This Manchester parent responds to Rep Myler’s remarks in yesterday’s House Education Committee executive session on SB 101. Shared with permission.
For more information about the committee’s discussion, read Rep Denigrates Constituents in Executive Hearing.
April 1, 2015
Subject: Time for You to Resign
Dear Representative Myler,
I just watched your fist-pounding temper tantrum during the House Education Committee hearing. You stated that you are “tired of receiving emails” that you deem to be misinformed. I’ve not read them, so I can’t comment on whether or not they are. But given your severely misinformed testimony, I can safely say that you’re in no position to make such a judgement. But I’m not without sympathy. I, myself, am tired of listening to arrogant, misinformed politicians complain about these pesky parents and kids who can’t seem to just shut up and do as the bureaucrats are telling them to do.
But the fact that you are “tired of receiving emails” from your constituents means that you should resign immediately. It is your job and your duty to listen to them, misinformed as they may be, and vote on their behalf. That’s how a constitutional republic works. You are not an elected king who gets to lecture his ignorant subjects. If you are “tired” of hearing from the people who elected you to represent them, it’s time for you to resign.
I’ve taken the liberty of pointing out some of the misinformation and logical fallacies in your arguments. No need to thank me, as I consider it my civic duty and haven’t yet grown “tired” of advising you holier-than-thou politicians.
“Much of the information that has come forward has been answered.” Answering a question inadequately does not excuse you from being asked to answer it adequately. It is also an informal logical fallacy known as “argument from repetition,” which signifies that it has been discussed extensively until nobody cares to discuss it anymore.
“I checked with my school board. I’ve checked with my schools.” You mean, you’ve checked with the people who have been forced into adopting something, lest they lose funding and their jobs? And they’re telling you it’s wonderful? What do you expect them to say? It is also an argument from silence, an informal logical fallacy where the conclusion is based on the absence of evidence, rather than the existence of evidence.
“They are doing the testing. There is no problem.” This is a lie. We know that there have been two reported system glitches with the SBA testing so far. It’s also an anecdotal fallacy. You are using a personal experience or an isolated example instead of sound reasoning or compelling evidence. It is also an argument from silence, an informal logical fallacy where the conclusion is based on the absence of evidence, rather than the existence of evidence.
“Change is difficult.” This is a patronizing and insulting indictment that suggests Common Core opponents are simply luddites. It’s also a back-handed ad hominem attack.
“But I am convinced that the standard we’re moving in now is much deeper than what we’ve had before.” This is a red herring fallacy – an appeal to authority. You are simply accepting as truth the words of bureaucrats who get paid to perpetuate Common Core.
“But in the world we live in today and in with the access to information that we have today, what we’ve had in the past is not going to meet the demands of the future.” As a business owner and entrepreneur who has hired and fired employees and made my entire living in high technology fields, I can assure you that what we did in the past is absolutely what is needed and far superior to this common core garbage. I need employees who can read and write and understand math. I don’t need all of these esoteric so-called critical thinking skills. These kids are functionally illiterate! That is the problem, not all of this supposed high technology.
Signed,
Jon DiPietro
