Star-Gazette letters-to-the-editor By Gerald J. Furnkranz 2005-09

1. Obama's pitches, on field and off, fall short
AUGUST 12, 2009
President Barack Obama's MLB All-Star Game first pitch was media contrived. Camera shots showing
Obama hit the mark looked doctored to enhance his athletic image.
Obama unleashed a weak, high, looping cream puff that didn't make it to home plate. Talking heads insisted
the ball cleared the plate. In reality, Albert Pujols caught the ball in front, as it descended like a nine-iron
shot, snatching it before the dirt.
Who really cares? I wouldn't if this incident did not track the Obama administration's "false face" policies.
Similarly, Obama's verbal pitches employ media manipulation to fool the public and add miraculous majesty
to Obama's mythology. His political hurls, from on high, fall inadequate in truth, his shortcomings fabricated
positive by the media hype.
The news media act as another arm of the Obama publicity campaign. Aggrandizing Obama on the
campaign trail carved his false image, giving him the presidency. The economic stimulus, carbon cap and
trade and government health care (obese spending without reform) are all strategies that will devastate our
country and our economy.
Obama's primary face is transparently false and his makeup artist mainstream media beautify his corruption.
Gerald J. Furnkranz
Millport

2. Governments waste money
JULY 6, 2009
Money pooling at seats of government creates stagnation. Creating less with more, incompetent politicians
nullifies productivity of the American people.
Government cannot properly administer programs it contrived, let alone enterprises like GM or AIG. Social
Security, Medicaid, Medicare all face bankruptcy. Sen. Tom Coburn revealed $60 billion a year in Medicaid
and Medicare fraud. Nobel economist Milton Friedman exposed the government (health care) gets half the
results at twice the price.
Like a magnet, money to government attracts fraud. Government failures in New Orleans, Detroit, Michigan
and California embody thoughtless spending. Increasing government taxes putrefies purpose and process,
cultivating crooked politicians.
People tighten belts during an economic crisis. Politicians practice hyper-gluttony. Failing on small scales,
politicians crave bigger toys to break. Politicians' fingers in more pies give them more to mess up, expanding
corruption, incompetence and waste.
Effectiveness and efficiency mean nothing to politicians. The sign is hung in seats of power, "Politicians only,
statesmen need not apply."
Governments do not create wealth. They squander it. Limiting money to government reduces corruption.
Gerald J. Furnkranz
Millport

3. More than meets the eye in Horseheads
JUNE 7, 2009
The May 30 letter from Horseheads schools Superintendent Ralph Marino Jr. stated he would not take the
community for granted.
As a member of the district Strategic Planning Core Team, I see a great marketing effort and expense
toward getting future budgets passed.
A revelation of the core team's data analysis was: "we're not as good as we thought we were."
In our BOCES district, scholastically we appear to fall between the top third and middle third.
Past statewide data showed us in similar positions, negating the continuously marketed mythology that we
are one of the best.
As a core team member, I have expressed concerns that we are falling into our usual rut of marketing to
manipulate, rather than communicating to inform of the truth.
Avoiding such concerns, the process seems driven by biased surveys and what I call a "cattle drive"
approach.
Reassuring us to ignore the warning signs of the education industry status quo, trusting that the end result
will be as promised, is a constant refrain.
When you can't trust what you hear, you must believe what you see.
Character education mandated by government and an education industry without integrity is an exercise in
hypocrisy.
GERALD J. FURNKRANZ
Millport

4. Government Must Learn How To Spend Money Wisely
Star-Gazette, Sunday, April 19, 2009
Economic downturns force families and individuals to tighten their belts, while government goes wild on unprecedented
spending sprees. The federal government is tripling the deficit. New York state is increasing the budget $15 billion (10
percent), while the tax base is drastically shrinking. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger grovels to extreme spending.
Politicians practice their primary skills - frivolous and wasteful spending.
Federal bailouts have aimed billions at education, promising improvement. In fact, increased funding has nurtured an
education industry becoming progressively worse. Education unions and associations profit immensely from a corrupt,
deteriorating public school and university system.
Frugality would be a valuable lesson taught to students. Educators, like government, cannot teach it, continually letting
their belts out another notch, then another and another. The education industry epitomizes government gluttony.
Why fix it? This education model cheats the children of their futures. With the threat of New York's STAR program being
discontinued, the threat of increases in school taxes looms for property owners.
Government and education failures facilitate expansion; more money and entrenched power. Frugality and discipline must
return to education and government.
Gerald J. Furnkranz
Millport

5. Massa's stimulus bill facts fall short
MARCH 17, 2009
Eric Massa, in the Feb. 22 guest view ("Five facts about the economic stimulus act"), cited five supposed facts to
influence people to support the stimulus bill.
"Fact 2: The stimulus plan will protect and create 3 to 4 million jobs" is not a fact. This is a hopeful view of future impact of
the stimulus plan, which many democrats - including Vice President Joe Biden - have conceded may not work.
"Fact 3: There are no earmarks in the stimulus." Apparently, last-minute, special-interest pork slipped in doesn't count as
earmarks. However, the railroading of this $787 billion spending bill made it one titanic earmark. Senator Harry Reid's
high-speed railroad, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi's grant to mice, billions to ACORN's pursuit of voter fraud, etc. make
the bill a pig farm.
"Fact 4: ... (T)his stimulus has unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability" is not borne out by legislators
being given only hours to look at more than 1,100 pages. It's a smokescreen to hide content, not transparency or
accountability.
"Fact 5: The stimulus will directly result in many critical local projects being funded." Ask: Critical projects or more pork?
Four of five of Massa's "facts" are far less than factual. Fact 1 also warrants doubt - good leaders must debate honestly
and fairly to solve problems.
Gerald J. Furnkranz
Millport

6. Without trust in government, economy will fail
February 7, 2009
A monetary system with currency not backed by gold or something of value requires that people trust
politicians to run government for the people's good.
Politicians are running the government for their own benefit. The 2008 presidential election saw the last
three standing, Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Barack Obama running for ego.
Corrupt leadership ensures destruction of trust. The '80s saving and loan, '90s dot com and '00s Enron,
WorldCom and Tyco scandals - even scandals involving charities the Red Cross, United Way and IOC - are
merely the iceberg's tip. CEOs testifying to Congress insisted these were exceptions.
Randy "Duke" Cunningham and Tom DeLay paid for their indiscretions. The recent Fannie Mae and Freddie
Mac frauds had the fingerprints of Congress' Christopher Dodd, Barney Frank, Charles B. Rangel, Maxine
Waters, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Kerry all over them. Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Dianne
Feinstein, William Jefferson, Eliot Spitzer, Tony Rezko, Rod Blagojevich, AIG, Lehman Brothers, Goldman
Sachs, Bernie Madoff, the auto industry and others pile up dirt like ash from a volcano, smothering the
economy.
American politicians pouring out trillions in bailout money finance systemic corruption. An economic system
dependent on trust and faith cannot survive barren of honesty, integrity and ethics.
Our leaders campaign to make us believe they can be trusted, but becoming trustworthy will not be the
option they chose.
Gerald J. Furnkranz
Millport

7. Congress to blame for economic disaster
December 24, 2008
Headline: Harry Reid smells. The esteemed Democrat leader of the Senate hailed the new
Capitol Visitor Center as something that would keep the stinky citizens from polluting the Capitol
building, thus distancing our representatives further from the American people, the great
unwashed.
The malodorous emanations from Congress are exemplified by the Capitol Visitor Center. The
initial cost quoted as $71 million has expanded almost nine times to $620 million and three years
past schedule.
Putrefied bodies of corruption, incompetence and waste fill congressional closets, emitting the
stench Congress gleefully rolls in like pigs in their own excrement. The personal sleaze of Reid,
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Sen. Dianne Feinstein and others is ignored, nurturing
the collective dishonesty that has aided our present economic disaster. Democrat leadership's
support for their failing piggy banks Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac set the stage for this economic
crisis. Many members of both parties are guilty of silence of acceptance.
Congressional crooks responsible for this financial debacle now sit in judgment of CEOs and
others as they transfer the blame. Congress can judge corruption, incompetence and waste
because they are experts at it.
Gerald J. Furnkranz
Millport

8. Democrats responsible for economic collaspe
November 7, 2008
Democrats didn't start the fire, they drone.
When sabotaging the war in Iraq failed, Democrats deriding the economy saw an opportunity to scuttle it to
win the election: They hatched affordable (free) housing, easy mortgages, floating loans with no down-
payments to buyers with no job, no ability to pay, bankruptcies, even to illegal aliens -- birthing the sub-prime
mortgage crisis.
Government-hybrids Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, concoctions of faulty Democratic policies, encouraged
"high-risk" loans, selling houses far beyond many buyers' means.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac executives Franklin Raines and Jim Johnson (Obama consultants), and Jamie
Gorelick (Democratic operative) milked tens of millions in bonuses. The losses were guaranteed by
Congress, which abolished accountability.
Democrat Sen. (and Banking Committee chairman) Chris Dodd and Rep. Barney Frank (Democrat,
chairman of the House Banking Committee) ignored 1997 and 2003 warnings of Fannie and Freddie
mismanagement, fighting President Bush and John McCain's 2005 attempt to institute oversight.
Democrats Barack Obama, Dodd and John Kerry were the top three recipients of political donations from
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. ACORN and the Rev. Jesse Jackson's Rainbow Push, both strong-arm
organizations, also received substantial contributions.
Democrats not only set the fire, they fed it.
Gerald J. Furnkranz
Millport

9. Palin has more experience than Obama
October 5, 2008
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's inexperience compared to Republican vice presidential candidate
Sarah Palin speaks volumes. Palin now serves as governor of Alaska.
Obama brags about running a campaign, his strings pulled by a campaign manager. Is being a puppet experience he will
apply?
Obama, on the campaign trail for two years, has revealed no concrete accomplishments, only empty positions. He is
dwarfed by Palin when it comes to accomplishment.
Palin has confronted and defeated corrupt politicians several times. She is building a pipeline this country needs. She
trimmed government waste like the governor's jet and a "bridge to nowhere." She hasn't been there long, but she has
introduced dynamic impact in a short time.
Sarah Palin is not afraid of America knowing where she stands, enabling her to be real. When unscripted, Obama hems
and haws, searching for expedient answers to get through the moment leaving, a trail of position changes.
If Palin lacks the experience to be a heartbeat away from the presidency, Obama certainly is not qualified to be president.
Gerald J. Furnkranz
Millport

10. Plenty wrong with education system
Star-Gazette, August 23, 2008
The Aug. 14 Star-Gazette article, "District overpaid ex-official," typifies the character of the
education industry. An overpayment of $35,512, and Superintendent Raymond Bryant says,
"Nothing was lost to the taxpayer."
How is that possible? All the money running our public schools is from the taxpayer. Their answer
is another policy to be ignored.
Here is a prevalent attitude that has educators spending and wasting public money without
conscience. We want higher standards for students, but educators consistently engage in sloppy
and slovenly practices. What will children learn?
The same paper announced, "New York's powerful teachers union on Wednesday withheld its
endorsement and support from 38 senators, including George H. Winner Jr. of Elmira, who voted
last week for Gov. David Paterson's proposal to cap the growth of school taxes, which are among
the nation's highest."
Teachers' unions obviously support a high-cost, low-result education system. Why not? More
money goes in their pockets.
GERALD J. FURNKRANZ
Millport

11. Everyone's to blame for state of educational system
June 23, 2008
State University of New York Board of Trustees chairman
Carl Hayden and Elmira School Board President Dan Hurley
revealed major weaknesses in area education.
Hayden pontificates, "I am waiting with increasing
impatience to hear a conversation in which the board of education
discusses teachers, their circumstances and the policies and
strategies that will be adopted that will help those teachers transmit
to the next generation the skill and knowledge that the young
people need to succeed."
Hayden bows before education unions, associations and
lobbies that have failed public education. Like his Regents testing
plan and school readiness project, he supports education industry
expansion over improvement.
Hurley's response was as insightfully idiotic as Hayden's
snipe. Hurley insisted the quality of board members, administration
and teachers was excellent, "second to none." What?
Hayden was right. Boards' performances are woefully
immature and petty. So are administrators' and teachers' selfish
concerns. New York state takes positions eroding boards and
ensuring low-quality followers, not leaders, would be on them.
Where was Hayden when illegal campaigning for the board
and budget in Horseheads was ignored by education Commissioner
Richard Mills?
GERALD J. FURNKRANZ
Millport

12. Horseheads school leaders haven't kept promises
May 11, 2008
Horseheads School Superintendent Ralph Marino promised the community would not be taken for granted in 2007 as he
proposed a 5.88 percent budget increase, and another 5 percent this year. Baloney. Marino is adding universal baby-
sitting (pre-kindergarten) and more sports.
In 1970, the Horseheads School District enrollment peaked at 7,780. Enrollment in 2006 was 4,250, or a 45 percent
decrease. Sports, music and additional extracurricular programs have likely tripled, yet the education industry's misleading
TV commercials throw guilt on the elderly, lamenting how they want children to have what they had and depicts children
whining they never have enough.
The 1973 budget was $10,410,000. In 2008, it was $66,480,680 -- more than a 600 percent increase from 1973. This
institutionalized greed recently bought an indoor track, tennis court, golf facility and other toys.
More recently, Horseheads paid $10,000 for an athletic Code of Conduct that will go unused. That code of conduct
required integrity and honesty from district leadership, ensuring its failure.
Vote "no" to selfish kingdom building. Send the message now.
GERALD J. FURNKRANZ
Millport

13. Dishonesty seems to follow area school boards
March 20, 2008
The Star-Gazette seems slow on the uptake. Feb. 22's "Hits & Misses" highlighted the
Elmira school board scheduling school-crowding discussions discourteously late,
suggesting why attendance at board meetings is low.
Discouraging board meeting attendance is standard for school boards.
Community letters concerning the lack of truth found with the Horseheads school board
meetings appear repeatedly.
Articles in the Star-Gazette discussed last year's suspicious miscount of votes hidden by
the Elmira district leadership.
Four consecutive years of budget and board voting shenanigans in the Horseheads School
District have practically been ignored. Improprieties included vote miscounts; voting
machine errors; illegal campaigning; newsletters distributed in and e-mails sent from
schools supporting desired candidates; and educators' personal, political and union
agendas continually marketed in classrooms and at concerts. None are isolated incidents.
Standard operating procedures of dishonesty and cover-up are synonymous with our
public education.
GERALD J. FURNKRANZ
Millport

14. Increase quality education throughout whole system
February 15, 2008
Stop the rhetoric. Where's the promised proof?
A Jan. 22 letter by Ben Riggs extols the School Readiness Project, like Carl
Hayden sold in June 2006, citing studies not facts, propagandizing the
groundwork for universal pre-kindergarten (universal child care). Riggs
referenced a Web site that marketed the idea of Pre-K, but gave no evidence
the Readiness Project or Pre-K really works.
Hayden promised tracking of the program, yet Riggs showers us with
platitudes. Similarly, school districts institute programs with false promises of
proof of effectiveness like intensive scheduling, everyday math, Quantum
Leap and the International Baccalaureate programs.
Recent studies suggest that young children, not institutionalized, allowed
childhood are more creative and therefore more open to learning. Are we
burning out babies with these regimented programs? Universal pre-
kindergarten is just another education industry money maker/waster.
Mr. Riggs specifies that quality Pre-K could be very helpful to the education
of children. Wouldn't quality kindergarten, first grade, second grade, etc.,
preclude the need for pre-kindergarten?
A lack of early-childhood preparation is not the root cause of public education
failure. An overall lack of quality in education promotes the destructive cycle
of improperly educated students becoming ill-equipped parents.
GERALD J. FURNKRANZ
Millport
Copyright © 2008 Star-Gazette.

15. This is a printer friendly version of an article from the Star-Gazette (www.stargazette.com).
To print this article open the file menu and choose Print.
Back
Teachers need to stand up to save education
School districts, superintendents and boards marketing to manipulate rather than communicating to inform
has been my concern for which I have been mocked for more than a decade. James B. Reed in his Dec. 2
letter pointed out hooliganism is highlighted at EFA, while ignored at Horseheads. School districts cover up
problems and paint pleasant facades, hiding problems that cannot be resolved if not recognized.
Local schools gloss over the drug and alcohol problems to keep reputations neat and tidy, then trade
discipline for drugs to control kids. They feed children junk food for cash and act surprised at the obesity
epidemic.
Teachers complain unruly children are sent to administrators with no results. Teachers cannot complain
and avoid responsibility. Their unions have lobbied for this liberal approach that fails to confront the guilty
and protect the innocent. Teachers can confront this injustice, but fail to control their union's abusive
political agendas.
There must be honesty in education. It isn't there now.
GERALD J. FURNKRANZ
Millport
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16. Make children the No. 1 priority in schools
December 2, 2007
In response to Margaret Schimizzi Smith's letter of Nov. 18, teacher's merit pay tied to
AYP, Adequate Yearly Progress, as described, may not be the best way to administer
merit pay. However, that should not eliminate the idea.
We ought to have the brain power in our academic and government communities to
figure out a way to apply merit pay correctly and fairly. The first step would entail
extracting the massive corruption from education.
The generic belief that teachers' incentives are children and not money is extremely naïve
and dangerous. Public education is a major industry with union membership of 4 million.
Educators are bringing their personal and union agendas of profit, power, position and
politics into the classrooms. The children are at best secondary.
With the education industry's support, the most aggressive goals of New York state's
Education Department peak at mediocrity.
Educators hide behind union agendas that sabotage public education and protect teachers
from accountability. Students' indoctrination by educators diminishes education,
therefore the children.
GERALD J. FURNKRANZ
Millport

17. Solid leadership needed for schools, business
October 9, 2007
In his Sept. 19 letter to the editor, Jack Liquori rightly defended the role labor unions
have played in opportunity development in this country. Unions confronted many ills that
robber barons perpetrated on the American people, similar to recent attempts to allow
illegal immigrants to flood America, threatening its stability.
Sadly, union leadership co-opted the greed of corporate and government counterparts,
catering to their own agendas and the squeaky wheels. Ignoring the hard-working silent
majority, unions often step on those people to promote their selfish agendas.
Today's union philosophies, much like government's, promote mediocrity. Examples are
teachers' unions, sabotaging public education for expansion of their own position, profit,
politics and power.
Douglas Martin, Elmira Teachers Association president, and Elmira Superintendent
Raymond Bryant epitomize union-facilitated mediocrity in their Sept. 18 and 19 letters,
extolling (54 percent) seven of 13 Elmira schools as not being on the underperforming
schools list. Banners hailing rapidly improving or high-performing schools are facades,
revealing the fatal education industry philosophy for show over substance.
Leadership seems infected with IDD, integrity deficit disorder. Untrustworthy leadership
requires checks and balances. We need leaders who represent the people, not their
personal and/or professional agendas.
GERALD J. FURNKRANZ
Millport

18. Money for government, and mismanagement, too
August 21, 2007
Much of the time spent by our politicians is passing laws they refuse to enforce. With
dangerous goods being imported from China, our politicians will not allow the
enforcement of a law passed years ago that requires the country of origin on these
imported contaminated foodstuffs.
Likewise, immigration laws in place for 20 years or more are ignored to justify slipping
new laws in place to sabotage and undermine America, its people and economy.
Our politicians want to spend more money on health care, especially health care for
illegal immigrants. Additional benefits given illegal immigrants are at the expense of our
elderly, our own. Spending more money is the only solution our pathetic politicians
present.
Highway infrastructure is deteriorating, and more money is the cry. Some say the
deteriorating infrastructure is because of expenditures on the Iraq War.
The truth is our highway infrastructure, including bridges, has been deteriorating for 20
or 30 years, long before the war.
Intelligent and disciplined spending restraint, effectiveness and efficiency are honest
solutions.
GERALD J. FURNKRANZ
Millport

19. Don't try quick fix with regard to immigration
Star-Gazette
July 12, 2007
The vast majority of Americans are not against immigration. They are against illegal
immigration, allowing brutal terrorists, gang members, drug dealers and such in our country.
Twelve million to 20 million illegal immigrants or more, given amnesty and made legal, would
bring greater destruction to our overburdened institutions, including public schools, the health
care system, Medicare, Medicaid, welfare and Social Security.
It could jeopardize the safety and solvency of America, and our ability to help others in the
future.
Senators accusing Americans of racism to force ill-conceived legislation is negligence. Ted
Kennedy, primary architect of most failed immigration legislation over 40 years, is pushing
practically his same formula today. Why? His agenda is achieved with failure.
We can make this decision merely looking at the surface. With a long history of failure,
extensive time, effort, planning, discussion, debate and review must be applied to a bill called
comprehensive immigration reform. Important legislation should not be pushed through in a
few days. The Senate's normal processes of debate and review must be exerted.
A jury-rigged, careless bill will cause only more and greater problems. Say to your
representatives, "Enforce present law first. Then repair the weaknesses. It's common sense."
GERALD J. FURNKRANZ
Millport

20. Horseheads school leaders need better understanding
June 7, 2007
Horseheads Superintendent Ralph Marino's May 30 letter lauded administration and
board efforts, maintaining programs while focusing on fiscal responsibility. Maintaining
programs is not such a commendable goal if leadership has no idea whether those
programs are working properly.
Fiscal responsibility is not a suggested 5.88 percent, $3 million budget increase reduced 1
percent because additional state contributions were lifted from our other pockets.
Board candidates asked whether they thought this year's vote would be honest, answered
an unequivocal "yes." Why were erroneous voting counts veiled, though they changed
nothing?
Does Marino assuring the community it will not be taken for granted sound sincere? Most
superintendents and sophisticated, practiced politicians have previously propagandized
similar statements. Behavior should raise questions. Marino has already taken the
community for granted, falling into the routine of marketing to manipulate rather than
communicating to inform.
I thank those who voted for me in the school board election. Losing relieves angst.
GERALD J. FURNKRANZ
MILLPORT

21. I have ideas for Horseheads school district
May 10, 2007
Slowing budget growth, therefore reducing school tax increases in the Horseheads school
district, requires only honest effort.
Yes, I am running for the school board despite last year's trouncing. Losing brought some
relief, obligations consummated at the community's will. However that will was
subverted by the district leadership's massive dishonest and illegal campaigning.
Still apprehensive, someone has to take on the distasteful job of confronting education
industry gluttony.
To reduce the budget, therefore taxes, I entered the fray years ago with a vision. We need
a community financial audit and consulting committee to bring financially fluent
community members to help district leaders collect and analyze financial data and handle
budgets professionally, not like a grab bag for spoiled special interests.
We need to address the research of new programs honestly, not covetously bringing in
programs proved ineffective like intermediate schools and everyday math. We pay more
for change in the wrong direction.
We must be vigilant managing health care and pharmaceutical spending and waste.
Communications designed to inform the community, not marketing to manipulate, are
necessary. I have many other concrete ideas and the skills to implement them. One person
cannot do it alone. It will take the support of the entire community.
GERALD J. FURNKRANZ
Millport

22. Integrity important for board candidates
April 11, 2007
Post Comment
When evaluating potential school board candidates, honesty and ethics -- indicating high
integrity -- are primary. They mean competence and honest results over marketed facades.
School board experience is not essential. Incumbency can be indicative of sheep, not
productive expertise. Extended seniority frequently indicates a robotic rubber stamp.
Board members with children in the schools also should be questioned, rather than given
unquestioned credibility. They, too, can come with personal agendas to profit themselves and
their children. Many educators are willing to provide special status and privilege to board
members for consideration.
Highly schooled people have often been educated right out of their common sense. They
make decisions based on faulty perceptions of a biased, self-serving education industry,
depleting community resources based on education myth instead of objective analysis.
A good work ethic, an ability to be objective, a willingness to confront and the lack of
neediness to be liked are important. Being liked is the club held over the head of board
members to control them. It is a strong tool that coerces people to accept district leadership,
which can manipulate the public.
Complying with elitist academic industry talking points produces little. Integrity is the
answer, for integrity entails honest competence.
Gerald J. Furnkranz
Millport
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23. School leadership needs to clean up its act
March 3, 2007
Post Comment
Education Commissioner Richard P. Mills' dismissing appeals concerning illegal
campaigning in the Horseheads school district highlights degradation by incompetent
corruption stretching top to bottom in the education system. History shows New York State
Education Department decisions favored districts' misconduct, accompanied by a token wrist
slap. Horseheads leadership was congratulated.
Before the May 2005 budget vote, then-Superintendent Bill Congdon said he addressed the
issues with all staff when parents' concerns of budget campaigning in classrooms were
brought to the board's attention. Again, illegal campaigning and using children spread
epidemic like in 2006.
Mills congratulated the district for a quick response disciplining principals where the
indiscretions were obvious. He assumed an administration that only admitted wrongdoing
when caught red-handed would conduct honest investigations.
Abundant was the concrete evidence of illegal campaigning. Circumstantial evidence of
numerous other incidents was left to district leadership to investigate.
The token wrist slaps encourage district wrongdoing. Congratulatory handshakes condone
dishonesty. High standards of achievement for students cannot co-exist with low standards of
ethics for education leadership.
GERALD J. FURNKRANZ
Millport
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24. Don't take country's freedoms for granted
February 5, 2007
Post Comment
A Jan. 5 letter to the Star-Gazette by Penny Kastenhuber defends the patriotism being
taught in the Horseheads school district. Values such as patriotism, along with integrity
and honesty, are taught by example.
That the writer defends the district and blames parents because students won't stop in the
halls while the pledge is being recited is ludicrous. This scenario set up by school
leadership exemplifies a lack of respect for the pledge. The argument is an assault on
logic and common sense, a flimsy excuse for education industry idiocy.
Let's get real. The pledge should be said while students are settled in a room, not
stampeding through the halls. That would signify the respect due our nation. They should
stand up and say the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America with
their hands over their hearts.
Any students can choose not to do so; their freedom of speech protected by the
Constitution of the United States allows them such freedoms. However, be sure to let
them know there are many countries where they could be imprisoned for exercising what
is a simple right taken for granted in America.
GERALD J. FURNKRANZ

25. ND principal sets good example
December 27, 2006
Horseheads School Board President Al Dedrick in his Dec. 3, 2006, Guest View, was
anxious to move away from uncomfortable incidents in athletics occurring nine months
ago.
Head-in-the-sand tactics employed by district leadership forced formation of Parents For
Players to get the board's attention.
Notre Dame's principal, Sister Mary Walter Hickey, announced in a statement faxed to
the news media in which Assistant Principal Mike D'Aloisio admitted wrongdoing; a
"critical error in judgment" that led to his 60-day suspension.
What is the difference here? Sister Hickey and assistant principal D'Aloisio showed
leadership integrity, inspirationally accepting accountability.
It is heartening to see honesty in education.
GERALD J. FURNKRANZ
Millport

26. Wasteful spending in Horseheads plan
October 19, 2006
The $5 million auditorium upgrade is part of the capital project vote on Nov. 2, representing
what is most wrong with the Horseheads School District. A few safety issues do need
addressing. State-of-the-art controls, wider seats, additional storage and air conditioning are
wasted resources for an already excellent facility used a small portion of time.
Arguing for the most expensive plan, the public heard, "We (board members) don't want to be
stingy or cheap," highlighting their spend-thrift attitude that frugality or fiscal responsibility
is stingy or cheap. The board and administration are not looking at what is really needed to
teach children, but at what they want.
Extreme self-indulgence makes their case for ridiculously higher budgets. In our spoiled
school district, they reason that others have it, so should we. Toys over academics seem the
vision, spreading fancy icing on the cake to cover the decaying education core inside.
GERALD J. FURNKRANZ
Millport
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Why be stingy and cheap when it is OPM?
Other peoples money? Wider seats? I
suppose that is one way to deal with the
obesety problem.. Widen the seats and the
problem goes away until the seats need to
go wider again!
Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 5:05 am
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28. Schooling project doesn't address real problem
July 9, 2006
The school readiness project being pushed by Carl Hayden sounds good but is an obsolete
idea about early-childhood learning. More recent studies have pointed toward development
from their play and being children as more nurturing of creativity.
Hayden hails we'll see results early, just from the attractiveness of the program. Academics
are too often enamored with the looks of a program, quickly losing interest in results.
All-day kindergarten was supposed to be the fix. Now it's pre-kindergarten. As each touted
essential step fails, we add another. Next it will be pre-pre-kindergarten, or perhaps bypassing
parenting altogether by institutionalizing children directly from the womb.
Failure to identify the real problem is weakness in our public schools. Statistics show early
education isn't the major issue. We keep up with better-educated countries until the fourth
grade, then we fall behind rapidly. The longer children are in our schools, the worse they
perform.
Our present system has educated most parents-to-be for at least 12 years and fallen short.
What positive effects will this minimal intervention at the hospital have?
Cornell and Columbia universities, education industry monoliths who profit greatly from
education failure, will track the efforts? After years of putting lipstick on a pig, can we trust
them to assess honestly or competently?
A school superintendent once told me, "You have to expect researchers to have their own
agenda."
It really isn't about truth, but satisfying insatiable wants.
GERALD J. FURNKRANZ
Millport
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Service and Privacy Policy (updated 6/7/2005). Send questions or comments to Webmaster.