Subject: RE: Spectator coverage of a current issue Date: Thu, 12 May 2005 13:42:57 -0500 Message-ID: <B14120EE5C432443B21102F7925DAD0202D5BB89@COKE.uwec.edu> From: "Giamati, Claudia M." <GIAMATCM@uwec.edu>
Here here! I came to this a little late myself, but stood out in the
wind with 40 or so others last night and signed MY name to a petition
proudly... I did not understand that this entire fiasco began with an
unsigned letter. I am stunned that it was given any credibility. I was
a school teacher in my former life, and know there are all types of
shenanigans that go on where passing notes are concerned! I liked
Elizabeth's suggestion of burning an effigy of a witch somewhere!!!
Let's?
cg
Dr. Claudia Giamati
Dept. of Mathematics,
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Co-Conspirator to make the world a better place
________________________________
From: sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu
[mailto:sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu] On Behalf Of Swanson, Andrew C.
Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2005 1:25 PM
To: Hale, C. Kate
Cc: Richmond, Elizabeth B.; Markgraf, Jill S.; Wilcox, Jean A.; Alea,
Mary Ellen; Wesenberg, Nancy Christine; SFPJ
Subject: Re: Spectator coverage of a current issue
I'm not someone who has children, but...
This whole thing about the unsigned(!) letter. The fact that the Leader
Telegram reported it at all is disgraceful. After all, I could write an
unsigned letter claiming that I'm a "group of parents". How do we know
that this "group of parents" contains anyone other than Neal Bennett
himself. The fact that it was unsigned recalls any number historical of
incidents of cowardice paired with prejudice. In any responding action,
we should demand that these "parents" come forth and identify
"themselves".
OK, it may not be much more than a symbolic act, but I think any letters
responding to this unsigned letter should always include quotes. E.g. "I
am responding to the 'group of parents' who sent the unsigned letter to
the school board. I find the willful ignorance of the 'parents'
unAmerican."
I also think Marty had a good point about the Leader Telegram fanning
the flames of this story. They could just have easily chosen to ignore
the whole episode. After all, there are plenty of cases where parents
have much more legitimate complaints about how their children are being
educated.
Andy Swanson
On May 12, 2005, at 12:46 PM, Kate Hale wrote:
How many folks on the SFPJ listserve have children at Memorial?
Or elsewhere in the ECASD? Perhaps we could do a "group" letter to the
school board.
I have a son, just finishing his junior year at Memorial.
Kate Hale