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NW Classen plaque vandalized again


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The following are emails from Joe Quigley
(Posted 5-4-03)

(5-2-03) Once again the bulletin board plaque was vandalized. This does get real old. I wote to the principal, and the following is our exchange. The frightening things are what he equates this act of hate to, remember it has been repeated so that the vandalism has been done three times, while those things he equates this to are either outside, or not acts of repeat vandalism, and the seeming lack of understanding, assuming it is not a willful ignoring, of what message is being sent. Does this really back up the idea that the Oklahoma City Public Schools is safe for all kids?
Doesn'tseem to.
joe quigley NWClassen

05/01/03
Mr. Davis,
As I was passing the Community Bulletin Board on 05/01/03 I noted that the "Gift of" plaque is once again vandalized. It has been pried away from the face of the buulletin board as if someone attempted to remove it. Instead of being flat against the surface it is bowed out between the bolts. The right side of the plaque is also disfigured as if someone attempted to remove it by lossening it from the bolt.
Is it that hard to see what the message being sent is, and perhaps why someone might feel comfortable and justified in doing this act of vandalism?
After all when first removed last year nothing was done, and this year, although the plaque disappeared and then reappeared re-affixed to the bulletin board you continue to refuse to mention where it was found who had it and what disciplinary action was taken. This would make it appear that no disciplinary action was taken against someone whose identity needs to be protected. If this were to become general knowledge, as perhaps it has, it certainly would encourage rather than discourage such an act.
Obviously someone has a problem with who bought the board for the school, and feels no reluctance to take a physical act such as this.
Unlike the last time when the plaque was carefully removed without any damage to the bulletin board or the plaque, this time there is damage to the plaque.
Rather than ignore this act of hate, perhaps it is time to take and allow those measures that could reduce this type of hate speech which is, after all, what it is.
And, quite frankly, this can begin by allowing positive information to be made available without the Keystone Kops procedures so far applied to such things as displays for Gay and Lesbian Month, and by abandoning that totally transparent method of censorship, albeit selectively applied, Paragraph J. The more students, ALL OF THEM, see the truth, the greater will be the reduction in this type of act of HATE.
Joseph M Quigley


05/01/03
Mr. Quigley
Thanks for your mentioning the plaque desecration. I also have noted
that the plaque on the flag pole brick fence from the "Class on 1960" has
been removed and the memorial to the war veterans on the courtyard has also
been taken. In addition, the wooden picnic tables on the patio are being
removed and used for skate boarding and are in splinters. We have several
locker doors that have been vandalized and are no longer useable. As you no
doubt have noticed, we have secured the rest room doors so that they do not
close in order to stop the graffiti apparently by students. I regret these
acts which damage the beauty and pride of our school. I will be happy to
visit with you in person but e-mail conversations seem very "impersonal"
for something as difficult as maintaining school pride.

Let me or Ms. Roberts know a good time for you to meet. Again, thank you for
your expression of concern.
WD




05/01/03
Mr. Davis

I took these pictures of the vandalism to the plaque that I notified you of via a previous email. The camera is not very good, but the pictures give a good idea of the shape of the plaque.
Someone is making a very negative, if not threatening statement. With all the various groups celibrated freely THROUGHOUT the school, --ethnic groups, religious groups, racial groups etc. and done so when events relate to them, or holidays, commemorative months, or for just building their self esteem, and with the only allowed reference to a group to which some of our students belong, Gays and Lesbians, being limited to that one, single, solitary reference, someone feels free enough to try to take that away because they do not approve of certain people, or because there is a difference, the fear of which is based on misinformation, outright lies, and the continual obstructing of positive information without having to go through hoops?
There is a message being sent here, and it goes against all the claims of the district that we educate children according to their individual needs and that our schools are safe for all students. This is tangible evidence that kids need to learn FACTS, and when they see a list during Gay and Lesbian History Month of famous people who many of them admire, even the straight kids, or can read a poster, get on the right web page in the library, and who they are is no longer censored, the Gay and Lesbian kids get role models, and the straight kids get to see that in reality Gay and Lesbain People are just people.
We should be preventing bullying, and harassment,as well as any hate speech no matter how clever. This situation needs to be dealt with.
Imagine this being done to any other group. Action would be taken and the right message sent.
Joseph Quigley



05/02/03
Mr. Quigley:

Thanks for your investigative work on the bulletin board matter and I will certainly follow up on it.

By the way, were you able to determine who took the metal strip off the table in your classroom? If you know the students who sat at that table it would help stop this type of vandalism. I removed the metal strip from your room although I had requested that you ask the custodians to remove it. For vandalism of this type or graffiti on tables to occur with the teacher is the classroom is very disturbing to me. Please let me know how you handle the investigation of this matter.

Also, as you no doubt have heard, someone with small arms has broken the soft drink machines by reaching into the machine and breaking the retaining bar. They have been able to access the plastic bottles and leave the machine inoperable. This vandalism has left the north side of the building without a working soft drink machine. Any information you are able to obtain would help us stop this activity.

Also, as you have no doubt heard, the custodians report that someone is sleeping in the school after they arm the building at night. The location of the activity is in the Teachers' Cafeteria. Classrooms in that area have been entered at night. Mr. Jentoft and Ms. Pelletier both had their desk drawers rummaged within the past 10 days. It is in this area that the bulletin board is located that you have reported as being vandalized. It is my intention to remain in the building after the custodians have left in the evening to see if I can determine the entry point. Although a alarm is set off by this person(s?) the police and the custodial supervisor can never find anyone.They have found evidence of a person's having been there. A serious concern is that the building will be unoccupied the entire month of June. No administrators, coaches or custodians.

Thank you for your vigilance in seeking to put an end to the actions which plague all parts of our building. Hopefully one day we will have an adequate alarm and camera system which help identify the perpetrators.

Again, I am but a short distance from your room should you ever feel the situation is serious enough to discuss with me. Best wishes for a successful end of school and a restful and relaxing summer.

WD


05/02/03
> Mr. Davis,
> To equate the repeated vandalism of the plaque on the bulletin board
with vandalism to a soda machine is at best ludicrous, but in the main a
display of a total lack of understanding and sensitivity toward Gay and
Lesbian Students.
> As for the table, as I informed you the day you inquired about the
trim of the table, as it was catching on students clothes and persons and
was slowly coming further and futher away from the table, I removed it and
placed it in the back of the room. It was stored there until I was able to
find a glue to secure the ends of the rim where they met on the edge to
reduce the catching.
> Buty it was taken before I could do that. I was not aAwre that I had
received a directive to have a custodiaqn remove it. I intended to repair
it.
> As to the graffitti on the desks, we both know that students will
write on desks when they have a chance usually using pencil and harmless
words or drawings that can be washed away as is done in my room. You must
remember I was changed to this room at the beginning of the school year
inheriting the furniture and the condition it was in at that time.
> I am assuming that the reference to the unknown person sleeping in
the cafeteria after hours is a theory as to what happened to the plaque this
time, if not also the other times.
> If those teachers whose desks were rifled through and who may have
lost anything remain patient, if this intruder is the person responsible for
the vandalism and theft of the plaque, in time he will return things as he
did the plaque.
> sarcasm aside, as there is no room for it when it comes to the
message being sent, if this is the third time the plaque has been
vandalized, and along with two previous removals, and this last attempted
one, it should be obvious that the plaque is being targetted. I do not think
the same holds true for a soda machine.
>
> Joseph Quigley


05/02/03

Mr. Quigley:

Once again, my door is open and my invitation to you stands. There is no
need to waste time with e-mails when both sender and receiver are in the
same building.

 

 

 

 

(5-3-03) Got this response about the new plaque vandalism from a friend from college. It is good someone else also sees the absudity in the responses
Joe

"I just love the Theory of the Small-Armed, Sleeping Vandal with the Soda Jones. Tell him you use email because hate crimes need to be documented."

 

 

 

(5-3-03) I sent this reply to Mr. Davis.  Included is the email to which I am replying.    
     One of these days, and I hope before a student is harmed, the district is going to have to accept that it, INDEED, must have safe schools for all students and they have an obligation to take the necessary steps to make students safe which includes clear, inclusive policies that are explained to the faculty and students, not left up to them figuring it out or their individual interpretation. The political protection of having this safety in theory while keeping the inclusion of GLBT Students a secret so churches and politicians do not get upset is not only a betrayal of these students, but it goes against the district's own policy and mission statement.

Joe Quigley




On 05/02/03 you wrote

"Mr. Quigley:

    Once again, my door is open and my invitation to you stands. There is no
need to waste time with e-mails when both sender and receiver are in the
same building.

    WD"

Mr. Davis,
   As you are aware, we as teachers must report acts of harassment, child abuse, assault, hate, bullying, discrimination and any other harmful action directed toward any student in our schools, or any group of students to which a few or many belong.
   I have done that reporting in regard to the plaque and the message of hate that it sends.
   That having been done, the next step is to document further instances and to document how the situation is handled.
     Therefore, I have no choice when doing my job, and must continue emails and memos as documentation, not only of what is or is not being done, but that I have continued to do as I am required by law and by your own directive of August 21, 2001 in which you wrote, "You are hereby directed to report to me any incidents of harassment based on sexual orientation of which you are or become aware."
    This repeated vandalism of the plaque on the Community Bulletin Board is a form of harassment as it sends a message of hate. It needs to be dealt with.

Joseph M Quigley

 

 

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