Public Ed. in New Jersey Must Be Fixed [Op-Ed]

The following letter was written by Mark Alexander, of Montclair. He is a former senior adviser to President Barack Obama and current Democratic candidate for the New Jersey state Senate in the 34th District. 

As a teacher with four children in the public schools, strengthening our schools to provide a quality education for all our children is important to me on a very personal level. In order for New Jersey to be competitive, we need strong public schools in all corners of our state.

Education is the silver bullet to so many societal ills.

My campaign for the New Jersey state Senate has attracted parents and educators who also share a commitment to our schools. Last week, Bishop Dr. Reginald T. Jackson endorsed my campaign stating: "As an educator himself and Policy Director to President Obama, I know Mark can lead the way in Trenton on education reform and so many other important issues being debated in Trenton."

And in countless meetings throughout the district — at train stations, supermarkets and while knocking on doors — one refrain is constant: parents want New Jersey schools to be the best they can be.

Education is the pathway.

When people started to speculate that Jackson's endorsement of my campaign was all about school vouchers, it was the ugly side of politics shining through. Jackson has been an inspirational leader for all in New Jersey for decades. He is supporting me over Sen. Nia Gill (D-Essex) because he knows we need new, independent leadership in Trenton.

We need independent leadership in Trenton that will abandon the current practice of saying "No" to any new idea, and adopt, as Jackson so wisely says, an approach to education that is "by any means necessary" to achieve improvement.

In too many schools in the 34th District and across New Jersey students are testing below median averages in areas of language and math. There is a disturbing trend of a racial achievement gap manifesting itself. The time has come for new ideas and new energy so we can lift every school up and place them on the right track. A quality education should not be dependent on your zip code or income level.

We can do better. And we must do better.

That was my promise to Jackson: That I will work with him to make our inner city schools better. I cannot sit idly by while too many continue to fail. I will work with the New Jersey Education Association and other stakeholders to ensure that everyone has a seat at the table, that every voice is heard, and that we reach a consensus that makes our schools better for our children.

The time has come to change the status quo and to ensure that a quality education in our public schools is universal across our district. The first step on that journey comes by voting for new leadership in Trenton.