So...not too long ago the Prudential Business Ethics Center at Rutgers University commissioned a 10-month study which concluded that New Jersey governmental corruption thrives in part because of “an increasingly selfish culture…lack of consensus on the definition of public service, voter apathy and cynicism, [and] fragmented efforts by the legislature…” among other things.
They broke no news with that one, but what they did do is lend context for the climate in which quality-of-life decisions are made around this place. For instance, let's take a look at the scandal that's been gracing the cover of the Jersey Journal for the past couple of days. In short, City Councilman Steve Lipski was arrested last Friday night for urinating on people during a spate of drunken...ahem, wisdomlessness.
In today's paper he was photographed greeting students (with a somewhat contrite expression) in front of C.R.E.A.T.E. (Center for Responsible Economic and Technological Excellence) Charter High School, of which he is the executive director and principal. One of the many challenges communities like Jersey City faces is a culture of minimal accountability, wherein administrators come to depend on parents being either too distracted by responsibilities or disillusioned by the process to ask questions, much less expect a reasonable response. In that grand tradition, Lipsky made it clear to the press that he has no intention of stepping down as a councilman or "shirking" his duties at C.R.E.A.T.E. No, such shirking just wouldn't do.
Reports indicate that Councilman/Executive Director/Principal Lipsky might have had an epiphanous moment (to say the least) while in the crowded jail cell to which he had been escorted. Was that when he decided he wouldn't give up any of his gigs? The article also said that according to the good councilman, most parents and students of C.R.E.AT.E. are supportive. That's nice; support is good.
While it seems a virulent cry for this man to cease and desist would be in order, I'm frankly not sure what that would do if he were to comply. C.R.E.A.T.E. is one of nine charter schools in Jersey City, and the other two Hudson County charters are in Hoboken. Its test scores stink, but I'm not going to seize this moment to kick a councilman when he's down--after all, the test scores have been bad since the school's 2000 opening.
What I will do is use this moment to ask about the efficacy of charter schools at such a time as this. Since they are public schools they are beholden to the district, which is not really a good thing in the case of Jersey City. Rather than progressive environments in which educators can experiment and innovate, charters in this context are smaller scales on the same dragon.
Why can't you find a fearless sword-bearing prince when you need one?
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