Dear Editor:
No, he’s not quite a household name yet. Yes, he’s been a dedicated teacher in Jersey City’s public school system for decades. No, he’s not part of the new charter school movement. Yes, it’s true that up until now, I’ve supported the Charter Schools and supported their leaders for election into the Board of Education. No, I don’t believe my supporting Gerald really contradicts my support for the Charter Schools and here’s why:
When I moved to this City in 1988, the thought of sending my child to the public schools scared me (and many other young professionals (I was still young then). Yes, there were some very good teachers (Elba Cinciarelli was a wonderful downtown neighbor who had with great integrity taught several generations….and more recently, when I moved to the Heights, I met Barbara Petrick who had done the same. But, there were too many stories of violence in the public schools….too many stories of poor teachers remaining in the classroom due to this or that….and too many stories of administrators who couldn’t or wouldn’t bring about the needed reform. So, Charter Schools, by starting from scratch and needing to prove themselves to survive….seemed to be the best bet short term. And they have grown and done rather well….at least most of them have. And, despite complaints that Charter Schools were robbing resources from the public system, Charter Schools demonstrated some good reforms and got the public school system realizing that they needed to improve for yet another reason….competition for the best students. I view this competition as useful…and necessary.
So, why do I support Gerald Lyons in the upcoming Board of Ed. elections? Because I believe that he is one of the few progressive people…one of the few independent thinkers…looking to be elected to the Board of Ed. while anchored securely within our public school system. Jersey City should never become a “Tale of Two Cities”…the richer, better educated vs. the poorer, less educated. So, while Charter Schools can remain and improve; the public school system must continue to improve….dramatically improve….. if there is to be any hope for a strong Jersey City. I’ve learned a great deal about Gerald’s progressive, down to earth “can do” attitude since he joined the Friends of Leonard Gordon Park and he has helped us a great deal during this past year. A problem comes up at our Board meetings, and he’s instantly on several phones calling the right people in to help us achieve some task or goal. Please let Gerald help lead the way to make our public schools even better. My opinions expressed here are only my own…they are not necessarily those of the Jersey City Parks Coalition which I founded, the Friends of Van Vorst Park which I founded or the Friends of Leonard Gordon Park which I founded. I mention this only because in doing my park development work over the past 23 years, I’ve learned something about making things much better over time….about change…about transformation…and about the kind of person that can help make this happen. Vote for Gerald Lyons and help our public schools improve along with our Charter Schools.
Dr. Clifford Waldman