Re: Birmingham cheating: Artilce #4 - Blaming the Victims

[Anne Nonniemouse <ShopMathEdu@AOL.COM>]

In a message dated 6/17/00 8:44:02 PM Central Daylight Time,
Allen.Flanigan@USPTO.GOV writes:

<< I cannot understand why the newspaper reporters will not honor a request
for
 anonymity for minors, particularly since as you point out they will be
 risking much if they come forward publicly and are named in a newspaper.....
 I think you could have the
 board member who originally raised the issue put out a statement saying she
 has met and talked with the students who were pushed out and their families,
 and has seen the dismissal slips they received, and is convinced that the
 explanation offered in the article is certainly not representative of all
 the affected students, if it indeed does have any veracity at all.
  Allen F. >>

Dear Allen:
Thank you for taking the time to help us think this through and offer us some
alternative suggestions.  The Board member has been out to our site and
reviewed the files of these students.  She has shown the media copies of the
withdrawal slips (with the names and social security number removed), as well
as statements (without names) initialed by the students which link their
withdrawals to the administration of the SAT9s.  The TV has at least shown
that these documents exist.  So far the Board has responded by "leaking" a
statement to the newspapers alleging that I released unauthorized official
school documents and insinuates that I am in violation of some rule.

I do not want to bring any further turmoil into the lives of these young
people so anonymity seems the route to go for now.  Getting pushed out of
school was just one more catastrophe in these students' lives.  Now, we've
been able to interest some of them in continuing their education.  I fear
that the news media would be ruthless enough to  ask these students
humiliating questions as to whether or not they started fires or fights in
the hallways (which would really stigmatize the students).  I don't want them
exposed to any further negative pressure or stress.  If they decide to make a
statement on their own, that would be their own business.  However, as long
as they are relying on me for leadership and protection, I have no intention
of exposing them to the media.  They have lives to pick up and live.

Eventually, I think that we will get our point across.  Meanwhile, we will
endure the vilification, mudslinging, and lies.  When the dust settles, the
problem will still face the BOE and the facts and truth will remain the same.

Although we may not agree on tactics, I am very appreciative of all of the
feedback which this list offers because we need to consider every single
option and then do what is best based upon the time, place, and conditions
which we live and work under in Birmingham.

Please let us continue to hear from you.

Yours, from Birmingham, AL

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