Boos and bouquets (mostly boos) for the Wake school board

And the letters about Wake County schools keep rolling in. We've gotten way more than we can print, although you will find school letters on tomorrow's Other Opinion page and in Sunday Forum this Sunday. In the meantime, here are more than 30 more.

At the Community Engagement meeting at Panther Creek on Thursday, school board Chairman Ron Margiotta cut off people who tried to speak to the issue of diversity, saying that the meeting was only about calendar options.

Interestingly, speakers (a dozen? more?) were not cut off when addressing the board on a high school reassignment issue, which is also not a calendar issue. Good for them! When my turn came, I asked the chairman when forums would be held for people to speak to diversity, if not at these meetings. Margiotta replied that this issue could be addressed at regular board meetings on Tuesdays (Afternoons. During the work day. During afterschool activities.)

The board did allow me to speak at the very end of the forum, which I appreciate. My question remains unanswered, however, and I respectfully ask again: When will the board meet the community, around the county, at times and places convenient to attend, where interested parties can speak to the important and countywide issue of diversity in Wake County Public Schools?

Sally Bloom
Raleigh

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Although research has shown that a lack of diversity is detrimental to the education of the economically disadvantaged, I cannot personally speak to that. However, I know firsthand how diversity can impact the life of a middle class kid from Cary.

As a product of WCPSS, first at Martin, and later at Enloe, I was exposed to students from very different backgrounds than myself. In high school I took this diversity for granted. However, as I grow older, I realize how important this diversity has been to my academic and professional success.  

In graduate school, my faculty and peers represented a multitude of cultures and nationalities. Professionally, I work daily with a team of coworkers from Europe, Asia and South America. Studying and interacting with people from diverse backgrounds has allowed me to communicate across cultures and to work toward our common goals.

As we move toward an increasingly global economy, it is critical that we prepare Wake County’s students to be competitive in a diverse environment. The ability of our children to succeed in an ever-shrinking world will be directly correlated to their level of interaction with people from outside their own neighborhoods.

Rebecca Mayhew
Raleigh

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I support of the diversity policy for Wake County. I see firsthand how it’s working at the elementary level, as a magnet parent at Powell GT Magnet Elementary.

I’m in the schools and very involved in the classrooms and PTA. Powell has an over 50 percent lower socioeconomic population, and it scares me to think of what would happen if the diversity policy is removed. Day to day, I work with young children who are starved for attention at home, among many other problems. I walk in the school and can’t tell you how many hugs I get from these children before I make it to a classroom. I enjoy reading, encouraging and just listening to these children.

My children are so blessed to have the great friends they have at Powell. They value the things that are important: friends, diversity and helping one another. I want to help the school board and all those parents in support of “neighborhood schools” to think about the children who are most benefiting from this nationally renowned program. Build a community, enrich all children and protect what’s working – not for my children (because they will do well anywhere), but for those children who deserve an equal chance, but have so much against them.

Dawn Thompson
Raleigh

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I keep reading about all the reasons to keep the diversity program for Wake County Public Schools. Jim Goodmon, CEO of Capitol Broadcasting, is even quoted as saying “diversity is a core community value, and we are just suggesting that everybody think about it.”

What nobody thinks or talks about is how this program is a huge negative for many students involved. My 5-year-old daughter will be entering kindergarten next year. We want her to go to a year-round school, but the problem is my daughter will have to spend at least 10 hours a week riding a bus. If she could go to the year-round school that is considered our “neighborhood school,” her travel time would be less than one hour for the whole week.

Our school system needs to offer its students the least restrictive learning environment and to provide and enhance their academic and social strengths. How can spending 10 hours a week riding a bus be a positive to a student’s well-being? That time could be spent doing sporting activities, being outside, reading books or doing other social activities that kids love to do.

This is a huge reason why we need to go in the direction of neighborhood schools. I know that there many groups or individuals that say that neighborhood schools are not fair to low-income children. It’s also not right that the families who pay a higher amount in taxes that support our school system have their children penalized by busing them all over town.

The voters spoke and a board favoring neighborhood schools was elected. The time is now for change so a new system needs to be put in place favoring neighborhood schools. With the money saved in busing expenses, it could be applied to schools that are considered in low-income areas so no school gets left behind.

Mike Onthank
Raleigh

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I am a graduate of Wake County schools, and on Thursday night my wife and I attended the school board public forum in Cary to voice our strong support for the county’s longstanding and successful socioeconomic diversity program. We arrived an hour early to register for two minutes of public speaking time.

Local news had reported that the diversity program would be on the agenda, but as soon as one of the first speakers spoke in support of the program, the person was reprimanded by Chairman Ron Margiotta and told that the event was to discuss only calendar choices and that the diversity program should be reserved for daytime board meetings only.

This was a complete double standard. Many of the speakers had no issue with calendar choice, complaining instead about redistricting. I heard the phrase neighborhood schools uttered hundreds of times, and the term diversity used dismissively several times. Despite going off the agenda, none of these speakers was chastised by the chairman, but I and other diversity advocates were shouted down by Margiotta when we attempted to voice our opinions.

Ultimately, we were allowed to speak at the end of the event, but by then nearly everyone had left.

Andrew Fuller
Durham

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I am a retired assistant state superintendent in the Department of Public Instruction.

The resignation of Superintendent Del Burns from the Wake County School System is a noticeable evaluation of the direction the five-member school board is taking. Dr. Burns is a respected educator who may place among his accomplishments the national reputation of the Wake County Public School System. The five-member school board will get the credit for this debilitating decision.

Four members of the school board were elected as new members in November by a minority of voters in separate districts. It is apparent that they, as well as one member already on the board, do not represent a majority of the people in Wake County. Publicity given to their plans, if accomplished, will dismantle the school system. Except for using the vague term “neighborhood schools” no explanation has been given by the five-member school board as to the effect of these plans on the quality of student learning or as to cost. Both issues appear to be essential and substantial.

The election of these board members was accompanied by the entrance of political money in what was heretofore a nonpartisan election. No better example can be given for the need for public financing of political campaigns. The education of children and young people ought not to be subjected to political bias.

Electing school board members at-large has the virtue of discouraging candidates who have one or two issues and little else.

Charles H Weaver, Ph.D.
Raleigh

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It is a sad state of affairs in Wake County education when the superintendent resigns from his position over differences with the school board majority. Here is a man who through a long and dedicated career in education understands that reverting to neighborhood schools, a position much espoused by the new school board majority, really means destroying the many years of building an excellent school infrastructure.

A model system, which compared with the majority of states in the country, has an excellent scorecard. Sure, there is some tweaking to be done, but the message from parents is loud and clear: We support the diversity policy. If you read the papers, the recent school assignment survey and attend the public comment period at the school board meetings, this message is reinforced time and time again.

The new direction the board is taking us is a distraction from where our focus should be: continuing to support our children at home and in our schools. It is a huge disservice the board has brought down on this county. The board needs to drop its political agenda and let us all return to focusing on the children.

Aranzazu Lascurain
Raleigh

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With regard to “Burns may be forced out early," since when is it a crime to voice an opionion? Burns has every right to state how he feels about the direction of the board. I would have been disappointed had he not, especially with a resignation attached. Sounds like board member John Tedesco and his playmates don’t do well in the sandbox with those who have differing opinions.

Has anyone not read the survey results? Tedesco was quoted in an article that he felt the survey results were skewed (not in the majority’s favor, by the way) because parents were tired of making changes. That’s a pretty large assumption. Is the board majority not proposing multiple changes for Wake County? The survey questions and results speak for themselves. Where there are problem areas, address those problem areas – don’t cause massive upheaval just because a small population in the county wants a few changes.

When will the board get down to business and work effectively on ways to improve our children’s educational experience?

Lori Janezic
Raleigh

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I might agree with your editorial position regarding the Wake County school situation if all Wake County students were doing well scholastically. Unfortunately this is not the case.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District had better test results among the at-risk children classified in the NCLB Report Card as Black, Hispanic, ED (Economically Disadvantaged) and LEP (Limited English Proficiency). The white, Asian and NED (Not Economically Disadvantaged) children are doing well in Wake and that appears to be what you consider important.

Has anyone considered sending the 50 best teachers to poorly performing schools rather than busing many thousands of children away from poorly performing schools? Excellent teachers would improve school performance and save the state all that busing money, and all parents would be able to interact with the teachers in their neighborhood. Lifting the charter school cap is an even better and cheaper solution and would secure us hundreds of millions of dollars in federal Race to the Top grants.

Tom Hauck
Pittsboro

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Having a diverse student body in our schools is extremely important for everyone. Wake County is home to a very diverse population, and our schools should try to reflect this. Diversity is an asset that we have in Wake County. Our children have the chance to go to school and learn alongside, with and from other children from all over the world, from various socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnic and religious backgrounds, and with children simply from other neighborhoods.

If we truly want to educate our children to be global leaders then we need to give them opportunities to meet and work with students from all backgrounds. This will enable them to learn how to work with and appreciate people from all walks of life and will hopefully make them more open-minded and successful members of society.

Sarah Luginbuhl
Raleigh

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Superintendent Del Burns is a fine educator. He was principal at Washington Elementary, a magnet school in a tough part of town that nurtured and educated our two children and countless others from all around the county, including Cary, Apex and North Raleigh. He knew their names and the children went to him with problems. Burns knew what he was doing back then. He knows what he is doing now. The new board members should listen to him, rather than vilify him, because his insights are professional and aren’t skewed by the emotion of politics and an “I’m in charge” mentality.

Estes Thompson
Raleigh

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The citizens of Wake County elected a new majority on the school board, a majority that vowed to forge a new direction for Wake County schools, implicitly and explicitly criticizing its current direction. The leader of the Wake County Schools, Superintendent Del Burns, resigned rather than wait to be fired.

The new board is outraged (shocked, shocked) by this insubordinate turn of events. Dr. Burns took a measured and thoughtful position by resigning and clearly stating his reasons for doing so. Rather than leaving the students of Wake County in the lurch, he indicated a willingness to remain in his position until the end of the school year.

The school board now must decide whether to allow Dr. Burns to remain in his position or cut him loose and replace him in the short term – how? For those who came in to office opposing Wacky Wednesday, it seems like every day has become Wacky Wednesday and then some.

I hope that the new board will be true to its mission and keep the children of Wake County first in its deliberations and actions. I hope the people of Wake County are watching.

Gail Till
Raleigh

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Our Wake County Board of Education has quite a few issues that have far-reaching consequences for our children and for our towns. I would like to address two of these issues that I ask the board to give urgent consideration:

My first issue is the vote to eliminate the Early Dismissal schedule for Professional Learning Teams that took place in December. This innovative method of collaboration was given considerable research and thought for its implementation. Three weeks ago at the Board of Education meeting, a woman spoke giving you much research that supports Professional Learning Teams. When clearly understood, the time spent on these teams allows teachers to share their expertise and consequently apply this directly to help our children. I ask the board to reconsider its decision on Early Dismissal.

My second issue is the board’s position on magnet schools. While no system is perfect, we have always been proud and thankful for the education provided by the Wake County Public School System. It is the board’s job to review and revise what works and what doesn’t work, but I ask that the baby not be thrown out with the bath water. Yes, we need to assess our schools, their programs, allow parents choices and provide stability to families. But please let us keep our award-winning magnet school programs as they are and where they are currently located! Academically, these schools are sound, and culturally they provide us with the rich environment that allows us to work with, to understand and to enjoy all cultures. This is not social-engineering – this is social enrichment!

Listen to your many magnet high school students who at current board meetings have spoken so eloquently about how they have benefitted by their magnet school education. Listen to your parents whose survey says the majority are satisfied. Listen to your veteran board members whose past dedication and expertise has built an award-winning school System. Listen to our current superintendent, who has made a very poignant statement by his resignation. His vision, expertise and leadership, as did Bill McNeal’s before him, have created a school system that is the model for other cities and towns.

And did I mention listen to teachers? Have we even asked our teachers? Our teachers are the first line with our children and have the most intimate knowledge as to what is working and what is not working in our schools. A few of our teachers have spoken at the neighborhood meetings, and they have supported our magnet schools.

Having the choice for diversity – both culturally and economically – in our magnet schools not only makes our children richer, but also educates and enriches the lives of us as adults as well!

Betsy Lovejoy
Former public school teacher
Cary

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I have to ask: What is the driving force behind the Wake County school board? Is it the education of our young people or their egos? So the superintendent says he is leaving because he differs from the ideology of the current board. Perhaps instead of acting liked spoiled brats who want their way or no way and spending time and money on buying him out, the board should sit down and figure out how to give Wake County students the best education possible!

Margaret Griffith
Raleigh

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Debra Goldman, chairwoman of the Policy Committee of the Wake County Board of Education, wants to replace her Board Advisory Committee, even though she is thrilled with them. Why wouldn t she want to replace them? I absolutely adore my children, but I can easily see the benefits of replacing them with children who are in favor of my sugar limits policy and who support my notions of what a clean room should look like. It is far more convenient to hand select new advisers who will forward your agenda than to be forced to consider the opinions of an opposing viewpoint.

All the controversy that has surrounded the board s recent actions has only served to highlight the fact that we are very divided. Although new members have been elected by the majority of voters in their individual districts, the decisions that they make affect every student, parent and taxpaying resident of Wake County. They have claimed that they are prepared to listen, but it would be an empty gesture if they give themselves the power to appoint the opinions they want to hear. It is imperative that the board does not accept Goldman s recommendation.

Amy Kurz
Raleigh

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As a product of Wake County public schools and as an employee of a large public school district in a neighboring state, I can say with heartfelt certainty that some of my core beliefs were shaped by the education provided to me in the public school system of my beloved hometown.

To say that attending a neighborhood school somehow assures that a child receives a quality education illustrates a limited viewpoint as to the true value and purpose of education. Riding on a bus did not damage me. Going to school with students from other parts of Raleigh did not place me in harm’s way. In fact, it made me realize that the world I live in is complex and that the people across town are valuable to the fabric of this wonderful city.

As Thomas Friedman has told us, the world is flat. As the clock ticks, Haitians suffer and soldiers in the Middle East die or are injured. Simply put, how can we teach children to be citizens of the world if they never even learn to work with and respect the citizens of their own city?

Art Raymond
Richmond, Va.

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It is truly surprising to see so many rising up to defend Del Burns. He inherited a failing system from Bill McNeal and failed to turn it around. If he cannot recognize the failures, he would have continued to resist necessary change.

For years we were told the graduation rate was 95 percent until the realistic counting method mandated in the No Child Left Behind Act disclosed the rate to be about 83 percent. In fact, since the new measurements became effective in 2006, the graduation rate has fallen to its current level of 78.4 percent. It is obvious Burns was not going to achieve the targeted 100 percent by 2014. No wonder he decided to leave.

According to the N.C. Schools report cards Web site, the 2008-09 four-year high school overall graduation rate in Wake County was 78.4 percent. For white kids it was 89.4 percent and for black kids 63.4 percent. Statewide the graduation rates were 77.7 percent for white children and 63.2 percent for black. So Wake betters the state average by almost 12 percent for whites, but only 0.2 percent for blacks.

The old school board chose to make this a debate on Economic Diversity rather than race. Here the results are worse. In Wake the four-year grad rates for Economically Disadvantaged (ED) kids was 54.2 percent versus the state average of 61.8 percent. So, for the ED kids Wake is 7.6 points behind the state average.

Much has been said regarding the Wake County Schools Diversity Plan. The debate has degenerated into a discussion about possible resegregation. Many so-called community leaders chose to show off their leadership by making this an argument about politics or race. The real question should be: How successful has the plan been and are the kids really benefiting?

Clearly, under either the race or economic diversity argument, what had been done for years is not working. Black and Economically Disadvantaged children are still being left behind.

Surely we can do better. The new school board deserves a chance to look for a better way to educate all the kids. Get the argument back where it belongs. What’s best for the kids? The kids need a superintendent willing to make the hard choices and willing to change failing policies.

Anthony Pecoraro
Raleigh

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I am a parent of two children in the Wake County school system. My children attend school at York Elementary, and I have been pleased with their education and with the fact that most of the children in our neighborhood go to the school. The concept of neighborhood schools is one that I am in favor of and harkens back to a simpler time when I was growing up.

However, the behavior of the new school board members angers and dismays me. They appear discourteous, rude and impulsive. In particular, John Tedesco’s actions and words are abhorrent, especially his comments about Superintendent, Del Burns. His comment that, “If he’s going to go out kicking and screaming, I’m not going to settle for it,” is obnoxious. Who does Tedesco think he is? He is entitled to his opinions, but I would certainly like to see some respect for other board members and, in particular, a superintendent who has served Wake County schools so well over the years.

Jeffrey Kuller
Raleigh

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As a former Raleigh City councillor, I was stunned when former City Manager Dempsey Benton abruptly resigned. There was no warning or cause. All of a sudden Raleigh found itself scrambling for a manager.

Upon reflection, I never knew where Benton landed on the politics of the day. I have a feeling he was not 100 percent on board with the conservative City Council. However, Benton worked successfully – and with a great deal of class – for both liberal and conservative councils to further Raleigh.

To the contrary, Del Burns should not be made a martyr by his resignation. With his statements, Burns demonstrated a lack of leadership and open spirit to the needs of the students of Wake County.

Burns should have taken a play from Dempsey Benton’s handbook.

Marc Scruggs, M.Ed.
Raleigh

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School superintendent Del Burns serves Wake County with dedication, honor and distinction. Because five rightwing partisans have hijacked the school board, he understandably cannot in good conscience be their pawn.

However, the partisans are shamefully increasing the partisanship. In the tradition of one-party rule seen in countries such as China, John Tedesco and the other Republicans on the board seek to purge those who do not fully conform to their ideological beliefs.

Worse, however, is that these partisans are completely unable to respond to criticism with other than talking points. They are on a fact-free path to opening racial divides that have taken decades to close. They are at the beck and call of Russell Capps, Art Pope and the rightwing political apparatus.

The success of Wakes schools is why many businesses and people have until now chosen to come and stay here. Republicans are using the school system as a tour de force for social engineering to suit a very small minority of some (not all!) white suburban voters, at the expense (both financial and educational) of the greater good of the community as a whole.

Henry Frey
Raleigh

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For people who claim to be fiscal conservatives, new Board of Education members are being pretty reckless with our tax dollars– $15 million and counting. $15 million would fund more than 300 teachers for every school in the county, teachers who could provide enrichment classes like foreign languages, and basic classes like Algebra I, or literacy tutoring. Or teachers who could provide classes for students while other teachers were collaborating on student achievement in Professional Learning Teams. Plenty of research shows that teachers are the key ingredient in a school for student success.

Board members campaigned on a promise to improve student achievement. Seems like it was an empty promise.

Patricia Pilarinos
Raleigh

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I hate to burst the bubble of those who believe Wake County Schools reassigned students for diversity. The purpose is to produce false academic growth. Schools that need to have improvement have students at or above grade level transferred in. An equal number below grade level are assigned to several schools to prevent these schools from being negatively affected.

Need proof? Graduation rates have not improved for minorities. No data have been produced to show the below grade students have improved. It exists. If the policy is so effective, I would think they would be happy to provide evidence.

Mike Cash
Cary

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The four new Wake County school board members were swept into office supposedly because the previous board was unresponsive and parents wanted school choice. Only two of the mid-term board members and one of the new members have any experience in public school education. I have two daughters in public school, am independent politically, and am an engineer and a scientist. Therefore, to be accountable to this parent, the school board would have to do two things to address the grievances above.

First, they would have to post prominently on the WCPSS Web site published case studies and peer-reviewed research articles that support both their complaints and their solutions. Second, the board would have to give every student the choice of attending a diverse magnet school, a year-round school or a community school. Doing so should satisfy every parent, and the true make-up of public opinion would be obvious.

The board should be spending its resources to hire education experts and good teachers before hiring lawyers. They should be praised or held responsible and accountable for life for the positive or negative consequences that result. I expect competence and facts, not political influence, common sense or opinion.

Richard Spencer
Raleigh

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I am appalled to say that our state has chosen to blatantly disregard our fundamental right to an education with recent staffing cuts to the schools for the deaf and blind. These cuts will herd the schools closer to closing their doors, during which students would be subjected to one of two inevitable options: first, extremely small regional schools where the population of students may not surpass single digits, or second, the students may be catapulted into mainstream schools with dwindling deaf/blind peers.

Article IX, Section 2 of the N.C. Constitution explicitly states that all children will receive an equal opportunity at education. Equal opportunity, two simple words that are lost in the vocabulary of the officials making these inhumane cuts. With decreased funding, we as a society have dubbed this small, yet vibrant population of U.S. citizens as an exception to the statute encouraging education. The very last place to make budget cuts is education, especially to these unique schools.

Brandi Wilkes
Greenville

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While reading a book of Mark Twain quotations, I stumbled upon this one:
In the first place God made idiots. This was for practice. Then He made School Boards.

Ed Brown
Raleigh

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Regarding the article “ Wake diversity policy stays for now”: It is encouraging to see attempts at consensus as the Board of Education examined the Assignment Policy. Board Member Keith Sutton developed a compromise for changes to the policy, and Policy Committee Chair Debra Goldman led attempts to conduct thorough study of a complicated issue. I do not see this as obstructionist, as it’s been called, but rather as recognition that the policy is complicated and its purpose matters.

The current Assignment Policy that includes maintaining diverse student populations in our schools is a reason test scores rose by double-digits over 10 years from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s. Student achievement has stalled, but we’ve experienced economic slowdowns, drastic cuts in mental health dollars, and explosive growth – adding 3,000 to 6,000 students each year. WCPSS has opened 48 schools in 10 years – lack of continuity is cause for concern.

Yes, we need stability, but the Board of Education cannot turn students away or stop the influx of students into our county. It’s constructive that the current board is forging cooperative work with the county’s mayors and leaders to address these issues.

Christine Kushner
Raleigh

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I am a Raleigh native, and I went through the magnet program at Ligon Middle School and Enloe High School. Through the magnet program, I was able to excel in subjects offered only in the magnet schools – particularly in the outstanding classical choirs that Ligon and especially Enloe had (and still have today). I discovered a love of classical music that I might have never found if I had not been able to sing Mozart and Beethoven in Enloe’s Chamber Choir.

I also wanted to take part in the advanced academic opportunities offered at Enloe because I felt it would better prepare me for college and life beyond college. Because I had a choice in what school I went to, I was able to go to a school that had programs that spoke to my talents.

Now my daughter is just beginning her academic career as a magnet student in kindergarten in Wake County, and I am very saddened and disturbed that the new members of the school board want to make such sweeping changes without taking the time needed to study the effects of those changes.

Sarah Luginbuhl
Raleigh

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It is very hard to watch the dismantling of the Wake County school system that I and so many school children back in 1976 helped change!

As a white female who was bused from Lake Wheeler Road and a Cary school to be sent to downtown Raleigh was crazy. Mind you, I had never been past Hudson Belk or Krispy Kreme, and this didn’t set well with me, but my parents said it’s for the good of all children and you know they were right!!

Ligon Junion High was one of the best things that ever happend to me! Kids from all over Raleigh came together for a cause that we need to protect now more than ever!

I now have an 18-year-old daughter who was educated by the Wake County schools who now attends one of our fine state universities and is on the deans list. I have one more daughter yet to graduate. Please don’t take away from these kids what they really need in life to suceed: diversity in education not separation!

We really did something good in 1976, and people who aren’t from here might want to remeber why they moved here!

Kim McCullen-Clew
Apex

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Wake County Republican Party Chairman Claude Pope’s verbose comparison of the Wake County school system to a business was laughable (Point of View, Feb. 20)! We all know he doesn’t mean the kind of business where we can take our money and use a competitor if we’re dissatisified!

He must mean the kind of business like Colonial Illinois Bank during the Reagan administration, or A.I.G. during George W.’s time in office that were mismanaged by those in charge and had to be “helped” with taxpayer money!

Only a “pretend conservative” would think it’s OK to spend $100,000 to buy out Del Burns’ contract, or $7 million here and $15 million there of Wake County citizens’ money to pay for this board’s changing plans!

Apparently, Pope’s definition of “business” is just the usual political “funny business”! I’m just glad my children have already graduated from Wake County public schools and can avoid all nonsense!

Todd Anderson
Boone

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I have listened, read and watched in disgust since the new school board members were sworn in. The fear-mongering, histrionics and virtriolic attacks have been appalling. Barry Saunders’ Feb. 18 column was over the top. Saunders referred to the newly elected board members as interlopers. Perhaps he should check Webster’s or, better yet, check the election results. Interlopers, really? Now who’s sounding like a cabal?

The hand-wringing over Del Burns’ resignation is overdone. Board members who can’t stop shaking, or whose stomachs hurt over the news, are frightening.

If a superintendent presiding over a school system with graduation rates of 54.6 percent of low-income students, more than 7 percent below state average, wishes to resign, then so be it. If he is such, dare I say it, an ideologue, that he can’t look past his own world view to see whether there might be a better way to improve academic results, then I’d say it’s time for a change.

Tracey Noble
Raleigh

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Clay Aiken, a former teacher in the Wake County schools, might have led the charge in calling newly elected board members selfish idiots, but he will not be the last to weigh in on this troublesome issue of neighborhood schools vs. student diversity. When highly respected Superintendent Del Burns announced his decision to step down for reasons of conscience, he opened the floodgates for other Wake County residents to question the viability and morality of the initiatives of the board’s current majority.

There is another ominous cloud on the horizon that board members should take very seriously – a probable law suit against the board for devising a devious strategy that will result in the resegregation of the schools.

When our family moved to Fayetteville in the ’70s, we discovered the sad reality of de facto segregation. Neighborhood schools had prevailed – some for poor and ethnic minority children and others for affluent and middle class whites. I believe Cumberland County and Fayetteville have made progress in resolving this dilemma.

When we moved to Petersburg, Va., in the ’90s, we witnessed the economic decline of a once great city that had evaded this challenge of ethnic and economic diversity, partially by a white flight to neighboring towns and also by creating private schools for privileged whites.

It may be tempting for parents to turn back the calendar to the cozy neighborhood concept that served them so well in another place and time, but I do not believe this choice is socially or morally responsible. Your children will not benefit from this cloistered and homogeneous environment. They will not be prepared to live in the real world of the 21st century.

Thomas K. Spence Jr.
Sanford

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In a recent article, “Burns could be out Tuesday,” Wake County school board member Debra Goldman asked, “Historically, when have you heard the CEO of a company publicly undermining the authority of his board?” That is an excellent question, but one that begs for a second question. Historically, when have you heard of a company cursed with a board composed of individuals such as Ron Margiotta, John Tedesco and Goldman? The answer, of course, is such a board would immediately be fired by the stockholders in an emergency stockholders meeting.

I believe that there is a constitutional amendment on the ballot in the November 2010 election. That may be the opportunity for Wake citizens (the stockholders) to correct the horrendous errors made in the last school board election.

Robert Harris
Raleigh

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As a high school teacher in Durham and Wake counties for almost 25 years, I had two important goals and lessons for students: respect for others and that classrooms should be safe places to share questions and ideas without fear of ridicule. In World Literature, we discussed how knowledge of other religions was essential to understanding the literature and cultures of other countries. While we may not agree with differing religious beliefs, respect for others must include respecting these beliefs. This is a life lesson that is just as important outside the classroom.

Teachers should respect their students, but students should likewise show respect for teachers. The repeated harassment of Melissa Hussain by her students was bullying, and bullying by students or teachers is unacceptable. A Feb. 20 letter (“Shaming children”) never mentioned that Ms. Hussain’s students showed no shame about actions meant to harass and embarrass their teacher.

Yes, teachers are authority figures held to a higher standard by the public, but no child or adult should be exposed to repeated bullying and disrespect. My former students would be appalled that this type of behavior toward any student or teacher is considered acceptable.

Van Garrison
Raleigh