Letters

NYPD Boo!

Dear Oregon Commentator,

I have reviewed your recent issue. Most of what I found was your putting down and making fun of others. I must say I didn't learn very much in the way of real insight.

I'm not trying to be sentimental here, but really, your attitude is quite sad, especially since you are so young and yet already so intellectually jaded and emotionally divided against others who do not share your perspectives.

Your frequent self-deprecation is a rather obvious farce, since it doesn't hide the fact that most everything you accuse your fellow students of being, you yourself seem guilty of - especially arrogance and one-sidedness. Typically this attitude is in compensation for an unconscious fear that one may share some of the qualities of one's foes. In this case, your adversaries are people who don't seem to relate to your "enlightened" ways for reasons all too clear to you, but reasons of which you really have little true understanding. Perhaps you would benefit from getting to know the people you criticize so freely - knowing them beyond the surface, that is.

If you wish to promote "rational and informed debate" it would behoove you to show respect for others, especially when you disagree with their perspectives. Sometimes it is funny to poke fun now and again - but the level at which you do it is a bit ridiculous and often cruel. In all seriousness, what pleasure do you derive from this?

If I were you, I would lighten up a bit and try to find more intelligent ways of expressing yourself. Academic and rational intelligence is one thing, and here I have no doubt of your competence. But emotional and spiritual intelligence shape the world in profound ways, too. I imagine it is in your best interest not discard this fact, for you seem to have conveniently placed yourself above both these realms.

Sincerely,
David A. Caruso

Mr. Caruso, while everyone at the Oregon Commentator knows only too well what it is like to have been one of the hottest up-and-coming Hollywood heartthrobs, only to have a series of bad career moves (and even worse movies „ come on, "Jade"? What were you thinking?) knock you back down to the level of made-for-TV movies and "Hollywood Squares," we see no reason for you to direct your bitterness at us.

On the off-chance that this is some Mr. Caruso other than the Irish former star of "NYPD Blue," then grow some thicker skin, idiot. Maybe you should be the one to "lighten up a bit" and learn to recognize satire when you see it. Meanwhile, you should definitely remove your stupid website from www.dreamwell.org. Save yourself the humiliation.

-Ed.

Woodstein! Bernwood!

Dear Oregon Commentator,

The reason I'm writing this letter is to tell you a true and almost unbelievable story that just happened to me and my wife in two south coast school districts. If this story doesn't offend your sense of justice and decency, nothing will! Please bear with me as I attempt to convey exactly what happened. ItÍs a story of two school superintendents, arrogance, and abuse of power.

The following is a brief summary of the essential elements.

I have been employed as a high school counselor for almost a year now at North Bend High School, North Bend, Oregon. My wife works as an English teacher in neighboring Reedsport High School, Reedsport, Oregon. I recently suffered from what was diagnosed by my psychiatrist as a "major clinical depression." I was hospitalized for four days and placed on suicide watch. I am home now taking two anti-depressants and on a medical leave of absence. Three days after requesting a form (801) for worker's compensation, my wife was not rehired at Reedsport High School in spite of a stellar performance, high praise from building administrators and co-workers, and after stepping in at mid-year to clean up a nightmare of a situation left by a former first-year teacher. My wife had put her heart and soul into that job. She was absolutely devastated.

Also, something else happened that was very curious. Two days before my wife was not re-hired, the superintendent of North Bend Schools called me and wanted to talk. I went to his office. During our conversation, he just happened to let me know that he was a personal friend of the Reedsport superintendent, where my wife worked. He said he and the Reedsport superintendent go to church together. He also just happened to inform me that superintendents are a "tight knit" bunch of guys that "stick together." He volunteered all of this information. My wife and I have talked a lot about this whole situation and the series of events that occurred. We are fairly well educated people who don't rush to judgement in matters. However, after much discussion and deliberation, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind or my wife's mind that they conspired to try get [sic] me to drop the worker's comp claim as well as any possible lawsuit.

After talking with the teacher's union representative, we were told that there have been other similar "horror" stories in the past. One sad part about this kind of story, nothing can usually be done about it. Most people like us don't have the resources to pursue or investigate it. The other sad part is that these kinds of people continue to get away with these kinds of acts that devastate people's financial and emotional lives.

Also, my wife wants you to understand a little more about the school district she taught in (Reedsport, Oregon). Not only does it have one of the lowest "state report cards" (can be verified on-line), but also things were so out of control in the classroom that she was asked to "rescue" at mid-year that the principal informed her that students were setting fires in the classroom and throwing objects at the former teacher. My wife agreed to take the teaching position at mid-year because she was concerned about the safety of the students. Within two weeks time she had been knocked to the ground twice as she broke up classroom fights. This same principal told her that this high school was in desperate need of mature teachers rather than those just out of college. Inexperience of young teachers, she told my wife, was a key reason for low state scores and lack of appropriate student behavior. After three weeks time, teachers throughout the high school came to her to thank her for getting the situation under control. And, end of the year evaluations from students she received comments such as ńthis was the safest classroom in the whole school, but we still had lots of fun and learned a lot.î My wife has all of these student evaluations in her possession. At the end of the school year, teachers were astonished that she was not hired full-time. However, the most telling of all, was the statement made by her principal "the reason we didnÍt hire you had nothing to do with you. This is very uncomfortable for us." They gave her no reason why she had been denied employment. One of the people hired for next year just completed his student teaching. My wife is 56 years old with 14 years of experience. She is concerned that she and I have been "black listed" by the education community in Oregon.

It makes no sense! You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see what's going on here! It's a classic case of abuse of power and a violation of civil rights. And, it is simply evil what these two superintendents have done!

Unless something is done by, these two superintendents will get away with this outrageous behavior. I have written other news organizations and contacted other investigative reporters without any luck.

My wife and I will be happy to cooperate with you in any way. We have nothing to hide. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Randy Cox, Ph.D.

Well, Dr. Cox, there you go. It's the least we could do without ignoring your letter altogether. Seriously though, your story sounds tragic, and we wish you the best of luck „ but why you sent this letter to the Oregon Commentator is entirely beyond us.

If there are any Commentator readers out there who have some time to investigate what sounds like a fascinating expose of the Reedsport school district, know anything about the Reedsport school district, or can locate the Reedsport school district on a map, we will be more than happy to forward Dr. Cox's e-mail to you.

-Ed.