Sunday, September 13, 2009

Nanny, May I?

James F. Murphy e-mails to announce:
There is "a right way and a wrong way" in today's society in visiting
public schools and Mr. Spencer overstepped his authority in trying to
gain entrance to Media & Indian Lane Elementary schools. The (RTM)
superintendent Ms. Kerr should be commended in her decision to ignore
Mr. Spencer's unauthorized visit.
My question:

Just what authority does one need to visit a taxpayer-funded, government school in today's society, a note from some government bureaucrat?

Unbelievable.

UPDATE:

On a nicer note:
Dear Gil,

RTM officials certainly display a drastic, almost obsessive interest at protecting their students from what should be the crux of educating; questioning and developing a flare for independent thought. Or could it be based upon reading your Sunday, Sept. 6th piece entitled, Obama should listen as well as speak? I think your fictional "Tommy" touched an educational nerve.

Could it be that your Tommy exhibited too much independent thought? Certainly seemed out of whack from an RTM education. Keep it up Gil, it's fun to be annoying, isn't it?

Regards,
Jim Bowman, a sometime Guest Columnist living in Fla
Dear Jim,
And I didn't even mean to annoying. Must be a gift.

UPDATE II: This just in... from petition organizer Chris Westcott:
Good article yesterday. I appreciate your attempt to contact Mrs. Kotch.
My response:

Thanks Chris, will there be anything else.

3 Comments:

Anonymous Bob said...

Gil - Maybe they thought you doing one of those Acorn busting type stories on school security. You know. Gil shows up disguised as a fifth grader, but can't pull it off.

September 14, 2009 at 12:34 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Just what authority does one need to visit a taxpayer-funded, government school in today's society, a note from some government bureaucrat?"

How about a valid excuse to be there in the first place? Outside disruptions should be approved well in advance. Did you get permission from any parents to interview their children?

Besides, anyone familiar with your work would realize you were there to exploit the kids by selectively quoting their comments to put Obama in a bad light.

September 14, 2009 at 12:39 PM 
Anonymous jake said...

Anon-diano and his posse are once again demonstrating how they will not let the facts get in the way of their shrill opinions.
In the RTM school district, no visitor can enter any building without signing in at the front office. There are no circumstances whereby our intrepid reporter could interview an unsuspecting student without the intervention of security.
Any lack of appointment is merely a convenient excuse.
The real issue with the RTM school district, and I suspect other school districts as well, is how the teacher's union culture and influence have created such a disconnect between the schools and the communities they serve.
Superintendent Kerr's prompt, kneejerk response to Gil's visit was less about security and more about preventing negative publicity. A hard look at district operations might raise larger questions about her leadership and accountability.

September 14, 2009 at 7:37 PM 

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