Superintendent David Fleishman released the following statement this afternoon about the Lion’s Roar’s suggestion that he plagiarized Governor Deval Patrick during his graduation speech to Newton South High School:
July 24, 2014
As someone who writes a range of pieces that are distributed to the broader public on a regular basis, I am well aware of the importance of citing appropriate sources. ~I am also cognizant of the notion that public officials need to be as careful in their spoken remarks as they are in their written remarks-something that too often gets lost. ~ The recent article in the Lion’s Roar is an invaluable reminder of the importance of doing so and I am appreciative of their work in highlighting this issue.
In retrospect, I should have cited the Governor in my remarks as I did David McCullough Jr. ~In my judgment, it is essential that public officials not only accept critical feedback but acknowledge when we have made mistakes. ~Because I believe in accountability and transparency, I have requested that some type of action be taken by the School Committee and it be made public.
David Fleishman
Superintendent of Schools
How quaint, asking the school committee to slap him on the wrist.
I’ve got no idea whether he’s been a good superintendent or not, but plagiarism is the kind of thing that you just can’t do when you’re an educator, much less leading the school system. It’s stealing. If he had any sense of what’s right and wrong, he’d resign. Otherwise, having to sit through his graduation speech next year should be a delight for all in attendance.
It should be question of decency, but I’m sure the debate will be split between those who hold some sort of gripe against him, and those who love him. If I were him, I’d make a call to Doris Kearns Goodwin to figure out how to successfully rally one’s supporters in these situations.
In the interest of keeping the conversation somewhat focused, I’m going to close comments on this thread and invite people to comment on the thread just above this.