It seems to me that somehow, rationality and civility have "hit the road" to be replaced by an overwhelming arrogance that pervades every aspect of our lives. 2004 was a year of arrogance on a national, state and local level. A soldier has the courage to speak up because and his comrades in Iraq are scrounging for armor to protect themselves. Our Secretary of Defense says something like "The Army goes to war with the equipment they've got". That's true when a nation is invaded. That's what the United States was forced to do after Pearl Harbor. But WE invaded Iraq. WE chose the timing of the invasion. It is arrogance of the highest degree to send our sons and daughters, fathers and GRANDFATHERS into battle like this without the protection they need. Arrogance. The State Construction Corporation has finally gotten off its bureaucratic butt and started construction of new schools in Paterson. It's only taken them 13 years! And one of the geniuses plans a footbridge for kids to cross to get to the school. Unfortunately, apparently no one from SCC ever bothered to speak with anyone in Paterson governance about the plan. When they do, they get bombarded with concerns about student safety (see Insert Page 2). SCC's response? "It will cost more money to move the footbridge." Their solution? Take the bridge out of the plan. Fuggedaboudit! To hell with the safety of the kids. You don't fall to your knees with praise for the great SCC? We'll show you! Arrogance. Test scores are on the rise in the Abbott districts (see Insert Page 1). The State Department of Education says the reason for the improved scores is a literacy program it is pushing. They deny that the additional funding received by cash-starved Abbott school systems is the reason things are getting better! It's not about the hard work you do in your classroom every day. It's not about reducing class sizes. It's not about the success of pre-school programs. Nope. It's only about their LITERACY PROGRAM! Arrogance. P.E.A. and Dr. Duroy settle a contract agreement before the end of the contract. A first in recent memory. No threats, no consternation, no drama. Just two sides negotiating in good faith to reach an amicable agreement. BUT, the Commissioner doesn't like the Superintendent, and Board members don't like the Superintendent. So they reject the contract with some phony excuse about lack of "formal negotiations". Like P.E.A. could require the management to have certain people on their team. Like 13 people makes for "formal" negotiations while five or six don't.. Like ANYONE believes this wasn't anything but personal vendettas trapping 3,800 people in their ego-trip. Arrogance. And now, the Interim State District Superintendent (ISDS) begins to restructure the school system in his vision, knowing that within six months he's going to be gone and someone else will step in. Is it because he's being told what to do by Librera? Has Librera decided that the other two State District Superintendents spent too much money, and he wants some of it back? Does the ISDS realize the impact all of this is going to have on morale in this struggling district? Does anyone in Trenton know? or care? Say the word! Scream the word! REMEMBER the word. And so it goes ...
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