Misguided School Policymakers

Marc McGovern, School Committee Member


Richard Harding, School Committee Member

Why a person casts a vote has to do with their motive. How does Marc McGovern and Richard Harding know the motives of the councilors who voted against their wishes? It appears that these two whining elected officials have had their way for too long without any opposition. Perhaps they should retire to the dreaded private sector where they will not have their actions questioned.

Never has there been any discussion of the role of the teachers unions in making policy and misappropriation of taxpayer funds. The two alarmists admit that what the City Council lawfully did may "potentially damage contract negotiations." Contract negotiations created the crisis in public education in this country. The stranglehold that teachers unions have on public schools has disastrous effects on the dumbing down of two generations of public school students. The unions allow indoctrination in the name of education. Students cannot read, write or do basic math. But they know about diversity, hating America, and multiculturalism. They are taught by psychologists who are seldom more than control freaks dictating their thoughts on political correctness. Psychologists curb protected speech and behavior because the psychologists do not like or do not understand what American children say and do. It is shameful that the school committee members cry wolf when they are upset, but remain obedient to their union masters. What is the rational reason for having psychologists in the public schools? Have schools become clinics for evaluation, treatment and behavior conditioning? The two misguided school officials are clueless about how wrongheaded their policies are, but they question the City Council? How very amusing.

[From letter]
Let us be very clear, the political maneuvering that was carried out at this meeting will do absolutely nothing to help address these concerns. The councilors have done nothing to help bring us together as city leaders. What they did do, is drive a wedge between the school community and the city community. What they did do was potentially damage contract negotiations. What they did do was show that making a political statement was more important than insulting, disrespecting and undermining several months of work by parents, teachers, principals and school administrators. If that is not bad enough, they did it all without any communication, warning or chance for the superintendent or School Committee to be prepared. This was a complete and utter blindside to all who worked so hard.
[. . .]
They voted down adding additional school psychologists, inclusion specialists, athletic trainers, and additional staffing for our new upper schools. They voted down adding an additional Special Start classroom and funding the Wrap Around Zone at the Fletcher Maynard Academy modeled after the Harlem Children’s Zone.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x1039441380/COLUMN-Councilors-budget-actions-were-more-damaging-than-helpful#axzz2TE8IYCUE

COLUMN: Councilors’ budget actions were more damaging than helpful
By Marc McGovern and Richard Harding/GUEST COMMENTARY
Cambridge Chronicle
Posted May 13, 2013 @ 12:06 PM