With American education falling into decay, and each generation leaving school more hopeless than the last, it’s good to know New York State isn’t bilking its teachers. Thousands of New York teachers saw their Social Security deductions recalculated in their favour. The result was a sweeping refund of one penny. Cheques were mailed out, even though postage and processing fees added up to far more in expenses, while textbooks fray and supplies go unstocked.

“It’s ludicrous,” commented third-grade teacher Adele Rothstein. “We’re working in classrooms without paper, supplies, crayons, chalk—and the Department of Education is wasting the postage to send out cheques for a penny.”

A spokesperson for the department had little to offer as a defence, other than that the refund was obligatory, and suggested that most got more than pennies, although she had no figures. As for the lack of available supplies, it was recommended that Rothstein “talk to her principal.” :

» Scott Saxon