[Local-Maine-Schools] Fw: school consolidation

[Paul Murphy]

My response to Mr Carignan.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Paul Murphy 
To: James Carignan 
Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2007 9:08 AM
Subject: school consolidation


Mr. Carignan
Just a note in response to your letter to the editor regarding the "special interests" opposing forced school consolidation, in which you exhort the public to "stand up for the children". My fellow school board members and I, unlike you, Mr Carignan, are public officials, elected, not appointed, not to represent our communities or the state, but rather the students of our communities. Our mission is to take positions and make decisions that improve the quality of education for our kids.While most of us believe that fiscal responsibility is an important part of carrying out that mission, our first eye is toward the quality of education. We are not in this for the money or for personal power, we are in it for the kids. We put in lots of hours and hard work for the kids.

I invite you to review the writings by all in favor of forced consolidation. You will find precious little attention paid to the quality of education or the kids. In fact, the governor's original proposal called for increased class sizes for the kids. The one piece of the plan that might have improved things in the classroom- laptop computers, was removed when it became clear that the voo doo economics integral to this plan really wouldn't cover the cost. 

Your characterization of us and our efforts is an insult and uses the most cynical of political tactics- can't beat the message? Attack the messengers. Our positions on this legislation are sincere and are the result of years of experience in our communities and our school. We have presented arguments based on very close reading of the bill. Don't agree with us? Present an argument that supports your position. It is beneath a man of your intellect to resort to name calling.

In addition, when you are writing publicly in support of an issue that you're being paid to support, it seems to me you should identify your paid position. Your letter makes you seem like a private citizen from Harpswell, rather than a state employee appointed by the Governor.

Your state and we elected officials deserve better from a man of your caliber, Mr. Carignan. Shame on you.

Paul Murphy
Board Chair
Mount Desert Island High School

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