[Susan notes: The NY State Commissioner of Education is threatening to remove the Fairport board of education and fire its superintendent--if they don't toe his line. State education democracy in action.

For more on this story see: http://susanohanian.org/atrocity_fetch.php?id=450]

Published in Democrat and Chronicle
04/02/2003

To the editor

Re: "State threatens to fire Fairport school chief," Democrat and Chronicle, April 1

New York, the country is watching, and it finds hope in the soul of one of your finest educators, Dr. Bill Cala. Fairport School Board members have taken a brave precedent setting step in challenging flawed state policies that disregard the needs of local districts and the aptitude of local school district leaders. But they are far from alone while working under unreasonable edicts from above, and we must hope they will be joined soon by many others in acting out against them.

Though I live far away in Washington State, our local districts, year after year, are left to deal with negligent policy at the state and federal level. My district's most pressing problem is overcrowded. There is no reliable state funding to remedy this. Yet, there always seems to be adequate funding for tests and more tests-- just as there is in New York.

With the Federal No Child Left Behind legislation being fully implemented, all local schools are guaranteed to struggle with unrealistic, topdown mandates. Getting "back-to-basics," I would suggest that local school boards, throughout the land, adopt a new three R's policy: Resist, Refuse, and Revolt!

Thank you, Fairport Board and Bill Cala, for leading the way with your unwavering belief in local control of our schools and quality public schools for our children.

— Juanita Doyon