Op-Ed: FLEA Says Teachers Should be Treated with Respect

Editor’s Note: The following is the text of a statement made by Howard Lipoff, treasurer of the Fort Lee Education Association (FLEA) to the Monday March 12 at the BOE's regular business meeting. Lipoff provided the statement to Patch to publish as an Op-Ed piece/letter to the editor:

received national attention when Gov. Christie came here as . The program, which was sponsored by wealthy corporations, gave no opportunity for people opposed to the privatization of public schools to speak. Most Notably, no members of the union that represents most of the school employees in Fort Lee and around the state were included in the show. While members of the Fort Lee Education Association have become accustomed to the governor’s insults and distortions, as well as the bias of the corporate media, we were surprised and disappointed by the comments made by the interim superintendent of Fort Lee Schools.

The interim superintendent criticized our union for purchasing advertisements on billboards, which he called “stupid.” It was offensive that the leader of our district would use a word that we teach our students to avoid during polite conversations. If the interim superintendent would have sad he disagreed with or deemed the advertisements to be unwise, we would not feel so offended. FLEA feels that the leader of our school district should try to act like a gentleman and not resort to name-calling.

It is important to note what these so-called “stupid” advertisements were for and why teachers and other school employees encouraged NJEA to run them and were willing to pay for them. They were designed to promote state aid to public schools. While Fort Lee schools were losing millions of dollars, and teachers were being sent to the unemployment line, we thought it was necessary to call on the government to put money back into our schools. That is what NJEA has always been about, and we will make no apologies for doing whatever we can to assure that young people receive the best possible education. The question remains: apart from political considerations, what could explain any educational leader being against an increase in state funding for his district and labeling it “stupid?”

We are also advocates for children in all facets of their lives. That is why it was shocking that the interim superintendent said that he did not want to hear if children “go home and have no food to eat.” NJEA works in partnership with other organizations to fight poverty and hunger. It is the concern of every teacher to make sure that his or her students receive the essentials of life, and we will not rest until the basic needs of all children are met. The interim superintendent seems to imply that teachers use economic conditions as an excuse for poor performance. On the contrary, we are asking so-called educational “reformers” to stop making excuses and start realizing that the remedy for a hungry child is better food, not better lesson plans.

It was interesting to note that the interim superintendent was displaying a pair of Superman socks during the program. I was a fan of Superman while growing up, and I remember that he stood for truth, justice and the American Way. If he were here today, I think the Man of Steel would say that it is the truth that hunger affects learning, that justice can only be achieved when all people are given the right to speak and that the American Way includes free, public education in schools where teachers are treated with respect.