Joseph Carrabino

During the past four years, I have worked more closely with Joseph Carrabino than any other member of the California State Board of Education. In this period, I have been impressed by his energy, his dedication to the interests of all schoolchildren, whatever their ethnic or religious backgrounds, his openness to change, his accountability and his goodwill. I have never witnessed him display a partisan attitude where the well-being of the students of this state was concerned; and I have never heard him make a remark that could in any way be construed as denigrating or offensive to a member of our pluralistic society.

On the contrary, Carrabino has pursued every means at his disposal to achieve the goal of making available to every student an education to fully develop his or her potential.

As Carrabino’s successor, I am grieved his reappointment to the board became a political football. I have read statements in The Times that make Carrabino appear to be a bigot. He has been accused of racial and religious slurs that are unjustified in the face of his record as an esteemed educator for more than 35 years. Such attacks are mean and snide.

This letter is my rebuttal to these unwarranted attacks by Bill Honig’s supporters, designed to divert attention from the superintendent’s conduct in office.

JOE STEIN, President, California State Board of Education, Malibu