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My fellow blogger The Big Stink and I collaborated on a letter to the editor of the Sun Post newspaper opposing a levy referendum for Robbinsdale School District 281. For certain reasons it was decided to submit the letter under my name. The purpose of the referendum is to secure funding directed toward “operating expenses”. The theme of the letter was the lack of real competition in education.
To their credit, the Sun Post published the letter this week. How they published it, and subsequent events is the focus of this post.
The editors of the Sun Post know that they have an obligation to present both sides of an issue, especially a political one. I was contacted by the Sun Post and informed that they intended to publish it, but that it exceeded their 250 word limit. Would I like to edit and resubmit or did I want them to edit it? Silly question.
After making some structural modifications I resubmitted it and it was published along with the expected counter opinion. While they were faithful in publishing the letter verbatim, they as editors got to pick the headline, and the position. The first letter was titled “Vote No on Levy Referendum”. The second letter was titled “Vote Yes for Kids”. So we see the (not so) subtle media bias in practical application. It can be read in it’s entirety at the SD45 website. As more proof of media bias, you can read "Vote Yes for Kids" on the Sun Post website, but not "Vote No on Levy Referendum". I guess the obligation to present both sides only applies to the print version.
By choosing both the positioning and the titles, the editors were trying to imply that voting no was voting against kids. Plain and simple.. I am, not “against” kids. I have two of them. One was served very poorly by District 281, and the other is a student of the district, so I have a vested interest here.
What I am against is 85 Education Minnesota lobbyists in St. Paul. What I am against is the incestuous relationship between the DFL and the teacher’s union. What I am against is pouring billions of dollars into a public system that cries foul every time accountability for it’s product is requested. What I am against is a government monopoly being allowed to declare the scope of it’s own mission and having it’s lapdog partners in the Legislature apply the rubber stamp to it.
Now on to the subsequent events.
On Wednesday afternoon I received a phone call from the office of Dr. Stan Mack, Superintendent of Independent School District 281. The very nice lady asked me if I would like to “come in and discuss” the letter with the Superintendent. I demurred. She asked why I was reluctant, and I explained that the letter was pretty plain in it’s opinion and there wasn’t much to discuss. She began to explain that the District had financial needs and I asked her why they were maintaining property that they did not use, specifically Hostermann Middle school. “Oh but we do use it.” She replied. “Yes”, I said, “but not for the purposes we are paying you for. We want you to educate K through 12 children. That’s your job. We are not paying you to provide Adult Ed classes, senior citizen basket-weaving or anything else that is not educating K through 12 children,” She assured me that those folks paid for those classes, and I responded that the minimal tuitions paid didn’t come close to paying for the infrastructure they occupied. We parted on amicable terms.
Many of my friends over at Anti-Strib know that I tend to be a bit over cautious at times. Perhaps just a wee bit paranoid. This phone call was at best disconcerting. Remember the letter said the District would mobilize it’s substantial resources to fight for this levy? They called me at home! The ink wasn’t even dry on the pages of the Sun Post. I’m not saying that the Sun Post contacted the office of Stan Mack, but I have a hard time believing he was waiting impatiently at his office door for the paperboy. If they have any coercion planned they are in for a rude awakening. A shrinking violet I am not.
One happy result, I stopped by my local public house to quaff a pint and talk with some acquaintances. One of them asked me what my last name was, and I told him. “You wrote that letter! I knew it was you. Man I couldn’t agree more. I’m definitely voting no.” I have to say it warmed my heart.
We ARE making a difference.
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