Letter: Stories used for point

Dear Editor,

Last week the actions of two school districts regarding severance were reported on. One received much coverage, the $250,000 plus payout to the Burnsville district human resources director. The other story received little or no coverage from the main-street press, the story being the persecution and ostracism of Jada Williams, a 13-year-old African-American student from Rochester, New York.

The Jada Williams story surfaces as a Baader-Meinhof phenomenon here (“where one happens upon some obscure issue or person — and soon afterwards encounters the same subject again”). Three recent letters to the editor here addressed the same subject that resulted in Miss Williams’ severance from her school. She authored an essay that claimed that the teachings of Frederick Douglass are applicable for today.

As part of an essay contest, her school assigned “The Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass.” The teachers hoped students would connect with Douglass’ struggle learning to read at a time when African-Americans were prohibited from such. Williams connected: “When I find myself sitting in a crowded classroom where no real instruction is taking place I can say history does repeat itself. The reality of this is that most of my peers cannot read, and therefore comprehend the materials that have been provided. So I feel like not much has changed. Just different people — different era….”

Jada Williams’ truthful essay was critical of the school district, and therefore not entered (censored) in the essay contest. Due to continued harassment and unjustified punishments her parents eventually pulled her out of the district. The district refused to provide them any evidence to support their claims and actions against Miss Williams.

By refusing to provide documentation to support their actions, both districts claim a false privilege, that they are not answerable to anybody except but to themselves. And also proves the importance of school board elections.

Tags: opinion, letters, education