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Gordon M. Clark
Active Westport Resident
Gordon M. Clark, 51, a lifetime Westport resident, died suddenly August 21.
Mr Clark is survived by his mother, L...
Public Taxing And Giving
To the Editor:
Thanks to The Newtown Bee for highlighting An Act Concerning State Investment in Prevention in its back-to-school issue...
From Senior Year To College: How Do I Get There From Here?
By Laurie Borst
On the morning of August 28, seniors and their parents converged on the high school l...
Mother & Daughter Combine Their Talents
To Create A Special Family Heirloom
Elizabeth O’Connell of Sandy Hook was honored recently when one of her ...
Charter Finance Review Continues
By John Voket
During its August 22 meeting, the Charter Revision Commission [CRC] received such a concentrated amount of inform...
Lieberman Welcome
At The Parade
To the Editor:
For First Selectman Herb Rosenthal to infer that Senator Lieberman should not attend our Newtown Labor Day Parad...
Media Exposure Talk At Working Women’s Forum
The Working Women’s Forum is planning its first meeting of the 2006-2007 year, and its goin...
Budget Crunch Hits Home
To the Editor:
The budget “crunch” has hit this 61-year-old — no not because of grandchildren â€...
Launch Your
New Business
SCORE Greater Bridgeport is planning a no-fee workshop, “How to Start a Business From Scratch: 10 Essential Steps,â€&...
Bruce, not a single member of the BOE (including GOP members, who I sense you are focused on here) initiated the action to have these books reviewed. It was a parent in town. So to insinuate that a political party (GOP) was guiding the hand of the BOE just isn't based in facts. I would counter that such an assertion is indicative of someone who is being hyper-partisan themselves.
Not to be overlooked, not a single member of the BOE, from either party, motioned to have the books removed. In fact, it was the GOP members who made motions seeking compromise to address the concerns of parents both in favor and against the books (i.e., keep the books but allow parents to opt-out of having them checked out by their children). That sure doesn't sound like national partisanship to me.
Emotionally charged is a good way to describe it. And if you’re in a public facing role as a volunteer, you need to develop a thicker skin. The majority of people in attendance at this meeting were incensed at the fact that four members were completely ignoring expert opinion, students, and a large contingent of their community. Were some people a little over the top, I think yes — but a very small minority in attendance. You and I saw the same thing but take away different views. Fine. I’ll respect your view. But I’ll agree to disagree.
Respectfully, I am sorry to hear what your child and family had to go through. But that is in no way an excuse for adults to bully other adults. Where do our children learn a bulk of their behaviors from? Adults. If adults act like bullies don’t you think that will influence some children to act like bullies?
And I would love to focus more on bullying in our schools - and force the school system to do more - but my comment, this article, and this whole controversy are not about bullying in school. I am simply calling out poor public behavior I see from my fellow adult neighbors.
mkmurphyphd: Vile is an overstatement for May 16; though the behaviors were definitely disrespectful. If you want a true display of “vile” behavior I IMPLORE you to watch the recording at the June 1 meeting. Watch 33:20-43:20.
This doesn't pass the smell test. Let's assume that the 2 of them were really on this quest for the children. If they had the votes, which they would have if the 4 voted together, then it would have been a shame for them to leave the day before the vote essentially sabotaging their own chances after working so hard for a desired outcome. Would it have really made a difference for them to wait one more day, get the vote they want, then step down? And if there was a credible threat, the police would be involved.
The way it looked to me is that the 2 remaining GOP board members were enthusiastic to vote for the final motion--not resigned to do so, or disappointed, or reluctant. They could have abstained in protest. But they didn't. It tells me that Larkin & Kuzma knew the vote wasn't going to go their way (probably because they became a liability after all those screenshots of ethics violations) and thought it best to move on.
Nice try though. I would guess someone going by the name "qstorm" would know a thing or 2 about mobs.