Simply Inexcusable

September 13, 2013

Dear Editor/School Committee - my immediate reaction to learning that our school district made the conscious decision to read a Muslim poem on the anniversary September 11th over reciting our Pledge of Allegiance, pausing to honor those killed and wounded on that dreadful day, and saluting our soldiers that have bravely defended the United States in conflicts around the globe ever since, was outrage.    

After reading the comments of the school committee’s spokesperson, Mr. Benincasa, 

http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2013/09/reading_of_muslim_poem_but_no_pledge_defended 

criticizing the community and our reaction to this offensive failed attempt at political correctness, rather than accepting responsibility for the failure, the outrage turned to sheer disappointment and lost confidence in our school district’s leadership. The school committee's decision to lash out at the community in response to this failure is simply inexcusable.

The facts are abundantly clear, the district's leadership will defend this failed attempt at political correctness at all costs while the provision of quality and apolitical public education becomes secondary, and this is simply inexcusable. 

Enlightening our youth on all cultures, including the Muslim culture, is arguably a worthy goal, but there is a time and place for such enlightenment. On the morning of the anniversary of September 11th during the school’s morning recital of our country’s Pledge of Allegiance is neither the time nor the place. This is simply inexcusable.

The public comments of the school committee’s spokesperson defending the district's failure to proudly express allegiance to the United States on the anniversary of September 11th while criticizing the community's reaction to their patriotic failure, is simply inexcusable. 

Simultaneously as we learned of the Pledge of Allegiance failure we received separate communications from the school district alerting us to a harmful mold condition and dangerous air quality at The Peabody School. Students were evacuated from the area and required to wash their hands and other exposed areas with soap and chemicals as prescribed by the Environmental Protection Agency and the district's environmental contractor. Apparently nobody from the district leadership ensured that the school was cleaned, inspected, and rendered safe for occupancy before the new school year, this is simply inexcusable. 

The irony is that over the past few years I have consistently defended the School Superintendent and the School Committee whenever possible. Whether standing on the sidelines of a soccer game, socializing at a dinner function, or speaking with our political leaders I have always taken the position that we must stand in support of our school leadership so that we can get on with the important business of providing the highest quality education to our children.  After having a child unnecessarily exposed to harmful air quality and mold, and reading the defensive comments of the school committee spokesperson attempting to defend the indefensible, I have realized that my past support of this dysfunctional and poorly managed organization is - simply inexcusable. 

Frederick Ryan

113 Adams Road