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RE: OBAMA speech
(KENT's DISCLAIMER: The views below are strictly my own and should not be taken as a reflection of the Board or their positions. Additionally my comments should not be interpreted as Board guidance.)
Please review the disclaimer above, because I feel that it would not be fair to characterize the thoughts that will follow as the position of the Board, nor its members except for one.
I too am amazed that someone who seems to share many of the same values that I do, is so put out by the actions that individual schools have chosen to take.
It is amazing in this day and age that a school system would seek to allow parents the opportunity to discuss this topic directly with their children, rather than have others try and force it on them in a school setting.
I am amazed that you too are not incensed that this speech that could truly be a watershed moment in the lives of our nation's youth is taking place at a time when, by design, they are likely to be separated from their parents and have to rely on the opinions of an educator instead of their parents.
Change one variable on this matter and all of the angst and otherwise goes away, the TIME.
Let parents and children watch this, TOGETHER. Let them discuss it in real time, TOGETHER. Let them put it in perspective TOGETHER!
The outrage isn't about what is, or is not to be said, it is about the assertion that we will target the youth of America so that we can circumvent the parents. I know that there are many students in this country who would never hear this speech if it took place at 7:00 pm (MDT), but I as an individual would love to share this time with my daughters and son.
There is always the chance that items that come up may be items that I disagree with, but as you have stated it is a call to stay in school and what could be wrong with that. That said I want to know that regardless of what OUR President says, that I am a part of the discussion.
Then I can explain if by some chance something comes up that does work against the grain of our values.
Unfortunately this matter, like so many others, feels that our government is working to bypass the values that we have for fear that the parents would never go along otherwise.
I support ALL of our schools choices in this matter. They are not stating that this can not be discussed at home, or in another venue, they are stating that they value the institutions of families more than any other, and I will always support that.
I do find it truly laughable that you can go from decrying the "imbecilic opinion's" and the "hysteria", but then surmise that the ONLY reason could be "ignorance and hate".
You spew that which you would seem to decry. You ask, "What message are you reinforcing to your students about our American government?" My answer, and mine alone, would be that the role of government, in any form, should never trump those of the FAMILY and PARENTS.
My apologies for your frustration and angst,
Kent Clawson
Dear Board Members and Superintendent Schoeppey,
I am writing to express my frustration and absolute amazement at the action you are advocating in regards to the upcoming address to our students by the President of the United States. Let me say that again, The President of the United States! We are not talking about some third world dictator or a Neo Nazi hate monger, we are talking about our duly elected President. The subject matter of which is, kids staying in school and furthering their education! Is that not what you advocate on a daily basis?
I have a daughter at Falcon Middle School and I am ashamed that they have elected not to allow students to see our President's speech. I am baffled beyond reason as to why a school district would choose to take a tact based on rants and the absolute moronic arguments from a few closed-minded parents. This country is founded and based on freedom of choice and to take away a choice because of a vocal minority's imbecilic opinion's is just disheartening.
I have a son who attends Meridian Ranch Elementary, I find it amazing again that parents have to sign a permission slip to allow our children to watch the President of the United States. This is such a grotesque notion that it turns my stomach to think that we have to sign a waiver so my son can see the President talk. Why is this not setting off alarm bells in your minds? How can this seem reasonable to you? Surely you have to see that hysteria is prevailing about this event and someone in your position needs to stand up and stop this inappropriate behavior.
If parents don’t want the President of the United States to address their children about staying in school and aspiring to be better, than let THEM opt out of the presentation. The majority of American citizens will watch our President and will either disagree or agree with what he says, but the fact that they get to make that choice for themselves is what this country is founded on.
I am truly saddened and ashamed of the developments over this address. What message are you reinforcing to your students about our American government? I can only surmise that ignorance and hate are tolerated in this district and for that I am saddened beyond compare.
I am a veteran, a productive hard-working citizen, and an involved parent who wants my children to be informed and educated in an open, honest and reasonable environment. The fostering of ignorance and closed-mindedness should be purged from our district at the highest levels. It is incumbent upon you to set the tone and assist with guiding our children down a path that will give them the tools to be successful and productive citizens of this great country.
I implore you to remove the constraints on our principals and allow them to show our children that freedom is the most cherished gift we have as citizens. Don’t perpetuate a mindset of intolerance.
Respectfully submitted,
(name withheld)
Dear Mr. Clawson,
WOW! Let’s talk about amazement! I am truly amazed at the way you have responded to an obviously frustrated parent in your district. A response such as this, would only serve to further inflame the situation. And yes, I do know this is in response to a letter written by a D-49 parent to the Board and Dr. Schoeppey because I have read this letter.
First of all, the letter was addressed to the “Board”, not Kent Clawson. This parent was not asking for your personal opinion disclaimed of any responsibility to the board. As a parent representative at Meridian Ranch Elementary, I implore you to stop adding fuel to the fire. When you needlessly irritate parents it affects principals, teachers and other parents. We need ALL parents to get behind this school district! Together we need to stop seeing education as a political issue and start looking at it as the universal issue it should be.
Secondly, I cannot believe you would accuse a parent in your district of “spewing” hate and ignorance. I know the individual who wrote this letter, and I can assure you he is the exact opposite of a person who spews hate and ignorance! Was he frustrated and using strong words in his email? Yes, he was. However, your response was utter abuse of your position of as a school board member. As it would seem you need a reminder, here is the section regarding complaints from the Colorado Association of School Boards Member Handbook:
H A N D L I N G C O M P L A I N T S
The opportunity to hear complaints or expressions of concern about district operations will confront every board member. Of course, the member will wish to listen with courtesy and sincerity, but, generally speaking, it is advisable to refer the person to the superintendent or administrator who has responsibilities in the area of concern. It is rarely advisable for the board member to assume direct responsibility for a problem, particularly when student or staff relations
are involved. While board members should reflect what is heard from the community during board policy discussions, usually board members can best serve their patrons’ immediate needs by telling them whom to call about their concerns. A discussion among board members with the superintendent about the process of handling complaints is worthwhile. Maintaining good public relations is essential to the well-being of the district. This is an area of board operations that should not be overlooked.
Also, after observing the 198 students at Meridian Ranch who opted into the President’s address, I do feel like the board should take this letter of complaint and give it some credence. I’m so glad our Principal, Erica Mason, gave the CHOICE to her parents and families, and clearly it was appreciated by many others as well.
In conclusion, I find it once again amazing that in the last paragraph of your response, you found his letter to the board “laughable”. Then in your salutation you apologize for his “frustration and angst”? You aren’t sorry; you were just LAUGHING at him four lines above! So, the next time, for everyone’s sake, please THINK as a board member who is representing ALL the people in this district before responding to a parent in such an argumentative manner.
Sincerely,
Liz Eikanger
D-49 Parent
Ms Eikanger,
I want to thank you for your note. I also want to acknowledge that you make some very good points, but I also want to identify a couple of key points of clarification, while conceding others.
First, the message is sent to the Board, yet I am an individual and can only serve in Board capacity when accompanied during an appropriately noticed meeting with at least 2 other members of the Board of education. So as to your assertions of my "abuse of [my] position of as a school board member" is without grounds. To be fair my message could have been worded in a more benign tone.
The letter was issued less in a manner seeking for clarification, direction, or otherwise. It seemed only to me that it was issued to insult and demean, and unfortunately I responded in an equally confrontational manner.
Though I had considered leaving the issue for Dr. Schoeppey or others to deal with, I wanted to express my support for the Principals and Administrators who had the courage to take the stands that they did. As my post indicates, the family and parents shall never become subject to the school system without their consent. Did I think that the speech was of limited controversy? Today yes, but it was a direct result of the controversy that even allowed for citizens to have a discussion. Prior to that we know only that our children were going to be instructed to write a paper about what they can do to help our President. With what? As a parent I had no idea. There are many of the President's policies and initiatives that my family and I stridently part ways. Was he going to talk about those? We had no idea until there was the 'controversy'.
In the end I encouraged my daughters to listen to it, and we discussed it this evening. She was on the other side of the spectrum of the discussion. She DIDN'T want to hear it. She would rather have done worksheets, but she was required to by her parents.
In the end I don't think that it is the place of the school system to try and thwart the ideals that we have in our family. She is in fifth grade and we already have those issues that have come from school, that are not matters or views that are expressed at home, but yet for me to overcome them is currently not possible. For now this is fine, the stakes are lower and I am willing to pick my battles. She will have her own ideas and passions, and I will encourage her to do so, but when she is in High School should I let her primary source of information be the school system when it comes to issues of great importance? I ask you what I am to do in a couple of years if I let her think that I believe the school system has primacy over the family? For me and my family that WON'T be an issue.
If some families want to abdicate that responsibility to the schools, then let them. But I believe that it should be an affirmative choice to do so, not the default.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Best wishes,
Kent
Unfortunately this is something that the Board of Education of Falcon has chosen to systematically ignore as individuals (as is the case of Mr. Clawson) or as a whole when it has come to advising the board of necessary updates to board policy in order to stay compliant with the state regulations. Mr. Clawson now dutifully empowered after the gift handed to him last week by the County Clerk, is back at it posting as an individual. How sad for the community that they must continue to be represented by self serving individuals such as this.
This is not Sad at all since Mr. Clawson will be resigning soon. His house is on the market and I have heard he has already started his job out of state. Lets just hope the rest of the board does not already have his replacement picked as in the case of Mr. Shook.