Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Barry Lee Phillips on November 18, 2010 at 6:26pm

I got a response from the Duval County Public School superintendent regarding the derogatory email:

Mr. Phillips,

The email communication is a violation of our district policies. Our Acceptable Use Policy clearly states it is strictly prohibited to conduct any activity that could create the perception that communication was made in one’s official capacity as a School Board associate, unless appropriate approval has been obtained. Board policy also states that school district employees shall not support any political issues during regular hours on School Board property.

Unfortunately, the employee made an error in judgment and has been reassigned pending the results of an investigation, which will be determined shortly.

The comments in the email are in no way a reflection of DCPS beliefs, mission, core values, policies and procedures, and we have taken steps to ensure this kind of unfortunate communication doesn’t happen again.

Ed Pratt-Dannals

Superintendent
Duval County Public Schools
1701 Prudential Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32207

Office (904) 390-2115
Fax (904) 390-2586

My response to the superintendent:

Dear Mr. Prattdannals,

Thank you for your response. I had suspected this individual had violated a DCPS policy.

However, I want to point out that I do not believe this individual made an error in judgment. I am convinced that this individual made a calculated and deliberate attempt to malign and viciously characterize members of a grass roots political organization.

As a taxpayer, I am not going to be satisfied with a mere reprimand. The venomous email this individual sent goes far beyond that. I would expect to see severe disciplinary action taken by the school board up to and possibly including termination.

Barry L. Phillips

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Robert Henderson on November 18, 2010 at 7:55pm

Lee Phillips said:

I got a response from the Duval County Public School superintendent regarding the derogatory email:

Mr. Phillips,

The email communication is a violation of our district policies. Our Acceptable Use Policy clearly states it is strictly prohibited to conduct any activity that could create the perception that communication was made in one’s official capacity as a School Board associate, unless appropriate approval has been obtained. Board policy also states that school district employees shall not support any political issues during regular hours on School Board property.

Unfortunately, the employee made an error in judgment and has been reassigned pending the results of an investigation, which will be determined shortly.

The comments in the email are in no way a reflection of DCPS beliefs, mission, core values, policies and procedures, and we have taken steps to ensure this kind of unfortunate communication doesn’t happen again.

Ed Pratt-Dannals

Superintendent
Duval County Public Schools
1701 Prudential Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32207

Office (904) 390-2115
Fax (904) 390-2586

My response to the superintendent:

Dear Mr. Prattdannals,

Thank you for your response. I had suspected this individual had violated a DCPS policy.

However, I want to point out that I do not believe this individual made an error in judgment. I am convinced that this individual made a calculated and deliberate attempt to malign and viciously characterize members of a grass roots political organization.

As a taxpayer, I am not going to be satisfied with a mere reprimand. The venomous email this individual sent goes far beyond that. I would expect to see severe disciplinary action taken by the school board up to and possibly including termination.

Barry L. Phillips

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Robert Henderson on November 18, 2010 at 7:57pm

Thanks Barry for your letter to Ed Pratt-Dannals. I too am not satisfied with his response.
W.C. Gentry was just elected chairman of the Duval County School Board on Tuesday, and Betty Burney was elected vice chairwoman. I believe they should also have significant input regarding the email and state their position. Teacher’s Union boss Terrie Brady should also be on the record with her opinion.

As I said in my previous comment, I want to know how pervasive this type of ‘hate speech’ is within the school system. And I am not just referring to written communication. I am referring to all verbal communication also; in the teachers lounge, in the hall ways, in the classroom, and on the school grounds in general!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Barry Lee Phillips on November 19, 2010 at 4:17am

I do not think it is wise or practical to attempt to regulate verbal communication among teachers or other employees of the Duval County school system on school property. That is anathema to me. Whether you agree or disagree, freedom of expression is protected by the 1st amendment to the Constitution. People are going to talk freely among themselves at work.
In this case, this individual knew that she was prohibited by school board policy to refrain from making public comments regarding politics and deserves disciplinary action. I want to point out that the same prohibition would also apply to a member of the Tea Party who might be an employee of the school system.


Robert Henderson said:

Thanks Barry for your letter to Ed Pratt-Dannals. I too am not satisfied with his response.
W.C. Gentry was just elected chairman of the Duval County School Board on Tuesday, and Betty Burney was elected vice chairwoman. I believe they should also have significant input regarding the email and state their position. Teacher’s Union boss Terrie Brady should also be on the record with her opinion.

As I said in my previous comment, I want to know how pervasive this type of ‘hate speech’ is within the school system. And I am not just referring to written communication. I am referring to all verbal communication also; in the teachers lounge, in the hall ways, in the classroom, and on the school grounds in general!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Robert Henderson on November 19, 2010 at 2:52pm

Lee, if you will reread my comments you will notice I made no mention of either regulating or prohibiting communications; I just want to know the pervasiveness of “hate speech.’ Is regulation and prohibition of religious speech or expression also anathema to you, because that is what we have within the school system?

In 2009, U.S. District Judge Harvey Schlesinger ruled against a 3rd Grade class in St. Augustine for planning to sing the song “In God We Still Trust.” He said, “The song degrades the doctrine of governmental separation from and neutrality towards the promotion of religious ideologies.” What BS! In my opinion Judge Harvey is a reprobate and a fool who places our 1st Amendment religious freedoms in jeopardy! There was also a case of judicial tyranny against religion perpetrated by U.S District Judge Margaret Casey Rodgers in Pensacola the same year.

Further Lee, I did not limit my concern to teachers or employees. I also want to know if it is prevalent among the students and is it tolerated by school officials and teachers. Schools should be committed to ‘education’ not ‘indoctrination.’ Education develop minds and encourages independent thinking; Indoctrination creates ‘True Believers’ (Eric Hoffer) and Myrmidons.

“The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.” - Abraham Lincoln

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Barry Lee Phillips on November 19, 2010 at 8:19pm

I did read your comments. You stated, "I am referring to all verbal communication also; in the teacher's lounge, in the classroom, in the hallway, and on the school grounds in general!"
If you state that you are referring to all verbal communication, then I am taking you at your word. A sweeping generalization such as the above implies an inordinate restriction on free speech to me. I do not support that at all.

By the way, hate speech is also protected speech under the 1st Amendment. I believe the origin of so-called "hate speech" came about as liberals looked for ways to silence their critics, since they could not logically defend their arguments or an attempt to limit speech they do not like. I think that hate speech is closely related to political correctness, which attempts to accomplish the same goal.

I don't use that terminology because I refuse to accept the liberal premise that some speech is "hate speech". Speech is speech, whatever you make of it or however you label it. That does not mean I like the speech -- quite the contrary.

Speech that is regulated by law is that which would cause personal injury or death to another person. The classic example is falsely shouting fire in a crowded theater. The resulting stampede to the exits would likely injure or kill another person. Another example would be slander, which is making malicious, defamatory, and false statements intended to harm another person's character or reputation. Slander is actionable under the law.

Robert Henderson said:

Lee, if you will reread my comments you will notice I made no mention of either regulating or prohibiting communications; I just want to know the pervasiveness of “hate speech.’ Is regulation and prohibition of religious speech or expression also anathema to you, because that is what we have within the school system?

In 2009, U.S. District Judge Harvey Schlesinger ruled against a 3rd Grade class in St. Augustine for planning to sing the song “In God We Still Trust.” He said, “The song degrades the doctrine of governmental separation from and neutrality towards the promotion of religious ideologies.” What BS! In my opinion Judge Harvey is a reprobate and a fool who places our 1st Amendment religious freedoms in jeopardy! There was also a case of judicial tyranny against religion perpetrated by U.S District Judge Margaret Casey Rodgers in Pensacola the same year.

Further Lee, I did not limit my concern to teachers or employees. I also want to know if it is prevalent among the students and is it tolerated by school officials and teachers. Schools should be committed to ‘education’ not ‘indoctrination.’ Education develop minds and encourages independent thinking; Indoctrination creates ‘True Believers’ (Eric Hoffer) and Myrmidons.

“The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.” - Abraham Lincoln

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steve Berg on November 20, 2010 at 11:52pm

Has anyone heard the results of the DCSB investigation ? Or what will or has happened to the employee in question ? Also has anyone seen the email that went out to all DCSB employees about internet/email use - understand NO direct reference was made to the email in question. I still believe this has been going on in the school system only this time it became public.
I wonder if the DCSB has checked the people in the school system she sent the letter to and looked to see if it was forwarded to even more people in the school system - even worse was it sent OUTSIDE the school system to others. So far it appears this whole thing is going to be swept under the rug IF permitted. I sure would like to thank whoever managed to get the copy of that email outside the DCSB so the public could see what is really going on and how our taxpayer dollars are spent.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Barry Lee Phillips on November 21, 2010 at 5:37am

Other than the superintendent's reply, in which he said that the employee had been reassigned pending the results of an investigation, I have heard nothing. I recall an earlier post in this forum in which a DCPS employee referred to the no political activity policy. That person would be the one to contact to see exactly what the DCPS email said about Internet use and email use by employees.
Steve Berg said:

Has anyone heard the results of the DCSB investigation ? Or what will or has happened to the employee in question ? Also has anyone seen the email that went out to all DCSB employees about internet/email use - understand NO direct reference was made to the email in question. I still believe this has been going on in the school system only this time it became public.
I wonder if the DCSB has checked the people in the school system she sent the letter to and looked to see if it was forwarded to even more people in the school system - even worse was it sent OUTSIDE the school system to others. So far it appears this whole thing is going to be swept under the rug IF permitted. I sure would like to thank whoever managed to get the copy of that email outside the DCSB so the public could see what is really going on and how our taxpayer dollars are spent.

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page