Sick of the Sun
Others have commented already on the Lowell Sun’s editorial hypocrisy (here and here), but after reading the editorial myself, I have to add how insulting I find both the tone and the sentiment. First of all, they come off like they care about public education; this after consistently undermining the Lowell Public Schools, attacking the superintendent, the teachers’ union and the school committee relentlessly, depending on which political connection they wished to favor, trumpeting any setback and denigrating successes. Their “erratic opinions” as described by Dick Howe (see first link above), do serious damage and leave no room for legitimate, thoughtful discussion of the Lowell schools. Then, to look at their list of requirements for the next Commissioner of Education, the first qualification is “to be unbending in the relentless pursuit of student achievement.” This was exactly what we had in Dr. Baehr as our superintendent, but when she was leading the Lowell schools, the relentless pursuit of student achievement wasn’t so attractive to the editors of the Sun. Then, to urge that geographical considerations should not be a factor, that “the best leader among the finalists should be named the state’s next commissioner no matter where he or she lives or works.” This is okay for the State, but not for Lowell. I guess our kids don’t deserve the best leadership and the best teachers, no matter where they live or whom they know. The mind boggles.