As a Connecticut educator and CEA member for 40 years, I am extremely disappointed with CEA leadership’s decision to endorse Gov. Dannel Malloy in this upcoming election.
It feels like a slap in the face to the hundreds of teachers who spoke out at last winter’s Regional Meetings across the state, and to many others who have voiced their opposition to the Common Core agenda that Gov. Malloy continues to promote.
Teachers know better than anyone that policies which promote stifling “one-size-fits-all” curricular standards, excessive and expensive high stakes testing, arbitrary and burdensome teacher evaluation processes, and on-going privatization are not good for our students.
CEA membership has repeatedly expressed its frustrations and unhappiness with education reform, yet CEA leadership still chooses to endorse the incumbent who will continue to damage public education and impede teachers from doing what they do best.
With many members calling for “no endorsement,” CEA leadership took it upon themselves to ignore the recommendation of its own political action committee and convince the Board of Directors to agree to this controversial, and highly contested, endorsement.
Many have stated that Gov. Malloy is the lesser of two evils and this endorsement will undoubtedly backfire as education reform marches forward with continued bad policies for students, parents, and teachers. Since when does leadership which is supposed to be savvy politically fall for last minute and undoubtedly desperate promises from such a disingenuous and untrustworthy politician?
As for now, I (and many of my colleagues) will have to agree to disagree.
John Bestor lives in the Sandy Hook section of Newtown.