Until recently, Mike Merrifield served as the Colorado House Education Committee chairman. Then he sent an email to another state legislator in which he opined that "there's a special place in hell" for supporters of charter schools. "They deserve it!" By Merrifield's standard, Gadfly--who, as a Dipteran, can only expect to live about 20 days total--will be a Hades tenant in the not-so-distant future. Where, exactly, in the nine levels of hell will he find himself? Unfortunately, Dante's Inferno Test yielded few answers; lots of questions about sin, very few about standards-based reform. So while we may not know Gadfly's position in the realm of eternal suffering, we do know that Merrifield lost his chairmanship. Do unto others, Mike.
"Rep. Merrifield's e-mail rips charter supporters," by April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News, March 30, 2007
"Ed chairman quits over e-mail: Merrifield wrote charter backers have 'place in hell'," by April M. Washington and Alan Gathright, Rocky Mountain News, March 31, 2007
"Panel boss urged to quit over e-mail: Dem says she's not budging," by April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News, April 3, 2007