Re: “Our View: A new acting schools chief, no questions asked” (Oct. 20):

Your attack on the appointment of Bill Beardsley as acting education commissioner omits so many important details as to raise questions about your own seriousness.

First, some history. You admit that two previous commissioners, Stephen Bowen and James Rier, were confirmed by the Legislature. So, only Tom Desjardin was acting without confirmation.

Mr. Bowen resigned his post. Mr. Rier was forced to retire unexpectedly following a stroke. Now it appears that Dr. Desjardin has also had to resign unexpectedly after breaking his back. Does that sound funny to you?

Where were you when the state secretly adopted Common Core and Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium testing amid a myriad of other reforms started in the Baldacci administration and continued by Bowen? Where was your concern about spending then?

You worry about the lack of a “reform agenda.” But Maine has implemented all of the reforms secretly started. We’ve spent a huge amount of money and time on reform. And the latest testing scores show the reforms have been a massive failure.

Many of us tried to warn the public about this failed agenda. But your paper has no interest in reporting those stories.

Yes, Dr. Beardsley needs to answer questions. But many other questions about education must be answered, too. Fairness goes both ways.