The Nation - News from Jan. 10, 1988

Joe Clark, the embattled Paterson, N.J., school principal, can always have a job at the White House if his school board “is foolish enough” to fire him. Gary Bauer, head of President Reagan’s Domestic Policy Council, said he called Clark and told him: “I’d be happy to have you on my staff advising me on children’s education and values.” But he also urged Clark “to hang in there,” and said: “Joe Clark embodies what President Reagan and Education Secretary William J. Bennett have been saying about education.” Last week, the district’s school board initiated disciplinary action against Clark, 48, for expelling 60 students. Clark said many of the suspended youngsters were 19 and 20 years old and called them “leeches” and troublemakers. The principal also came under fire when a judge refused to dismiss contempt charges for his chaining exits at East Side High in violation of city fire codes. Clark said he took the action to keep out drug dealers and thugs.