To the Editor:

Why I'm going to mark box 1G and write-in Pelto on the ballot in the governor's race:

As a school psychologist for over 40 years in CT, I have been increasingly troubled by the educational direction of policies promoted by government intrusion into how local districts choose to place their instructional and extracurricular priorities.  The top-down approach to education reform with its targeted incentives née “bribes” has reigned havoc on a state that has historically been one of this country's leaders in educational excellence.  Sadly, Governor Malloy's steadfast commitment to a privatization agenda and the flawed Common Core standards with their misguided, unproven, and prohibitively expensive testing regimen, arbitrary and unfair teacher evaluation processes, and undoubtedly unconstitutional attack on personal private and confidential information makes him unfit for leadership in a democracy.  During a time when his educational policies have been questioned by leaders in educational research and practice, he has simply doubled down continuing to blame teachers and promote more private charter school corporations.  He is incapable of admitting that his education policies are a mistake.

For that reason, I ask that you consider carefully what a vote for either Malloy or Foley (who simply represents more of the same) will mean for teachers as they fight to stand on educational principles and for what they know is best educational practice because of their experience actually working with children in classrooms.  There is an alternative; fortunately, there is an opportunity to “write-in” candidates Jonathan Pelto and Ebony Murphy who have been outspoken critics of the corporate education reform agenda and the ongoing misuse of taxpayer resources to special interests in the name of education.

So, I ask that you consider wisely as you cast your ballot.  It is not an overstatement to say that the future of public school education is at stake and, unlike the two major professional education organizations in our state, we – as teachers and school administrators who believe in equal opportunities for all children to grow and learn in safe and properly-funded public schools – must make a courageous vote in an attempt to send a determined message to whomever will become the next governor of Connecticut.

John Bestor

Walnut Tree Hill Road, Sandy Hook             October 28, 2014