As a retired teacher of 27 years, I know a bully when I see one.

Unfortunately, Gov. Paul LePage is an example of those who try to get what they want by throwing their weight around. Like all bullies, he has his supporters — the Republicans in the Legislature who, even after having voted in favor of bills that would benefit the people of Maine, supported the governor’s vetoes like puppets.

Shame on those spineless politicians.

I would also like to address the governor’s obvious disdain for the public school system. I would think that, given his upbringing, Gov. LePage would realize that it is the lack of parental nurturing, support, guidance, discipline and positive role-modeling that is causing children to fail.

In 27 years, the only students I worked with who failed were those who were either spoiled and enabled, or those who were neglected and/or abused and for whom school provided their only warm, safe place to be fed and respected. Unfortunately, in the past decade, those two groups made up the majority of my kids.

The children of loving, responsible parents who valued education were those who always succeeded. But those children and those parents no longer make up the vast majority of today’s families.

LePage is whittling away at the dignity of the state’s government and school system. What a shame for the people of Maine.

Cheryl Ellis, Monmouth