Naturally the one campaign position of mine they report, they get wrong <grin>... But unless it's really damaging, I'm of the view at this level of politics that any publicity is good publicity. The article is at http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/10/22/WBG49997IU1.DTL , and the letter I sent in response is below.
I didn't bother correcting the misstatement that I oppose anyone making a six figure salary (I only oppose government officials making six figures), because I thought it would muddy the main point of my letter, and I didn't want to make it too long, since being a correction I think they will actually be disposed to run it, and I'd like them to run the whole thing.
Yours in liberty,
<<< Starchild >>>
Editor,
In Heather Knight's Oct. 22 article on the school board race, I am described as advocating that all teachers be paid $99,999 a year. This is incorrect -- I want to pay for teacher raises by capping the salaries of administrators at $99,999, but I am not advocating that teachers be paid any particular amount.
My proposal for the San Francisco Unified School District is to put teachers in charge of the schools -- budget, curriculum, personnel, programs, as much as can legally be turned over to them under state and federal law -- and let them set their own salaries not to exceed five figures. In return for this extra authority and the presumably healthy raises they would grant themselves, teachers would be directly accountable to students and parents. Every student would get to attend his or her first choice school and transfer at any time, and school funding would be based on enrollment. If enrollment at a school dropped, teachers would need to be laid off, and the particular teachers to be dismissed would be decided by a vote of the students and parents at that school.
I believe that until we are willing to give teachers the freedom and resources to teach to their highest potential, and give parents and students real power as education consumers, government schools will continue to fail many of our students. And they deserve better than that. If you agree, please consider casting a vote for me on Nov. 2.
Sincerely,
Starchild
Candidate for School Board
3531 16th Street,
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 621-7932