Hi folks...
This posting was inspired by the posting of the Chan Cosans letter to the Whig. It appears that this is the full, original version as compared to this edited version from June 22nd www.cecilwhig.com/articles/2007/06/22/editorial/letters/03.txt - the only difference being the more detailed discussion at the start regarding the North East principal from 20 years ago.
I am pasting my initial thoughts and that of fellow Whig Online writers and then I'll expand.
The Truth wrote on Jun 22, 2007 11:34 AM:
"Ms. Cosans...I truly believe you are giving too much credit to our new school board members. While I do believe that Mrs. Kammerer is trying to pick her battles carefully, Mrs. Sopa and Mrs. Zane are not (in my view) acting out of discomfort but rather out of the same bullying nature as Dr. Roberts. Further, Mrs. Koch is supposed to be in charge and lets all of this go on without anything but a snide remark and blank stare throughout. I was in the room for the entire meeting on June 11th and saw how they handled ALL COMERS in a negative and arrogant manner. Although all of the concentration has been on the Sheaffer matter, how does that explain how that poor man from NEMS PTSO was treated? He was an "INVITED" speaker and they ripped him up in front of his family and friends. You didn't see the look in his youngest daughter's eyes! As far as your comment on recommendations goes...it is very clear to me that Dr. Roberts is dictating from his bully pulpit rather than making recommendations. The Truth shall set you free! "
clear perspective wrote on Jun 22, 2007 12:56 PM:
" Ms. Cosans usually has a decent grip on issues, so her naive assessment here is perplexing. Just because someone opts for public education as a career does not elevate them to a higher status than a parent who opts for a different career while still caring about education. Yet the prevailing attitude at the school board has ALWAYS been to treat parents as uninformed, misguided nuisances at best, and compaining troublemakers at worst. The elected board members have done little to nothing to remove this attitude. With that attitude, parents and community members WILL NEVER have meaningful input in their children's public school system. More and more of them will look elsewhere for their children's education. Ms. Cosans and those like her need to be careful to avoid elevating public educators and school board members so high that they can look down with contempt on the community they are supposed to be helping. "
Wake Up in Elkton wrote on Jun 22, 2007 2:55 PM:
" I can't speak about the other public board meetings but I believe that the response that was given by Mrs. Zane was directed toward an irate mother that pointed out the elected members of the board and then threaten not to vote for them in 4 years if they didn't change their minds. The last thing that I want to see from an elected official is that they change their votes based on the rants of one person and not listen to all of their voters. "
The Truth wrote on Jun 22, 2007 3:36 PM:
" Hi again "Wake Up"...Your point that changing a voting opinion over one voice is certainly valid. However, and you did point this out, you are not seeing the entire picture of Mrs. Zane, Mrs. Koch and Mrs. Sopa. They are unwilling to hear ANYONE on these matters...not just the principal ones but ALL of them. For the most part, Koch is a puppet of Dr. Roberts and the other two are far too power-hungry (in my view of course). They may be fantastic people on a personal level...and I'm certain they are...but they are not any better than those who chose to vote for them. Besides, all three of the newbies (including Mrs. Kammerer of course) were elected by folks seeking change and campaigned on that very platform. With the very notable exception of Mrs. Kammerer who certainly seems to be trying to bring some other points of view to the table, we're worse off now than we were before. I hope it's better when Koch and Pinder get dethroned...but it won't be with Carl in place! THE TRUTH will set you free! "
Concerned Parent wrote on Jun 24, 2007 10:06 AM:
" I voted for an elected school board. If you read the article about Mr. Shaeffer's retirement. Dr. Roberts stated that he makes the decisions. It has nothing to do with the school board. If that isn't egotistical what is? I have been to several board meetings this last year and it is not about who is comfortable and who is not. These elected school board members made promises when they ran for office and that is why they were elected. Now that they are in their they also have become puppets of Dr. Roberts and the title of "schoolboard member" seems to have made them forget what they said they would do for the children of CCPS. No where in all this controversy have the students been considered. It has always been an attitude of "I said so! That's why!" and Dr. Roberts ego. "
MY ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS:
First of all, I cannot help but wonder if our gracious host on this blog is also "Wake Up" based upon the various comments presented on the Whig Online? Is that you, Tim?
Here's the bottom line in all of this:
- Dr. Roberts is a political bully. He claims to care about our needs as parents, faculty and students but at the end of the day his actions do not match these claims.
- Mrs. Koch is weak and unwilling to jump ahead of the status quo. She is the PRESIDENT of the Board of Education and allows the people that she represents to be pushed around and treated poorly by Dr. Roberts and many in his administration.
- Mrs. Sopa and Mrs. Zane have clearly forgotten who voted for them and, more importantly, WHY! Along with Mrs. Kammerer, they spoke of positive change in our system. That is why most of us voted for them. We aren't asking them to do anything but represent their constituency...not just one of us but ALL of us! Further, Mrs. Sopa and Mrs. Zane are making statements that are rude and inconsiderate here. Not uncertain ones, not ones motiviated by nervousness or the like. An uncertain statement to one person or even a small group under a stressful situation is one thing...not repeated statements to multiple different groups and inviduals.
- It is a whole-hearted shame that, as a former co-president of NEMS PTSO, and an originator of the recently-noted concerns at NEMS, Mrs. Kammerer felt that she had no place to speak in defense of the PTSO when they came under attack at the June 11th meeting. While I'm certain she's trying to watch her steps like all of them and pick her battles, this was a case where decency should have won the day!
I am gearing up on this folks! I hope some of you will join me in this battle for our children and their teachers! We deserve better!
"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32 NIV
side note: I see a comment from "anonymous" on the Joyce Hongersermeier matter. The public records of Baltimore County Schools indicate that she was dismissed for what I'll call similar reasons...nothing charged or legal...just asked to leave. So...NEMS got not only a lousy music teacher (did you hear those kids struggling to save face those nights?) but an abusive one as well! Way to go hiring team! NOT!
