For nearly three decades, June Clarke — Gov. Charlie Crist's fourth-grade teacher — taught in Florida school classrooms, most recently in Palm Beach County.

Clarke recently retired unexpectedly, the Palm Beach Post reports, blaming Palm Beach superintendent Art Johnson's new academic program for sucking the joy out of teaching.

The Post editorial board lays the blame at the feet of Clarke's one-time pupil:

"Once young Charlie had completed his work, Dr. Clarke would ask him if he'd like to take on a more advanced math or science lesson. 'He would always grin at me real cute,' she recalls, 'and say, No thank you, Ma'am. I'm just fine.'

That's so Charlie. He was a big supporter of FCAT-based school grades when he was education commissioner. Same thing as governor. Even as the bogus grades have contributed to countless problems — like the controversial curriculun — Charlie has been 'just fine.' He hasn't done the extra work of reform."