Orange County School Board Chairman Keith Cook needed a speech to give to the graduating class of Orange High School. So, what did he do? He did what any dishonest student would do: he stole one from the Internet. Cook didn’t steal from just anyone, he had to plagarize a speech by Donna Shalala, the former secretary of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department. Cook did, however, change a few sentences in his version. You know: to be on the safe side.
What really gets stuck in my craw is that the guy can’t seem to figure out what he’s done wrong. Check out these quotes:
“It was a mistake on my part, and I apologize to the students and parents at Orange High School if they thought I deceived them. That was not my intent.”
or this one:
“I work very hard in the community to have a good reputation as someone who could be trusted or be a man of his word,” he said. “I think there is room for anyone to make an honest mistake.”
(These quotes (just to be sure they’re not mine) come from the Raleigh News and Observer)
This isn’t an “honest mistake.” This is cheating, plain and simple. This man is in charge of the school system’s ethics policy? When confronted with it, he hides behind his years of service, though any kid caught doing the very same thing could be suspended.
Keith Cook is at best a dumbass and at worst dishonest. The integrity of Orange County School System has been compromised. If Cook knew what was good for him, he’d resign before voters turn him out on his ear on November.
Does anyone have any shame anymore?
Keith Cook is a prime example of what’s wrong with the school systems today….