How does Principal Marcella Stills have a job and why do Americans continue to allow public sector unions? These unions must be de-certified. Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana has made charter schools the name of the game. I know a Louisiana charter schoolteacher, and she tells me the system is awesome and that the kids love it and are achieving beyond even the governor’s dreams. If you are not up on the terrific charter schools success Bobby Jindal has brought forth, you will want to get up to speed fast. Our entire public schools system must move to the charter school format following the direct lead of Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. Here you will read Peggy Noonan’s take on the abominable Marcella Stills and Public School 106. And, oh yes, more about Chris Christie…
It was political selfishness that blew up the American health-care system. And it’s the public, in this and other messes, that’s left holding the bag. But as government gets bigger the bag gets bigger, and people will get tired of carrying it. They’re already tired.
I close with the selfishness story of the week, the stunning New York Post expose on Public School 106 in Far Rockaway, a neighborhood in the borough of Queens. The grade school is a poster child for the indifference of those who are supposed to be helping the country. There are no gym or art classes, the Post’s Susan Edelman reported. The library is a junk room; the nurse’s office lacks essentials; there are no math or reading books for the Common Core curriculum. Kids are left to watch movies. Kindergartners are shunted off to dilapidated trailers. The principal, Marcella Sills, often doesn’t show up for work, or swans in near the end of the day. School staff were afraid to speak up because they feared retribution from Ms. Sills or the teachers union.
When the Post broke the story, the city’s Department of Education sent an inspector. The principal actually showed up early that day. The school took delivery of some books. Everyone was in high spin mode.
The union will look to the union’s interests, Ms. Sills will no doubt see to hers, the new city administration will try to limit embarrassment, handle the fallout and change the subject. But you couldn’t read the stories without thinking: Who’s looking out for the kids? And what’s happening to us?
Someday history will write of our era, and to history the biggest scandal will be the thing we all accepted in our leaders, chronic and endemic selfishness. History will be hard on us for that.
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