January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Byrne and Butterfield, call me out
Both were appointed as chairman of the Education Board. Both served in that appointment. Both have stepped away from that appointment. Why?
In my just-ended four-part feature on Public Education, I concluded that in fixing public education, staffing was one of the two key problems that had to be resolved. I stated, quite clearly, that with over 1,200 paid persons servicing a public system student count of less than 6,000, Bermuda's Public Education system was well over-staffed. I stated, quite clearly, that the public education system was not fixable without tackling this particular and major issue - which I described as the 'booby trap'.
I stated, quite clearly, that the public education system could only operate more efficiently if it had fewer paid people, with each paid person working more efficiently and more effectively than now and in the past.
Putting it all together, I wrote that the public education system was over-staffed, over-manned, over-managed, over-administered, over-lead, overwhelmed by internal and external management processes, and over-lapped with over-lapping over-staffed management and personnel redundancies.
In four-parts and 3,600 words - I painted the clearest, most accurate, and most honest word and number picture that any person could paint.
First Philip Butterfield, then Mark Byrne. Each man woke up one morning and decided that - on that day or a close but later date - he would resign his appointment as chairman of the Board of Education. Neither man arrived at that decision capriciously or carelessly. Each man considered his position and thought it through. Each man then made a decision.
Each man is the CEO of a major business. Neither man has a history of making capricious or careless decisions.
I believe that both Philip Butterfield and Mark Byrne found the same over-staffing factor. Each recognized and acknowledged that this was the main - the pivotal - problem. Each man ran into the same double wall of a Ministry and a Minister that refused - refused absolutely - to recognize, accept, and deal with this over-staffing issue.
Each CEO, in turn, realized that if this Bermuda wall would not move, then the problem could not be solved. Drawing on their
combined six and half decades of global as well as local, world, business, and life experience; then applying their breadth and depth of background, each intelligent and mature CEO went through similar thinking processes and arrived at the same decision. "The wall exists and is real. The wall refuses to move. I have no authority or power to move the wall. Therefore, I cannot succeed in achieving the kind of change that is necessary. I cannot afford to waste any more of my time. I must resign."
Each man left the appointment.
I personally challenge you - Philip Butterfield, and you - Mark Byrne to 'call me out'. Either, I am right - or mostly right; or, I am wrong - or mostly wrong.
Step forth. Tell the other 49,997 Bermudian people at 32N64W one of three things:
* On this Education matter, Larry Burchall is completely wrong. "He's a dam' fool and should be ignored."
* This Education matter, Larry Burchall is mostly correct - and then be kind enough to explain where I am wrong, and where I am right.
* On this Education matter, Larry Burchall is correct in all material aspects.
Neither of these business titans is illiterate or inarticulate, without access to persons who can write a reply, or has so little time that he cannot read this short essay and then, as shortly, answer it.
Like those dueling knights of old, I have thrown down my gauntlet and unsheathed my pen. One against two. No reply means cowardice and dishonour!
"Gentlemen, I await your response, in this newspaper, seven days hence, at the rising of the sun on Friday 23 October 2009 Anno Domini."
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