To the editor
By:
As a former member of the original Hillsborough Charter School Committee that eventually splintered into the Hillsborough Charter School Committee (with which I and school board candidate Chris Pulsifer maintained affiliation) and the Liberty Academy Charter School Committee (with which school board candidates Mike Detsis and Laura Burshnic became affiliated), I would certainly welcome the Beacon providing the community with adequate information about the stances of all prospective school board members prior to the election, as Mr. Detsis recommended in his letter last week.
In particular, I would like to have Mr. Detsis more clearly explain how his intense animosity toward the teaching profession as expressed on a number of occasions on these pages will benefit our children. I’d also like to hear more from Ms. Burshnic concerning her intolerance of homosexuality, also aired many timed on these pages, especially in relation to expectations of tolerance and the fair and just treatment of all individuals within ourschools.
In addition, I’d welcome a public statement from Ms. Burshnic concerning issues of church and state in public education, particularly issues having to do with the teaching of non-science (i.e., creationism) as science in science classrooms.
And finally, I’d be interested in hearing from Mr. Pulsifer about his support for maintaining REACH, the so-called gifted and talented program, a program that fundamentally supports segregation based on student ability to fit into narrow slots defined by traditional public schooling while ignoring other, less traditionally defined, "gifts" as well as equal opportunity for all students to enjoy the benefits of interesting, enriching programs.
I sincerely hope that the Beacon will provide adequate space for answer to these and other questions.
Zion Road