Dear Editor,
As a parent taxpayer and a Democrat I am appalled that Republican governor Christie would be allowed to use Secaucus High School as a forum for a well choreographed political press conference. The governor orchestrated a restricted event at a public facility to speak to the valve of education ironically a government function he has ravaged with budget cuts. The intention and message however positive quickly turned negative when the governor determined that attendance would be restricted to a select group of students and teachers, the group with whom the governor has publicly excoriated, could not be in attendance. As a parent I question the fairness of excluding some students who may have wanted to attend. As a taxpayer I am outraged that the governor would use a publicly funded facility to deliver a partisan message. As a Democrat I am appalled by the governor’s consistently arrogant behavior this time demonstrated by his total disrespect of the teachers of Secaucus.
The obvious question is how could the governor address a select group of students on the topic of education and not allow any teachers to participate in the process? The answer is obvious. The governor wanted to control the agenda and take another opportunity to publicly disrespect teachers I would like to ask Business Administrator Ron Smith why he would agree to participate in this event? He and the superintendent could have declined the governor’s request, or at the very least, insist that the forum be open and democratic. Perhaps it’s because Ron Smith is an elected member of the board of education in his home town. Which is a stronghold of the Republican party. I ask did he allow this for his own political gain?
Regards,
Tom Roarty