As you read Jim’s letter, I hope you will consider joining me in a “Back to Basics Revolution.” Public education in the US was founded on helping our young people grow up to be healthy and productive citizens with strong character.  We have veered away from what is most important in education and it is time to get back to the basics.

Hi Dara,

It has been quite some time that we have communicated, but I wanted to get back to you on your book, The Heart of Education. I think it is an excellent book and I hope that you are getting the word out to the masses. I admired your openness and using your own life experiences to pave the road to recovery and hope. You have showed how you took the barriers in your life and made them stepping stones to growth and productivity. So many of our students need to know that they are not the only ones suffering and there is hope for them to become the special person they were meant to be. Our nation is becoming morally bankrupt. The attack on education and attempt to take over public education through greed, cheating, and dishonesty, is very disturbing. We have Gates and the Waltons giving 100’s of million dollars to reshape our educational system yet they have no educational experiences. Power and money are influencing our current system and we are creating test takers and cheating our children from a well rounded education. Social and Emotional Development programs have been replaced with remedial classes to help kids pass tests. This has been going on for the past ten years and I think we are seeing the consequences catching up to us. Tony Bennett cheats on grading a Charter School and leaves under a scandal but is hired in Florida until the public put so much pressure that he resigned. He still retained giving a prestigious award to William Bennett at a national recognition ceremony…..after the scandal. Anthony Weiner get caught in another perverted case with Sex-ting He actually had supporters saying that the Sex-ting had nothing to do with his ability to be a good mayor. Dara, I’m pulling my hair out. These are our leaders who are making these excuses for behaviors that should not be tolerated. Long story short, our country is in great need of your work and teaching values, how to be nice, how to appreciate others, collaboration, giving before receiving, and the list goes on. I wish you the best, Keep fighting the good fight.

Blessings, Jim

James Sporleder, Lincoln High School Principal