by Steve Schessler
A school teacher versus a Wall Street investment banker – these are the candidates in our race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Tom Torlakson, the incumbent superintendent, attended Daly City public schools and then San Mateo Community College. After serving in the Merchant Marine in Vietnam, he went to UC Berkeley for a bachelors, masters, and teaching credential, and then began teaching in the public school system. His fight for public education led him to the state legislature, then into his current Superintendent position four years ago. He still teaches part-time, at Los Medanos College, and understands our needs in education.
His opponent, Marshall Tuck, has no classroom experience. He has no teaching credential. He, instead, offers experience as a charter school CEO and supports the Vergara ruling (against due process and seniority rights) and took no position on Proposition 30.
Torlakson publicly defends due process and the interests of both students and teachers. He notes, “We do not fault doctors when emergency rooms are full. We do not criticize the firefighters whose supply of water runs dry. Yet while we crowd our classrooms and fail to properly equip them, those who filed and support Vergara shamelessly seek to blame teachers who step forward every day to make a difference.”
CCFT endorses Torlakson as a defender of our profession and our students.