LePage cartoon confounds Maine high school principals

Administrators receive a message from the governor’s office, but they aren’t sure what he was trying to say.

By Eric Russell erussell@pressherald.com
Staff Writer 

http://www.pressherald.com/LePage-cartoon-confounds-educators.html

Maine high school principals are puzzled over a copy of an editorial cartoon that Gov. Paul LePage's office sent them this month along with a handwritten note from LePage.

The cartoon, by syndicated editorial cartoonist Steve Breen of the San Diego Union-Tribune, depicts a conversation between two young men.

One says: "This fall, I'm going to trade school to be a welder."

The other has a thought bubble over his head that reads "Loser."

The first young man is labeled: "Starting salary upon graduation: $50,000."

The other man's label reads: "Starting salary upon graduation from a pricey, 4-year school with a liberal arts degree: $25,000 (if he's lucky)."

LePage's message beneath the cartoon says: "Folks. We can do better and need to do better! Let's put our students first."

The cartoon arrived in the mail with a letter, dated Sept. 7, from Jonathan Nass, LePage's senior policy adviser.

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