INDIANAPOLIS – Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett on Monday disputed a fake memo recently sent around the state that claimed he was backing away from his plans to overhaul education.
The false memo – which is circulating among teachers and others in the field – was dated March 13 and sent from a Google e-mail account. It used the Department of Education letterhead and gave the appearance it was written by Bennett.
The basis of the memo is that Bennett and the department have decided to listen to teacher protests and concerns on two bills – one moving to a merit pay system and another weakening collective bargaining rights.
“Indiana’s educators deserve respect and gratitude for dedicating their lives to preparing children for success,” according to the fake memo. “They are not the problem in our current system in schools.”
The memo goes on to state Bennett and Republican lawmakers are fully considering “the vocal Democratic minority opposition, which we now understand represents thousands of voices.”
DOE Communications Director Kim Preston said the department is working to identify the source of the memo and noted it could be a misdemeanor to impersonate a public official.
“This is just one more example of the lengths to which individuals to whom the truth is no obstacle will go in their attempts to defend the status quo. It is extremely disappointing that these individuals have resorted to scare tactics like this one during this year’s legislative session,” Preston said. “While a small group of dishonest individuals continues to disseminate information that is inaccurate at best (and blatantly false at worst), the IDOE will continue its efforts to share up-to-date information on legislation and other news with education stakeholders across the state.”
House Democrats briefly refused to come to the House floor Thursday
while leaders tried to settle a dustup over fines and procedural
matters.
