To the editor:

If the goal of the State Board of Education is to dismantle the public school system, one could see why the appointment of Bob Corkins as commissioner of education might be appropriate. His many shortcomings have been well publicized; there was one comment supposedly in his favor: that he accomplished what his bosses, two radically conservative “think tanks,” told him to do. In some positions this might be commendable, but certainly not as the head of the educational system in this or any state. The purpose of education is to equip people to reason and think for themselves.

Why would the board want to weaken our public schools? Because they are doing what their bosses, the radically extreme lobbyists in Washington, are telling them to do and that is to stir up division and dissent, don’t raise taxes and destroy the public schools. Why? Because poorly educated people are so much easier to control, not having been taught to think independently for themselves. I fear for our public schools and I fear for our democracy.

Sarah Casad,

Lawrence