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New Schools' Chancellor Has No Experience? No Problem. An Open Letter to Mayor Bloomberg from Dr. Arnold Dodge
An Open Letter to Mayor Bloomberg
Dear Mr. Mayor,
I think I'm getting it. In hiring Cathie Black, a publisher with not a shred of public educational experience either professionally or personally, you have once again set a standard for the credentials of the chief administrator of the largest school system in the country. You say that Ms. Black was hired for her managerial experience. (And you have often praised the outgoing chancellor for his litigation skills.) Coming off eight years of a chancellor who was versed in law (and not in education), what better pick to head the schools than someone else who is not in the field? As an educator for 40 years - in the public schools and now in higher education - I wouldn't have stood a chance in the vetting process for the top educational leadership position in the city where I grew up. I have no doubt that you believe that education is every bit as important as any of the other departments in the city. So, Mr. Mayor, using the logic of your education pick, I would like to apply for the following positions. I have included a brief history of my qualifications.
Police Commissioner - I apply for this position because I do not break the law. I have always been supportive of our men and women in blue - through their requests for donations for the good deeds they perform in their community work and through a personal and abiding admiration for their courage. I also have not had as much as a parking ticket in the last five years. While I do not own or know how to use a gun, I have seen many movies which feature all kinds of weaponry. Furthermore, I love the uniforms.
Director of the Office of Management and Budget - I regularly balance my checkbook. Not only that, but I have amassed a huge sum of air miles from the judicious use of my credit cards. When my children were young, I gave them an allowance that was reasonable for their needs - and they had to do chores each week in order to receive their allowance. No entitlements in my household. I also have a cash reserve (that must have over $500 in change) in an old Poland Spring five-gallon water bottle. Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves, my father taught me.
Health Commissioner - I do not have high blood pressure nor do I suffer from any chronic diseases. When in an emergency room I wait my turn because I respect the triage concept. While it is true that I have never studied medicine, I certainly have taken my share of medicine over the years. What better person to oversee the health care system than someone whose coughs and colds have been cleared up by the ministrations of those who will be his subordinates?
Mr. Mayor, I hope you will consider my applications for these important posts. It just makes sense, I guess. No experience. No problem.
Sincerely,
Dr. Arnold Dodge
Chair
Department of Educational Leadership and Administration
Long Island University/C.W. Post Campus
Comment
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Comment by Linda J. Tillinghast on February 25, 2011 at 1:37pm
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Dear Dr. Arnold,
As someone who appreciates sarcastic humor, I chuckled throughout your article. Unfortuneately, the mayor, like so many others holding the political power over us (e.g. Gov. Walker, etc), I have to wonder if the mayor even read it or if he did, shrugged it off like he and the others have been doing.
Linda Tillinghast
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Comment by Joseph Rainis on December 6, 2010 at 12:53pm
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The mayor's reach is indeed long.
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I sent this to the Times and they chose not to publish it. I sent two subsequent pieces, and again, the answer was not to publish. I will keep trying,especially now that the new chancellor-with the emphasis on the chance part - is on the job. This is too important an issue to ignore.
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I would love to see the Times publish this. Has it been sent yet?
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