Teacher defends pic of president (Back to School Night Update)

Home News Tribune ^ | 10/03/04 | By JERRY BARCA and DINA GUIRGUIS

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As this story unfolded it baffles me how people across the country have taken this woman's side of the story at face value and completely dismissed the administration's response. I live in South Brunswick, NJ, my wife teaches at Crossroads South Middle School, my oldest son was in the Delta Unit that this teacher is part of and my youngest son is currently going to school at Crossroads North Middle School. Not that any of that matters much, but I guess I have a bit more of a close tie to the school than most of you, so I suppose it is relevant.

1). The issue isn't the picture, it's the fact that students in her class have said that she's openly criticizing them for having opposing views on politics. According to the school district's official statement, "Recently, the school administration began receiving complaints from students and parents that Ms. Pillai-Diaz was using her position, classroom and teaching time to engage in partisan politics. Students reported that she had made statements which denigrated one party over the other." Also, according to students she has stated, "It's a good thing you aren't old enough to vote" and "you should be ashamed to be a Democrat." She has said the school administrators are lying, now she's saying the students are lying. There are a lot of people on the other side of this issue that seem to be lying and she seems to be the only one that anyone believes....

2). A direct quote from Sylvia Lee, the president of the South Brunswick Education Association (teacher's union). "She was never relieved of her duties and there are expectations that she will be in tomorrow," Lee said. (from the Newark Star-Ledger, Tuesday, Oct. 5th). In other words, the Union isn't standing behind her (it's important to note that apparently because she is a first year teacher she isn't represented by the union, but I can't confirm that, I seem to recall my wife paying union dues from day one, but I just don't know). Instead of showing up for work, she hired an attorney because the school district put out what she calls a "press release that smeared her." Of course, it was OK for her to go to the New York Times, Good Morning America, the O'Reilly Report and who knows where else she'll show up and say that she was fired, when she never was, but it's not OK for the school district to put their side of the story out. From the beginning she stated that she was fired and that she was told to turn over her keys. I don't see her saying anything about the keys in any of the recent interviews, did she forget that part?

3). During the first meeting on Friday, she was not asked for her keys, she was not fired, principals do not have hiring or firing authority in the South Brunswick School district (nor in any that I've been part of and I've been a member of a school board in the past).

4). This is her third school district in six years of teaching, why is she moving around so much? Has anyone called the school she worked for in Brooklyn to find out why she left, how about Tenafly, NJ? I wonder if this is a pattern...

Unfortunately I haven't had the opportunity to talk to other teachers in her unit to see what they think of this situation, but my wife has stated that they have some pretty strong opinions of her and what's going on and from what I understand there are very few, if any, teachers in the building that back her on this. That says a lot to me because as we all know, teachers typically stick together, but it doesn't seem like it on this one.

The bigger issue that I'm upset about is things like people sending emails to my wife, who has absolutely nothing to do with this situation saying things like, 'You people should be ashamed of yourselves...' So because my wife, who's taught in this district for nine years, happens to be in the same building with this woman, she should be ashamed of where she works and what she's done for her students for the past nine years? Are you kidding me? I'm also amazed that people who have no idea of this situation are comparing this to communism, calling for people to send letters and emails to the administrators, call the school, etc., without the whole story. I spoke to the woman that answers the phone at school today, a wonderful woman that is always cheerful on the phone when I call to speak to my wife, can you imagine what she's had to go through? Here's a woman that comes to work every day, goes about her business, is an incredible 'voice' to our award winning school and she's being harassed by people all over the country because they think they know what went on in our school. Put yourself in her shoes for two minutes, what did she do to offend anyone? Why should she have to put up with these calls? And please, don't tell me it's the price you pay or anything else ridiculous like that, I assure you, she doesn't get paid enough money to put up with the stuff she's had to put up with.

The best quote I've heard through this entire thing is, "We are one lie away from being ruined." I'm not going to mention who said it, but it was said a long time before this, unfortunately for him, it's entirely possible that it might come true for him, which is sad, because he's a one of the good guys...