School chief scandal underscores moral crisis

By Mary Pat Angelini

New Jersey is a state in crisis, but it goes far beyond the financial realm. The list of indicted and convicted public officials and tales of flagrant abuse, waste and mismanagement of taxpayer money coming out of Trenton and local communities reads like a Stephen King horror novel.

The latest chapter in this book is the revelation that scores of school superintendents and district administrators have received taxpayer-funded pay increases after "purchasing" worthless online graduate degrees from nonaccredited "universities."

While many will readily discuss the state of the state as it relates to taxes and debt, few are willing to discuss the state's moral crisis. To be certain, it is a parent's obligation to teach their children morals and values with the hope they will grow into a productive member of society. But it is also the responsibility of our educators - at every level - to reinforce those lessons, if not by their words, then certainly by their actions. "Do as I say, not as I do" should not be part of any educator's curriculum.

Yet that is the very message these high-level school officials are sending to our children and their students. It's a difficult task trying to teach your child to respect authority when that same authority engages in deceptive practices.

Every day throughout this country students of every age are faced with ethical questions. Unfortunately, research shows that most choose to cheat. The survey numbers are most disturbing. Not only have a high percentage admitted to lying to their parents and teachers and cheating on school work, but at least half said they don't believe it is necessarily wrong.

If nationwide research indicates this is occurring at our educational facilities around the country, you can be sure it's occurring in our own back yard. While officials in some states may be surprised at the alarming number of students who lie and cheat, I would venture to say most New Jerseyeans are not shocked, given this state's penchant for corruption and waste. While this diploma-mill scandal will only serve to re-enforce the message to our children that it's OK to lie and cheat and take the easy way out, state officials would be remiss in their duties to sit back and not take action.

But that's exactly what happened. Following revelations of this latest scandal, state Education Commissioner Lucille Davy said she was powerless to prevent boards of education from granting pay raises for diploma-mill degrees. It was only after public outcry that state Senate President Richard Codey asked the state attorney general's office to launch an investigation into this matter. And it was only after Codey sent a letter to Davy calling for action that she reversed her position, saying her department now will draft rules to prevent such practices by school officials in the future.

The fact that something is being done is all well and good, but it does beg the question: How was this allowed to occur in the first place? Apparently, it's a practice that's been going on for several years. For far too long New Jersey officials have practiced reactive politics instead of proactive politics. This diploma-mill debacle is yet one more example of an ineffective, apathetic government that has failed the people it is supposed to represent.

While I believe an investigation into this matter is absolutely warranted, it is meaningless if those who engaged in this practice and those who allowed it to happen are not held accountable. Additionally, action must be taken to prevent it in the future.

Therefore, I will be introducing legislation making it unlawful for schools to pay employees to attend nonaccredited institutions and from approving pay increases to those who obtain degrees in this manner.

Since the goal of accreditation is to ensure that education provided by institutions of higher education meets acceptable levels of quality, under our measure schools would be prohibited from providing tuition reimbursements or raises to employees who pursue degrees from an agency that is not authorized by the U.S. Department of Education.

It is not only imperative that this Legislature work to uphold high standards in our schools so as to provide students with the best education possible, but it is our responsibility as well to ensure that taxpayer money is wisely spent.

English author, priest and professor Dean William R. Inge said: "The aim of education is the knowledge not of facts, but of values." If that's true, and I believe most people would agree it is, than New Jersey's top school administrators, and those charged with their oversight, have miserably failed our children and our taxpayers. Let's not add this current Legislature to that list.


Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini, R-Monmouth, represents the 11th District in the state Legislature.