To the Editor:

This letter is part 2 of 3.

There will be few letters to the editor from public school classroom educators regarding Andrew Cuomo’s so-called reforms and his other gutting tactics to break down and destroy public education. They are too busy doing their professional job in educating our children and grandchildren. As a retired teacher I will take the time, as I have followed Andrew Cuomo’s systematic 5-year war against the public schools of the Empire State, a state that has a long history of valuing public education. Public education is embedded in our state’s constitution. He’s running roughshod over both public education and the state’s constitution.

Andrew Cuomo, Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, and Rick Scott and other governors are all from the same mold. Gut public education and give the money to private interests. Shame on them. Follow the money folks. Public education is under attack, not because of anything it does or doesn't do. It is under attack because of the money politicians can get from the private sector and the PR they think they get. Take Cuomo for example: Contributions totaling 25 million dollars for his last election came from those willing and dedicated to destroy the public education system.

In last year’s state budget a Tier 6 retirement plan was instituted under Andrew Cuomo’s insistence. New teachers in New York State can only receive credit for teaching in two school districts in their careers. Combine this with his new “reforms” mandating that teachers have to be recertified every three years based solely on scores created by NYS Education Dept. tests. Internal memos between Cuomo and the chair of the State Education Department reveal sickening underlying motives. The result is most teachers won’t be certified every three years and will seek other teaching positions. This means a well -qualified teacher will be working in many more different school districts over the years. Tier 6 is a slap in the face, especially combined with his new “reforms”.

The days will be gone when local school districts will have stable faculties. These stable facilities are what produce the kind of education we all want. It gives our communities pride and tradition. The teacher who puts down roots in our communities becomes an asset, not a scapegoat. It accomplishes what Andrew Cuomo cannot, and will not understand.

Part 3 will deal with our local state representatives actions on our behalf.

Joseph M. Liotta

Norwood