TC
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Post by TC on Dec 2, 2009 12:00:17 GMT -5
dealbreaker.com/images/thumbs/Skip%20McGee%20Letter.pdfI can't tell what is more classic about this letter - the idea that crossdressing as cheerleaders would have averted a 52-7 Homecoming defeat, or the fact that John Edward cried in history class. It's a letter by a Lehman Brothers Exec to the Board of Trustees at his kid's HS. Think of the parents of every John Hughes villain when you read this...
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theexorcist
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Post by theexorcist on Dec 2, 2009 12:28:26 GMT -5
dealbreaker.com/images/thumbs/Skip%20McGee%20Letter.pdfI can't tell what is more classic about this letter - the idea that crossdressing as cheerleaders would have averted a 52-7 Homecoming defeat, or the fact that John Edward cried in history class. It's a letter by a Lehman Brothers Exec to the Board of Trustees at his kid's HS. Think of the parents of every John Hughes villain when you read this... You can say anything you need to say in one page of a letter. I feel sorry for the kid - just because your parents are total tools doesn't mean that you will become one, and their progeny are going to get mocked for this. Even if the kids were the one who complained, it's the parents' job to say "no, I'm not going to fight for you on this". |
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Dec 2, 2009 12:30:09 GMT -5
I don't see anywhere in the letter where the idea was floated that allowing the skit would have avoided the loss.
I also think its pretty understandable for a student to get upset if a teacher is blatantly and maliciously attacking his parent or parents. (and the teacher admitted that he was wrong to do so).
Not sure what your problem is with this.
I don't think it's the parent's place to call for firings and resignations over issues such as those contained in this letter, but other than that, what is wrong about the parent expressing his concern and telling the school he is angry about their decisions and the performance of said teacher?
I'm not seeing any John Hughes villainy here.
On edit: I agree with exorcist that five pages (plus attachments!!!) is a bit much for this.
On edit 2: If the parent is the one who decided to broadcast this letter all over the Internet though, OK, I do have a problem with that. Expressing your concerns to the school is fine. Shouting out, "Hey! Look at me! I'm Editeded!" (embarrassing students in the process) is not.
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quickplay
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Post by quickplay on Dec 2, 2009 12:41:02 GMT -5
What a beautiful example of overshadowing some reasonable complaints with self-important babble and gossip.
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Dec 2, 2009 12:54:26 GMT -5
What was reasonable went quickly down with things like "lowest ranked on the parent whisper circuit." The whole silent majority is completely over the top as well.
Speak for yourself, not for others. Cancelle]ing the skit was ridiculous, especially like that. But man, that went a lot of places after that.
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TC
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Post by TC on Dec 2, 2009 12:54:30 GMT -5
My problem with it Boz, as theexorcist says - Skip McGee comes off as a total tool. You essentially have a communication issue over a skit that is of questionable taste (crossdressing as the opposing team's cheerleaders) and he's threatening to pull his kids out of school and is demanding the retirement of a teacher and an administrator.
By the way, I don't think his kid cried in History class, I think he's making that up for effect, but way to throw your kid under the bus.
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Post by jerseyhoya34 on Dec 2, 2009 12:55:15 GMT -5
This guy deserves a tax cut.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Dec 2, 2009 13:05:05 GMT -5
My problem with it Boz, as theexorcist says - Skip McGee comes off as a total tool. You essentially have a communication issue over a skit that is of questionable taste (crossdressing as the opposing team's cheerleaders) and he's threatening to pull his kids out of school and is demanding the retirement of a teacher and an administrator. By the way, I don't think his kid cried in History class, I think he's making that up for effect, but way to throw your kid under the bus. Fair enough. As I said, the call for firings and resignations was over the line. If he wants to pull his kids out of school and take them somewhere else, that's fine, and he can tell the school why he's doing do. What would be interesting to find out, is whether this guy really is just a blowhard, or whether most of the parents -- as he claims -- feel as he does. Again, my biggest problem is just that this should have been kept private. He's not throwing anyone under the bus if the only people who read this are the Trustees. As for the kid crying, well, as James Vanderbeek tells us, some kid(s) "are a bit of a crier." What're ya' gonna' do? I'll say this. If I had had a teacher who came in to class and told the students that all doctors (as my father is) are just money-grubbing jerks who will perform any test or procedure to make money (and there are people who believe this), well, I may not have cried, but I probably would've gotten suspended for yelling profanities and smacking said teacher. |
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rosslynhoya
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Post by rosslynhoya on Dec 2, 2009 14:28:18 GMT -5
From the tone of the actual Dealbreaker blog item, I'd hazard a guess that an equally appalling piece of work on the Kinkaid board of trustees is the one who opted to spread the letter far and wide. dealbreaker.com/2009/11/barclays-global-head-of-invest.phpAs for the rant itself, I've got to admit that I've always sort-of assumed that this is how all day-to-day business at private high schools is conducted. |
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Filo
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Post by Filo on Dec 3, 2009 10:52:21 GMT -5
It's tough to side with a self-important drama-queen, but it seems to me that Skipper had a legitimate axe to grind given the comments of Ms. Leslie Lovett, pinko extaordinaire.
Seriously, teachers don't need to be throwing out their opinions like that. I can't get too worked up about it, since it is a private school and Skippy can just send his kids elsewhere. But if what she is purported as saying is accurate, she should be canned. Not very bright for a school that caters to the wealthy elite to allow your staff to lambaste the very people who are sending their kids to you.
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TC
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Post by TC on Dec 3, 2009 11:18:06 GMT -5
The whole "leftist"/homosexual-coach stuff from him was really, really strange considering his political contributions have been to Wesley Clark, Joe Lieberman, Rahm Emanuel, and Chris Dodd. I couldn't figure out whether he legitimately is conservative, or he was playing up to a Board of Trustees he knows to be conservative in order to slam the teacher and the administrator.
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rosslynhoya
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Post by rosslynhoya on Dec 3, 2009 17:36:08 GMT -5
The whole "leftist"/homosexual-coach stuff from him was really, really strange considering his political contributions have been to Wesley Clark, Joe Lieberman, Rahm Emanuel, and Chris Dodd. I couldn't figure out whether he legitimately is conservative, or he was playing up to a Board of Trustees he knows to be conservative in order to slam the teacher and the administrator. How strange would it be? I haven't seen a Democrat Party application form lately, but I'm pretty sure you don't have to take a homophilia test to get in. Just this week, Albany joined a number of its blue-state peers and overwhelmingly rejected gay marriage for New York. Democrats/liberals are not universal supporters of gayness, and you'll continue to suffer political setbacks for refusing to acknowledge that fact. |
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TC
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Post by TC on Dec 3, 2009 18:20:07 GMT -5
How strange would it be? I haven't seen a Democrat Party application form lately, but I'm pretty sure you don't have to take a homophilia test to get in. When's the last time you heard a Democrat complain about a "leftist"? It's weird and there's something up with someone who writes a letter that rings of culture war but then gives money to Democrats. Maybe it's just for lobbying influence, I dunno - the guy makes $25M a year, but it is weird. Last time I checked - Clark, Lieberman, Emanuel, and Dodd were all pro gay marriage so there's some cognitive dissonance going on there if he really feels that the coach needs to be fired because she is gay. Wow, you sure are angry about gays. |
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Bando
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Post by Bando on Dec 3, 2009 20:49:56 GMT -5
The whole "leftist"/homosexual-coach stuff from him was really, really strange considering his political contributions have been to Wesley Clark, Joe Lieberman, Rahm Emanuel, and Chris Dodd. I couldn't figure out whether he legitimately is conservative, or he was playing up to a Board of Trustees he knows to be conservative in order to slam the teacher and the administrator. How strange would it be? I haven't seen a Democrat Party application form lately, but I'm pretty sure you don't have to take a homophilia test to get in. Just this week, Albany joined a number of its blue-state peers and overwhelmingly rejected gay marriage for New York. Democrats/liberals are not universal supporters of gayness, and you'll continue to suffer political setbacks for refusing to acknowledge that fact. Did you all get a memo a few years ago to not call my party by its correct name? Seriously, this is ridiculously childish. |
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