Guest blog: Jerry Mulvihill on educational reformers.
Jerry Mulvihill, a colleague of mine in Park Ridge, wrote the following op-ed piece for the Southtown Star.
“(Mr. Mulvihill), when you come up with a plan to decrease salaries and spending in wasteful and ineffective (school) districts and shift resources to the efficient and effective districts, you may gain some credibility. Until then, you’re acting like no more than a union shill.” — Illinois Policy Institute Liberty Leader Bob Shelstrom
It would appear in today’s economic and political environment that almost everyone can declare themselves a qualified school reformer. Bob Shelstrom certainly fits, as exemplified by his above quote. But while I believe we would all agree with Mr. Shelstrom’s sentiment that the fight for quality education for our children is too important to abandon, I would argue that his solutions to improve Southland schools and the data he uses to support his ideas are fundamentally flawed.
As a 20-year public schoolteacher, former school board member and father of two students in Southland public schools, I feel a professional obligation to offer an additional perspective to Mr. Shelstrom’s Dec. 11 Insight column. What did I do to draw his ire? I submitted an opinion to the SouthtownStar’s Forum, expressing my