I've been in education for more than 20 years, and it seems we must admit failure.
We've been teaching children to stand against bullying, yet it continues and the people to whom we have dedicated our lives and careers do nothing.
The people I'm talking about aren't the schoolchildren. I'm talking about are the children who have grown up and gone on to bigger things: Graduation, college, jobs, children of their own.
Bullying now is worse than I've ever seen. The governor bullies our teachers, our administrators and our school boards. He takes money from schools the same way the playground bully takes money from smaller kids. Our leaders and communities stand and watch, glad they are not the targets of this intimidator. Nobody dares oppose him.
Recently, people cheered when he announced he was giving money back to schools. Our schools have been robbed for years and people cheer? Do we cheer when the bully who takes $20 from another kid gives him some change so he can get lunch? Maybe I, and so many other parents and educators like me, have failed this badly. I hope not.
I hope students will learn and go on to bigger and better things when they leave school. I have done my best to teach. Now I pray my students have learned and will act to protect our children before too much of what was the best public education system in the world is lost.
DAN FARLEY
East Greenbush