A reader sends this update from Maine:
Follow up: Superintendent Perzanoski apologized Tuesday for putting his comments in an official school letter, but he did not back away from his actual comments:
http://www.pressherald.com/news/Brunswick-superintedent-apologizes-for-way-he-attacked-LePage.html
Too bad our governor can’t figure out that he should not use his own taxpayer-funded official time and venue to bully his school leaders.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Bravo Superintendent Perzanoski. Perhaps a few thousand more of your colleagues will start to speak up.
I emailed him to thank him for his support of his teachers. I am glad to hear that he is getting support from other members of the education community.
As did I. Maybe he is the start of a trend.
I emailed him too – and he replied to thank me. It would be nice if everyone who reads this blog took 5 minutes to show him our support.
I support the Superintendent’s stance. His message should have been delivered to the state government publicly and directly. This is the purpose of the democratic forum. It’s too bad that its inclusion in the letter distracts from the importance of the discussion.
I have not followed the Maine situation, but assume it to be the same assault on public education that I am experiencing here in Connecticut.
His apology makes sense– the back to school letter wasn’t the right place for it. But I cheer on this superintendent who is willing to speak out against a purely political onslaught of false negativity about schools.
He is a real authority on schools, and has a duty to defend the truth. This is what he was trying to do and should not be ashamed of doing so.
It is the politicians who should fear the members of our society speaking out about the truth. Even– and perhaps ESPECIALLY– superintendents.
The governor of Maine is a public servant paid with tax payer money and he shoots his mouth off whenever and where ever he pleases. He has a very loud bully pulpit from which to pontificate against public schools while Superintendent Perzanoski has to walk on egg shells and carefully weigh every syllable that emanates from his pen.
Don’t give me this crap about the letter not being the correct venue. Politicians attack public schools on taxpayer time all the time. Instead of devising legislation that puts people to work, they stand up in legislation sessions and bash teachers and schools.
This administrator did the RIGHT thing by publicizing his stance. This is why we can’t get the support of parents – we are not allowed to without being criticized.
Here’s an inspiring example of a responsible superintendent who refuses to remain silent while his school system is threatened. The “reformers” are counting on our silence. Speaking out scares them and they cry foul. Too bad.
Thank Paul Perzanoski for his courage ~ pperzanoski@brunswick.k12.me.us
Diane, I hope you have a blog post tomorrow about Jed Bush’s comments at the Republican National Convention about Florida and its educational program.
Gottalink??
Many people think that Florida gains were due to the referendum passed by Florida voters that required strict limits on class size in every grade.
I would be proud to work for this man. Where do I apply?