28/08/2024
Let me start by saying that this personal first-hand statement I am about to make has no negative bearing in any way towards my fellow colleagues in advocacy or vocation in educating children. So to be clear, this DOES NOT apply to anyone who is on the right side of Public Education or Education in general. We are good. We are solid. We are on the same page. This is not about you, or me, or those of us in the struggle who put Children First.
Yet, I must say something about individuals who commit wrongdoing in education that speaks to the failure of PAID AND ELECTED responsibility to assist our children with their life’s greatest need. The title of Kendrick Lamar’s latest hit song best describes these people…..”They not like us!”
Many of the students I represent don’t have the resources that others may have or the support system in place others do. I was one of those students. BUT…..even when no one is looking, the School Board and the paid District staff in charge of schools have a responsibility to look out for every child in a way that no one is given special favor over the other. ALL students are precious scholars under our care and deserve respect, dignity, empathy and competent responsible adults in charge of their care and learning experience.
Being an unapologetically serious 35-year advocate to date for Public Schools, fighting for Equity and Fairness for ALL Students, I also have to say this….
It’s one thing for someone to say they support and work to help Children become educated, but to demonstrate you can show proof of that (having receipts) is a completely different thing.🧐
TALK IS VERY, VERY CHEAP AND THE NUMBERS DON’T LIE!!!
Some folks sit on School Boards as gatekeepers and minions to do the bidding of their political benefactors in return for something for themselves, a family member or their child(ren). Some are there to get rich off the children and taxpayers, always leaving us with poor results, no real accountability and always offering excuses why they did not put the Children First.
These people are a major part of the cancer that is destroying our Public Schools and if the voters AND elected officials in power that have oversight over school governance and operations don’t do something about getting rid of them, we will continue to suffer with disappointing outcomes generated by the grossly unqualified who mean our Children harm.
If we don’t address these few bad apples that are currently serving in the education system, they will rot it out entirely. This is not speculation, this is a fact. We must call out incompetency, nonsense and politics when we see it. The Children are watching this and we do not want them to learn these bad lessons from those we entrust to help educate them. That would put the future of the entire world in dire jeopardy.
The Children are watching and waiting.
With all deliberate speed,
Lorenzo Richardson
Lorenzo Richardson is a former Jersey City, New Jersey School Board member of nine years who repeatedly met with New Jersey School board members in every county and legislators on the State and Federal level regarding Public School issues and received extensive training to become a Master Board Member. He continues to advocate for Public Education to serve the students in the way it was intended to by the New Jersey Statute of 18A.
