Charter...

[faded_lace]

First off, I'd like to say that I'm so, so proud of these Charter faculty for doing what they felt was right. I know some of them were you-know-who supporters, or have heard hearsay of such, and the fact that they could set their opinions of his work aside and say that he was doing something wrong, discriminatory, and illegal just really gives me confidence in the Charter faculty that I may never have had before. I mean, some of the names don't surprise me (Basquill, Rescigna) but some of them definitely do, and just let me say... Thank you, Charter faculty, for doing what was right.

Because it's not a matter of whether he was a good "president" or not. It's a matter of the fact that he has allegedly been sexist and inappropriate and sexually harassing at least one woman and possible more. It disgusts me that people are saying "what's the big deal?" just because they liked having him as their principal. Sexual harassment is not only prejudiced and sexist but illegal as well, and anyone who thinks that sexually harassing women in the workplace isn't a big deal is disgusting and a disgrace.

So I am glad that many names I know and recognize, as well as some I don't, have done the right thing and, despite any personal feelings towards Russo, stood up for equality and justice. Thank you.

However, I am less than thrilled about this:
In a March 3 public meeting, the Charter Board of Directors voted to give Russo the opportunity to challenge his termination in a hearing with adjudicators selected jointly by counsels for the board and Russo.

If no agreement is reached by March 13, both parties will select a hearing officer from the American Arbitrations Association.

The hearing will be private to protect the privacy of the witnesses. [from here]

How could they possibly cave to the pressure of the ignorant, teeming masses? It disgusts me, it really makes me sick...

[EDIT] I emailed the Charter teachers who I had on the list of the ones who signed the letter to thank them. In case anyone cares.

Comments

[yomimashou.livejournal.com]

That's really great that they did that. I think the names that surprised me the most are the ones I'm happiest about--it's always nice to see that people have a decent side to them that you didn't know about before XD;;

Hopefully the fact that now it's more than one person officially speaking against him will help... But really, Steve Beiner said it best: How many people have to allege sexual harassment before it matters to you?

And that's a really good idea to email the teachers. Maybe I'll do that too...

[faded-lace.livejournal.com]

I know. I'm really, really happy about it. I actually almost cried. XD;; But yeah, certain names really surprised me but really made me happy. I don't really want to discuss specific persons online, but when we next talk privately, we can discuss. XD; I called Scary Mary and we had a nice chat about it.

Yeah, I agreed entirely with that comment. Like, honestly? It's kind of ridiculous. 21 people say he's been acting in a sexist nature and yet all people can say is "well, that's less than half"? Its ridiculous.

Yeah, I only emailed a few whom I wanted to speak to (I thought it would me weird for me to email people I had never spoken to before in my life) but I think it's good to support them in the great thing that they did. I couldn't find Mr. or Mrs. Mess's email anywhere, though... I really wanted to send it to them, too, but it was nowhere to be found on the new Charter website. If you can find them, let me know and I'll send it to them too.

[9kinds.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think seeing the names of teachers I interacted with and respected most at the school, was telling for me what kind of environment was going on with the faculty.

But I really don't think anything will come of the hearings they have set up. I think it's to pacify parents, so that the matter can be put to rest. There was a lot of controversy surrounding the whole situation, I think they're just trying to make make a statement in that his termination was not due to political reasons.

[faded-lace.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I agree. A lot of the names on the list surprised me, and I think it really says something.

Hm... Okay. That makes sense. I trust that the board will do what it thinks is right...

[faded-lace.livejournal.com]

You have a point with that... I don't really have much to say, since I'm no longer at Charter, but I see where you're coming from.

Russo isn't going to go to criminal court for this, you know. There will be no "proving", so far as I can tell. But I know I trust many of the names on that list, and I believe what they have to say.