Why I Canceled My Projo Subscription

Earlier this week, I canceled my subscription to the Providence Journal.  I did this for a number of reasons.  One reason, which should be self evident in the modern age: why should I pay for something that I can get for free? Seems silly to me.

But more importantly, and more directly, their vendetta against classroom teachers and all of organized labor too much to pay for. Again today, there is an editorial against teachers that is devoid of fact, based upon misinformation, and down right nasty.

Let's look at today's editorial.  For starters, they want to make two points: but only make one. They literally got so distracted by their own misdirected anger that they forget to list their second point. More directly, they turn every decent motive of a school teacher on its head and use it as a rhetorical weapon.  There is no missed irony in their use of words like "battle" when they describe what they want to see change.  They think they are at war, and envision themselves warriors.  What is that line about the first casualty of war?

On Fountain Street, when teachers say they want to protect students from over sized class room by mandating class size maximums teachers are out for more members and more money.  When teachers want to ensure students have expert teachers who have made a career of education the Projo calls it seeking more power.  When teachers point out that prior to seniority rules male teachers were paid more than female teachers for the same work, or teachers were fired for getting pregnant, or female teachers were not allowed to advance into jobs like department head or even administration because they could get pregnant, or when someone's cousin who "knows a guy" got hired even though there were many more qualified teachers or applicants; then were are putting students second. This is my favorite one: when teachers seek to have more time to meet parents, help students, and work with colleagues in professional development, the Projo says we are looking for "less work."

Every teacher in Rhode Island has to meet rigid standards set by Federal and State Law.  They have to be "highly qualified" under the No Child Left Behind Law; they have to maintain their certification and renew it by meeting continuing education standards. If the Projo views labor unions as

an economic-interest group, like a business corporation, whose aim is to maximize profits

then they have not even tried to listen, hear, or participate in discussion of important issues in good faith. When they are ready, I'll come back.  Until then...there are plenty of other news options.

Of course, it also goes without saying that the spouse of one of the leaders of the Projo editorial page was a highly paid consultant who made money by advocating for exactly the same things this editorial advocates for. And it was on the RIFUTURE.Org blog that the connection was exposed. Mr. Whitcomb and Mr. Sutton: how can you stand for such hypocrisy?

So I'm done with paying for the Projo.  The deceitful nature of their editorial page is not worth the dollar a day.  By the way, canceling was simple.  I called 277-7600 and asked them to cancel.  I am even going to get a refund on the balance of my account.