Reflecting on The Prince

I enjoyed this week’s issue of The Gazette enormously.

I was wondering if I might be allowed to make a few comments regarding Mr. McDermott’s latest letter to the editor regarding our Superintendent of Schools.

If you deem it appropriate please consider publishing it.

In Mr. McDermott’s latest commentary regarding our school superintendent I was taken aback by his use of Machiavelli’s sixteenth century book The Prince in order to describe her behaviors. Clearly she has succeeded famously in making sure that Mr. McDermott was not flattering her (one of Machiavelli’s admonitions to being a good ruler), though she has failed in terms of another of his goals for being a good ruler, i.e., not being ‘hated’ (probably a bit harsh here) by their subjects.

I can’t quite figure out whether it is important to recognize that this book was written as a satire and if Mr. McDermott is utilizing this vehicle to bring forth another point.

I guess we will have to wait and see if there is a sub rosa agenda or if he a true literalist and avoids subtlety.

Richard Carchman
Columbia

School administration out of touch?

I have previously commented on the Machiavellian tactics Underwood uses as she continues dismantling what once was a world class school district, finding the differences inherent in our diverse society and chiseling away to “divide and conquer.”  Last week’s school board meeting provided yet more examples of her self will run riot as she, and her coterie of cohorts, used a new smaller meeting space, rather than our high school auditorium.  Despite the venue change, the Machiavellian phrase “Keep your friends close, and your enemies even closer,” came to mind.

Prior to attending the meeting, I checked the school board website for any last minute agenda changes, and there were none.  When asked, at the meeting’s opening, by Chairman Cisne if there were any additions/deletions/changes to the agenda, Underwood clearly replied, “No.” 

Given her previous penchant for misstating the truth, and using my BlackBerry, I rechecked the online School Board agenda.  As Yogi Berra said, “It’s déjà vu all over again.” 

Lo and behold, an “additional handout” of 19 pages, including a previously unannounced personnel item, was posted. 

Does Underwood’s definition of “No” differ from what is commonly accepted?  While not as nuclear as the bomb dropped previously using these same tactics when reassigning principals Gordon and Austin, Underwood, aided and abetted by the school board, once again used suspiciously surreptitious procedures to tighten her tyrannical grip around our schools.

Under action items, a technology plan overview, which totaled 43 content pages in the online agenda packet, was presented. One overhead slide, which despite our new meeting space was illegible to the audience, showed this plan’s budget increasing 33 percent ($476,193) over 5 years.  We are firing teachers, but we have money to give the upper echelons of Underwood’s autocratic army “smart phones.”  You guessed it, no board members questioned the future expenditures, and the plan was unanimously adopted. 

In attending school board meetings, the silence of any meaningful discussion between members is deafening.  Can anyone even recall when a non-unanimous vote was cast?  The only differences between our current board and rubber stamps are cheap suits and bad haircuts!

During new business, board member Miller questioned why our board of supervisors made no inclusion of education in the supervisors’ recently held and publicized strategic planning session. 

Think about it Mr. Miller, you as past school board chair, and the entire board, along with Underwood, have spurned practically every improvement and consolidation initiative offered to Goochland County Public Schools by Goochland County.  You continually refer to our county as “the county,” using the third person.  When you point a finger, look at your hand, there are three fingers pointing back to remind you, “What is my part in this?”

At the conclusion of the aforementioned technology plan presentation, and prior to calling for its adoption, Chairman Cisne commented, “I feel so old and out of touch.”  At least I can’t be sued for libel by quoting him!  Under our school system’s current leadership, I am unsure of our final destination, but certainly feel like we’re traveling in a hand basket.

Michael M. McDermott
Maidens