By now, you’ve all seen the email or heard the news that the O’Shields’ contracts are not being renewed. I must admit that I have been one of the unhappy parents who has watched as other parents have stated their unhappiness with the way the school has been run since Principal Penn was hired, yet I have stayed silent. I have watched as good families, good teachers and good administrators have been asked/forced to leave.
I have seen Mrs. Penn intimidate parents and teachers, and brush off claims of bullying. I have seen the erosion of our school, our parish and our community, and I haven’t done anything. For that, I am truly sorry. I was afraid that my actions would somehow affect my children’s life and education so I stayed silent. Somehow I thought that there was justification somewhere and that the people who I trusted to guide my children’s education and their moral and ethical direction were well intentioned.
We’ve all had moments when we’ve been annoyed by Mrs. Penn. Sometimes we’ve been dumbfounded or irritated by her. Sometimes I understand that she has to make difficult decisions and other times I am not certain about the agenda behind those decisions. But I’ve kept my mouth shut as I watched her get rid of people who have challenged her: Mr. Pendleton, the Troncoso family, the Sosa family, and probably many others. And now she wants to get rid of the O’Shields. Who will be next? Think of your favorite teacher at the school. Do you want to wait until they are told to leave too or you?
I’m no longer willing to watch as friends and teachers are forced out of the school because they don’t agree with Mrs. Penn. I don’t think I can sit by as laws are broken, just because I’m afraid to speak up. I have trusted our school board, I have trusted our pastor to do the right thing; and time and time again I have been disappointed.
This is the last straw.
Here is what I know of the situation.
1. From what I understand, a child in the seventh grade has been caught bullying others, and behaving inappropriately. He is just a 7th grader and not completely at fault here. I understand that he has not just bullied one child, but I have been told that many children, girls and boys have been bullied, both through direct contact and through the internet. This email does not involve the bully, but nonetheless I am not going to accept this behavior. Normally I would trust our school to handle the matter.
2. However, when the issue was not properly addressed by both Principal Penn and Father Bob, the parents had no other choice but to bring the issue to the attention of the Superintendant and the Bishop of the Archdiocese. This is not rumor or gossip. This is documented in a letter sent from Principal Penn to the parents of the seventh grade. While it was poorly written and extremely general with “the intention to protect the children” it was obviously a veiled threat to other parents not to bring any matters above the authority of the pastor and principal.
3. The amazing thing is that if our school was a public school, these actions and steps by Mrs. Penn would be found to be entirely illegal. The fact that we are in a Catholic school, and there is still bullying occurring is unbelievable. One would think that a Catholic school would be held to a higher standard, and expect that such actions would never occur; unfortunately I have been disappointed. In a public school, this would be a violation of Florida Statute 1006.147, better known as Jeffery’s law. A copy of this law is located at: http://faptflorida.org/MidYearHandouts09/Safe%20Schools%2020090302%20Law%20Against%20Bullying_Rumenik.pdf. The law was named after Jeffery Johnston, a bright energetic boy who took his own life based upon the actions of a bully and the inactions of the school. Here are some excerpts:
· “Bullying or harassment of any student or employee of a public K-12educational institution is prohibited”
· “Retaliation against a student or school employee by another student or school employee for asserting or alleging an act of bullying or harassment. Reporting an act of bullying or harassment that is not made in good faith is considered retaliation”
4. The O’Shields--both Coach O’Shields and Mrs. O’Shields--were told that their employment contracts would not be renewed. I do not want to get into other people’s business but -- I feel as though these people who have committed their lives to our school and our community deserve defending. I know their child was not bullying people. Doesn’t it seem odd that after almost 10 years of serving our school that both of their contracts were not renewed at the same time? Why would parents of a seventh grader find that they were being asked to leave the school? Please refer to bullet 2 paragraph 3.
5. Unfortunately, as many of us in the loop have found out, if you cross the wrong people by speaking up, you will simply be asked/forced to leave the school! Why can’t we have a board of education, a pastor, and a principal who are focused on the rights of parents, teachers and children? Why can’t we work to make a better school together? How and when did we get to the point that we as parents are dictated to, in a manner of “it is my way or the highway”, when it comes to the welfare of our children, our community our parish and our school?
6. As for the O’Shield’s, I can imagine that their only crimes are: 1) Trying to improve the school they love, and 2) defending a child’s welfare. Should they lose their jobs? Should their family be driven into financial turmoil? Should their children lose their school and their friends? What Catholic lesson does this teach??? Who made this decision, and what example are they trying to demonstrate?
7. I know that most of you don’t need a history lesson in all the issues that have occurred in the school. I know that most of you want change and are finally willing to say: “Enough is enough!”
8. I am ready to fight, but I am not going to tell you what should be done. I am not going to create more issues, because I love this school, and my children love this school. Since my children are so important to me, I only hope that this does not affect them.
9. We cannot sit back as good Catholics and allow this to happen any longer; I feel that our faith requires our action.
10. Please keep in mind: “The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict...” -- Friedrich Nietzsche
11. I have set-up a BLOG so that all of you can come up with solutions. I think that WE need to resolve this issue together. I know that the current situation and the current environment are unacceptable. I know that this will affect enrollment and cost each of you more in tuition. (I say this because if I am not able to appeal to your moral compass, perhaps I can appeal to your wallets.)
12. Perhaps we can find a solution that will help to save our school, our parish, our community and our collective conscience. Please log on to the blog at: http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=326507699095459358 and post your opinions.
13. Some have called for Principal Penn’s resignation. I am not certain whether this is heated comment or many are serious action. I consider the termination of any person a serious matter. For this reason I have also setup a petition that solicits your opinion bon the O’Shields. I know that this decision is going to be justified based upon budget cuts, and those issues need to be addressed but this is not the issue for the O’Shields.
14. I know that many have fought the good fight and fought it alone, and lost. I hope that if we move for improvements in our school that I and everyone who wants change supports the other.
15. The address for the petition is at this address: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/oshields
Thanks for your attention to this and yes I too agree I wish this wasn’t necessary.
John Shine
I have seen Mrs. Penn intimidate parents and teachers, and brush off claims of bullying. I have seen the erosion of our school, our parish and our community, and I haven’t done anything. For that, I am truly sorry. I was afraid that my actions would somehow affect my children’s life and education so I stayed silent. Somehow I thought that there was justification somewhere and that the people who I trusted to guide my children’s education and their moral and ethical direction were well intentioned.
We’ve all had moments when we’ve been annoyed by Mrs. Penn. Sometimes we’ve been dumbfounded or irritated by her. Sometimes I understand that she has to make difficult decisions and other times I am not certain about the agenda behind those decisions. But I’ve kept my mouth shut as I watched her get rid of people who have challenged her: Mr. Pendleton, the Troncoso family, the Sosa family, and probably many others. And now she wants to get rid of the O’Shields. Who will be next? Think of your favorite teacher at the school. Do you want to wait until they are told to leave too or you?
I’m no longer willing to watch as friends and teachers are forced out of the school because they don’t agree with Mrs. Penn. I don’t think I can sit by as laws are broken, just because I’m afraid to speak up. I have trusted our school board, I have trusted our pastor to do the right thing; and time and time again I have been disappointed.
This is the last straw.
Here is what I know of the situation.
1. From what I understand, a child in the seventh grade has been caught bullying others, and behaving inappropriately. He is just a 7th grader and not completely at fault here. I understand that he has not just bullied one child, but I have been told that many children, girls and boys have been bullied, both through direct contact and through the internet. This email does not involve the bully, but nonetheless I am not going to accept this behavior. Normally I would trust our school to handle the matter.
2. However, when the issue was not properly addressed by both Principal Penn and Father Bob, the parents had no other choice but to bring the issue to the attention of the Superintendant and the Bishop of the Archdiocese. This is not rumor or gossip. This is documented in a letter sent from Principal Penn to the parents of the seventh grade. While it was poorly written and extremely general with “the intention to protect the children” it was obviously a veiled threat to other parents not to bring any matters above the authority of the pastor and principal.
3. The amazing thing is that if our school was a public school, these actions and steps by Mrs. Penn would be found to be entirely illegal. The fact that we are in a Catholic school, and there is still bullying occurring is unbelievable. One would think that a Catholic school would be held to a higher standard, and expect that such actions would never occur; unfortunately I have been disappointed. In a public school, this would be a violation of Florida Statute 1006.147, better known as Jeffery’s law. A copy of this law is located at: http://faptflorida.org/MidYearHandouts09/Safe%20Schools%2020090302%20Law%20Against%20Bullying_Rumenik.pdf. The law was named after Jeffery Johnston, a bright energetic boy who took his own life based upon the actions of a bully and the inactions of the school. Here are some excerpts:
· “Bullying or harassment of any student or employee of a public K-12educational institution is prohibited”
· “Retaliation against a student or school employee by another student or school employee for asserting or alleging an act of bullying or harassment. Reporting an act of bullying or harassment that is not made in good faith is considered retaliation”
4. The O’Shields--both Coach O’Shields and Mrs. O’Shields--were told that their employment contracts would not be renewed. I do not want to get into other people’s business but -- I feel as though these people who have committed their lives to our school and our community deserve defending. I know their child was not bullying people. Doesn’t it seem odd that after almost 10 years of serving our school that both of their contracts were not renewed at the same time? Why would parents of a seventh grader find that they were being asked to leave the school? Please refer to bullet 2 paragraph 3.
5. Unfortunately, as many of us in the loop have found out, if you cross the wrong people by speaking up, you will simply be asked/forced to leave the school! Why can’t we have a board of education, a pastor, and a principal who are focused on the rights of parents, teachers and children? Why can’t we work to make a better school together? How and when did we get to the point that we as parents are dictated to, in a manner of “it is my way or the highway”, when it comes to the welfare of our children, our community our parish and our school?
6. As for the O’Shield’s, I can imagine that their only crimes are: 1) Trying to improve the school they love, and 2) defending a child’s welfare. Should they lose their jobs? Should their family be driven into financial turmoil? Should their children lose their school and their friends? What Catholic lesson does this teach??? Who made this decision, and what example are they trying to demonstrate?
7. I know that most of you don’t need a history lesson in all the issues that have occurred in the school. I know that most of you want change and are finally willing to say: “Enough is enough!”
8. I am ready to fight, but I am not going to tell you what should be done. I am not going to create more issues, because I love this school, and my children love this school. Since my children are so important to me, I only hope that this does not affect them.
9. We cannot sit back as good Catholics and allow this to happen any longer; I feel that our faith requires our action.
10. Please keep in mind: “The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict...” -- Friedrich Nietzsche
11. I have set-up a BLOG so that all of you can come up with solutions. I think that WE need to resolve this issue together. I know that the current situation and the current environment are unacceptable. I know that this will affect enrollment and cost each of you more in tuition. (I say this because if I am not able to appeal to your moral compass, perhaps I can appeal to your wallets.)
12. Perhaps we can find a solution that will help to save our school, our parish, our community and our collective conscience. Please log on to the blog at: http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=326507699095459358 and post your opinions.
13. Some have called for Principal Penn’s resignation. I am not certain whether this is heated comment or many are serious action. I consider the termination of any person a serious matter. For this reason I have also setup a petition that solicits your opinion bon the O’Shields. I know that this decision is going to be justified based upon budget cuts, and those issues need to be addressed but this is not the issue for the O’Shields.
14. I know that many have fought the good fight and fought it alone, and lost. I hope that if we move for improvements in our school that I and everyone who wants change supports the other.
15. The address for the petition is at this address: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/oshields
Thanks for your attention to this and yes I too agree I wish this wasn’t necessary.
John Shine
In our opinion ,there should be a zero tolerance for bullying ESPECIALLY in a Christian environment.
ReplyDeleteWe also understand that there was a more serious incident that took place during school hours some weeks ago that if true went far and beyond simple bullying.
Folks. This is our school and unless I'm mistaken, the principle and teachers work for us. Even the hint that some families have been bullied and perhaps run off is completely unacceptable. We're now if fear of our school's administration should we voice our concerns? Wake up people!
I hope that you have your children enrolled at ES because you know the real value of a Christian education. For many of us it is a huge financial burden and one that we gladly bear. However, is it possible that many of us have allowed ourselves to fall into the trap that just because our children are in a Christian environment we assume that all is well? I certainly don't mean this to come across as an elitist statement but I know that most of us are probably more involved in our kid's lives than many. But apparently that's not enough and we're missing something. Are we all too busy to take notice or do we just assume that should an issue arise it will be addressed as we would like it to be addressed.
There is apparently a group of parents that meet to discuss textbooks and perhaps curriculum for the upcoming school year. But my understanding is that this happens after the textbooks have already been purchased. What's the point? Shouldn't this be happening prior to a purchasing commitment? What happens if there is objection from some of the parents? Too late. Would the books simply be returned?
I am guilty of also not making this enough of a priority to answer much differently.
Much like our government and elected officials, if we simply stand on the sidelines as interested but unengaged observers, we deserve what we get.