Consequences for telling the truth in schools?
In the year 2009 when we claim to have freedom of speech, I question whether this is true. Can one really be truthful without the fear of consequences?
I wrote a letter which was published in the Post earlier this year. In the article, I praised Principal Gerald MorangeEl for the positive changes he made at Knox Middle School. As a substitute there, I witnessed the changes firsthand. Until my letter was published, I received calls from the system to work nearly every day. After it was published, I had to beg to be allowed to work.
Did my article cause that much controversy or is it another attempt to sabotage Mr. MorangeEl? Am I the enemy because I tell the truth? I was told that it was none of my business, and that I probably wouldn’t get any calls until things picked up at the end of September. This was confusing since other subs are getting calls now. I was also told that Assistant Superintendent Delores Morris was going to hear about me.
What? Every time I tried to contact Ms. Morris, I was given the runaround. My messages were never returned. It’s hard to get in touch with her.
No matter what anybody feels about the man, Mr. MoragneEl genuinely cares about the students and they can feel it. The changes he has made have been positive and the atmosphere is totally different in the “new” Knox Middle School.
I tried to contact Dr. Judy Grissom but she never called back. My letter went unanswered.
Nobody can justify trying to destroy a person’s life. But if their conscience doesn’t condemn them, neither will I. People just need to be mindful when they are sowing seeds that there comes a time to reap that which has been sown.
ó Dianne Sturdivant
Salisbury
Looks like vendetta
I am a “Come Here” and am therefore usually hesitant to comment on local issues.
However, two weeks ago while channel surfing, I stumbled on a rerun of the county commissioners’ meeting of Aug.17 on Channel 16, picking it up just as a commissioner observed, with a hint of discontent, that “we have been discussing this for 1 hour and 5 minutes.” The “this” in this case was the holiday light show. The discussion nonetheless, continued unabated for an additional 20-30 minutes. I was transfixed.
I do not believe I have ever seen a more educational clinic in the sophisticated individual use of esoteric and bureaucratic communication in the display of passive/aggressive behavior. The attack on the light show appeared, in fact, a personal vendetta. Tapes of the meeting should be distributed widely as an instructional medium.
While this exhibition was entertaining in a perverse way, I would hope, anticipate and expect that our elected representatives drop such petty obstructionism in the future and employ their governmental energies in more productive stewarship of your and my tax resources.
ó D. Robert Trundle
Salisbury
Cyclists, please use lights
I am 16 years old and, according to my mom, dad and nana, I am a good driver.
The other evening just after dark, I was driving my nana’s car and had a really scary experience. We were headed down N.C. 150, and my nana said, “Watch out for that person on a bicycle just ahead of us.” What person, I thought, and where?
Then I saw two tiny reflectors on the back wheel, and that was all I could see. The person was in darkness. I slowed down and pulled over closer to the center line and told my nana, “Now I understand why you get upset with bike riders who you can’t see in the dark.”
The bikes need more reflectors on them ó a head light would be great. All I know is, I couldn’t see him. Who do I contact to talk with about how to change this situation? Somebody shouldn’t get hit or die before this becomes important.
ó Michael Winecoff
Salisbury