchung, as well as outside other schools, one that was seen by students.

One letter published in the Montclair Times was from a student named Kyle McLaughlin, who said he believed "that teacher assistants should not get cut from school budgets. One reason they should not be cut is because when kids are bad at a subject, teacher assistants take you into a group and help you."

He said that if aides are cut, children might get a worse education.

Another student, Erin Buckley, wrote that the "teaching assistant inspired me to go to school and learn more and more everyday. This is why I think that you should not cut teaching assistants from schools."

"I believe children should not be used as pawns for political gain," said resident Joseph Fischer. "Teacher and principals allowing this to happen should be fired."

"That is so incredibly wrong on so many levels," said resident Mary Emanuelli. "Manipulating children, who really don't understand and are being told to do something by a teacher?"