Thursday, December 28, 2006
This blog has long been keeping tabs on Boston-area Andover High School and the efforts of physics teacher Ron Francis and social studies teacher and union head Tom Meyers' efforts to bring the anti-American/anti-Israel traveling side-show Wheels of Justice in to proselytize the kids.
The efforts of this small group of political zealots have lead Andover to be nicknamed Hamas High by some, and have lead to threats of ACLU lawsuits, the involvement of the ADL, the local Rabbi and letters from outraged parents decrying the invitation, including one such letter signed by 51 Andover parents.
In the end, following threatened lawsuits from the ACLU and Meyers, Wheels of Justice is to be invited back at the school's expense this January 5th.
Missing among the publicly available information has been, until now, a clear picture of what has been going on inside the school. Other than the fact that WoJ was originally forbidden to enter the school on its first scheduled date, and that Francis was ready with fliers and a petition designed to agitate the students, little has come out other than faint rumors. Were all of the Social Studies instructors in agreement with what was being done in their name? Were all the union members on board? Were any speaking out? We had heard some stories, but so far, no one had stepped forward to provide details.
I can now disclose that Solomonia has established contacts within the school, contacts that have been willing to flesh out some of the details -- details that are at least as shocking as any of the rumors we had heard.
When I asked one contact whether they were pressured to go along with this (bringing WoJ to the school), they replied:
Pat Patterson is a Social Studies teacher who has been at AHS since September 2003 (and did his student teaching with Meyers years prior)...He, Meyers and Francis were the real invitors. There were 6 teachers who had permitted WOJ into their classrooms: Meyers, Patterson, Katie Pina, Chandler Parker, Mary Robb and Fred Hopkins...notice anyone missing? That's right, in spite of not have invited WOJ onto his Physics classes, Francis claims to have had his 1st amendment rights violated....
The 140+ other teachers in the building (and hundreds others district wide) are superlative and I am proud to be associated with them. There are a few bad apples who have forgotten the reason they are in the building - the kids of Andover. They are more concerned with 1) their ideology and 2) "the union".
I have heard that two teachers either tried to physically intimidate another or interrupted another instructor's class to "explain" how Israel is guilty of ethnic cleansing and at least one harassment complaint has been filed against these two by that other. Teachers who refused to sign on to the anti-administration petition circulated by Francis have also been harassed.
In answer to my question, "How do the teachers view Ron Francis and his political activities, his use of students, his distribution of fliers to get the kids agitated…?" Here's the response I received:
I have been told by a colleague who has been at AHS for decades...that there is a not so subtle undercurrent of anti-semitism at the HS. I guess I chose not to see it, but it is very apparent to me now.
Question: "Why has the principal caved on this? Is it because he’s actually sympathetic with Francis’s views, or was it purely a legal issue?"
Answer:
I have worked with [several principals] in my career - Peter Anderson is BY FAR the hardest working, best informed, most intelligent and most fair principal I have had the privilege of working for. He was disturbed when he found out [about the harassment among the teachers].
To prevent this kind of thing from happening again Anderson has tried to set up a speakers bureau that consisted of teachers and students. Meyers sent a missive to the members to not participate in any such panel at the risk of having a 1st amendment suit filed against any participants in said panel. Apparently Meyers' 1st amendment rights are more important than anyone else's...
Let me say this: the rank and file met with all of the union leadership on the Thursday after WOJ was initially scheduled to speak. Without exception the leadership was begged not to fight this battle in the press and to use existing channels (grievance process) to settle the dispute. In spite of what they were asked to do, the ACLU was called the same day and press releases with half truths were issued. Union leaders who were expressly asked NOT to fight a battle against the administration in the press or in the legal system - and then willfully and wantonly disregarded the desires of the people who elected them to union office is the primary topic of concern among 150+ teachers. The new Mass Teachers Association representative was at the HS last week and got an earful from the rank and file about Meyers' and other Andover Education Association leaders' misuse of their power.
According to my contacts, participation by parents and the public has been and will be essential in exposing what's going on and in holding people responsible for making Andover High School their personal political playground.
It is my fervent hope that those who read the above will come away with a clear understanding that what is happening inside Andover High School has nothing to do with education. Instead, this controversy has been stirred up by a handful of teachers far more engaged in politics than pedagogy, so enthralled with their own campaigning that they're willing to harass their colleagues, exploit their students, abuse the legal system and waste taxpayer resources for their own satisfaction.
Andover parents, taxpayers, and concerned citizens be aware...and be ready to speak out. Some people within the school, voiceless until now, are counting on you.
It is clear to most reasonable observers that Tom Meyers and Ron Francis have abused their power (as the union head and chief contract negotiator, respectively)to push their political agenda within AHS. I agree that the parents and students of Andover must speak up, but I also think that teachers within AHS must find their voices. What are they so scared of? As powerful as Meyers and Francis may think they are, like all bullies they'll back down if challenged directly and openly.
I e-mailed this posting out to a bunch of people. I truly believe that this is merely the proverbial "tip of the iceberg". What's going on in the thousands of other school districts across the country which don't receive (thanks to Mr. Solomon) this level of attention?
Our children are being brainwashed to hate the U.S., to hate Israel, etc., etc. We ignore what is being done to them at our own peril.
What are you so afraid of? The truth about Israel and the occupation going on for 50 years? Doesn't this country believe in free and open debate? Shouldn't students hear both sides of an argument rather than the continual press coverage that portrays Palestinians are terrorists and Iraelis are victims.
Acetracy - What "occupation" are you talking about? The "Palestinian" occupation of land the world community originally intended for the re-establishment of Israel? A little history knowledge can go a long way....
Acetracy is expressing the usual attitude of personality disorders: if people have different point of view than mine, it proves that my view is being suppressed. That the other side gets any play at all is considered an unfair advantage, and proves that the opposition has been unfairly able to dominate the discussion somehow.
It is not that the Palestinian message is not getting out, acetracy. They are getting far more sympathy than they deserve because of their artful manipulation of western media and its rules of reporting. Though not entirely without fault, the Israelis are victims. Though not entirely without redeeming features, the Palestinians are terrorists. People accept that characterization because it squares with the facts.
The "50 years of occupation" thing should be a pretty good indicator of where acetracy is coming from.
Acetracy,
Debate is one thing, but demagogic, one-sided propaganda is something else. Especially when it comes to impressionable students. Let's have debate, by all means, but real debate. I don't think Francis is really interested in that.
Where's the Andover School Committee in all this? Ultimately that's who the school administration reports to.
To my understanding, the school committee is aware and unhappy, but somewhat handcuffed due to union and legal issues. There is, in fact, a major issue of who is actually running Andover High School. Of particular issue is the ACLU involvement -- a group that is willing to work pro bono, while the school has no such benefit and would have to pay for what would be an expensive battle, win or lose. So the choice is whether to acquiesce and let the incident pass by, or expend serious capital from an already tight budget. [An aside, I have also heard rumor that the principal may be paying the return expenses of WoJ out of his personal funds to try to prevent any cost to the school.] It's a calculus that many who have had a brush with the legal system can understand, and makes what Meyers and Francis and the ACLU are doing here particularly selfish and disgraceful. Also note in the entry the new news (to me) that Meyers threatened lawsuits *as individuals* on anyone who cooperated with the school's idea of instituting some sort of speaker's review board.
Since I haven't followed all the ins and outs of this, I wonder if FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights in Education) might be able to help the administration at this school. The intimidation factor is the thing that made me think of it.
It's a good thought, Teresa! But...I just went to their contact form and it specifically says they don't get involved in elementary or high school cases. :(
What are the parents, especially the few parents of Jewish children doing to make the school safe for their children? Are they voting with their feet? I know if this was happening in MY children's high school, I'd pull my kids out in a heartbeat and homeschool until those teachers were fired, as they should be. Tenure be damned, when a teacher uses his position as a personal pulpit of hate, that's a fireable offense on a morals clause.
My sister went to Andover high years ago, and it was a hotbed of antisemitism back then. She attended for a year and then got the hell out. I've got to remember to ask her about this.
If acetracy is so concerned about free and open debate, perhaps Alan Dershowitz could be invited to provide same. He's in the Boston area, it should be easy to arrange. Unless the WoP is as chicken-hearted as Jimmy Carter.
Drat - I didn't go reading that far into their site... I have heard of them in relation to other school cases, but now that I think of it, it's always college.
I wonder if they give any referrals for people slogging through high school or grade school problems... probably not.
margalit, I'd be very interested in your sister's thoughts/experiences.
It is certainly eye opening when anti- semitism can co-exist in Andover. The Jews of Andover should feel comfortable enough to speak out. They can't be afraid. They must be disinterested. Many Jews are fast becoming "people of the life style" as they quietly drift into the mainstream
Hi,
I am a senior at Andover HIgh School, and I just left the Wheels of Justice speech held at our school tonight. There were two previous presentations held during the school day, but it was hard for teachers to be able to bring their classes. As a result, I wasn't able to go during school.
I constantly hear how these pro-Palestine groups are attempting to "brainwash" us, and how we, as children, should stay out of it. However, due to the extreme pro-Israel undertones in the media, I have been exposed to nothing but what is being called "the other side." In all actuality, what I was exposed to tonight was the side that I never hear.
I am eager to consume the information that I hear, and then do background research on it (as I am currently doing). Being brainwashed takes two things: a lack of intelligence and the willingness to accept the opinions of others as your own. I am fairly certain I possess neither. And if I were to be brainwashed, it would certainly be in the other direction- by the pro-Israeli media coverage that is predominantly available in the US.
The worst part about this issue is the fact that tonight, both adults and students were present. The way the adults conducted themselves, by heckering the speakers, interrupting them, questioning the validity of their personal stories, and swearing, was absolutely atrocious. Tonight, I learned not a political lesson like I was hoping but a social one.
Colleen, you had zero chance of getting any useful political lesson tonight, even if it had been an empty room with the WoJ and you in it. Especially then.
Good luck in your question for knowledge. Hopefully you'll find better sources than what was on offer tonight.