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The following is an email from Joe Quigley
(Posted 8-13-02)

this might be a little long, but you must read it to see what evil truly is.


This is an example of the length a principal will go in order to attempt to fire a teacher and make it look legitimate, even if it involves a very bald face lie. (Pay attention Dr. Weitzel, this is happening on your watch). In order to begin termination proceedings it must be establish that a teacher is willfully neglecting duties, and one way to do that is to show (or lie to make it appear) that a teacher is ignoring policies.
It takes big brass ones to do it, or at least the knowledge that superiors don't even have little tiny ones to deal with the abuse of power.
Remember, School let out in May. For the rest of that month, June, July, and the first 8 days of August I had NO contact with the principal of NWClassen, and although I taught summer school in a classroom at the school, it remained bare and devoid of anything "GAY".
As my classroom was changed from the one I had last year, the first day back on August 8, 2002 was occupied by moving accumulated crap from one room to another with little time to "decorate". So my room was unadorned and chaotic when the principal called for a meeting during which he reopened the "Issue".
Why did he begin this unless it was part of a bigger plan.
Now, if I had violated a policy or gone beyond any bounds, I could see his addressing me, BUT to begin the year on so negative and threatening a tone as set by his calling and conducting a meeting on Friday (08/09/02) to essentially ban academic freedom and freedom of speech, making affirming information for Gay and Lesbian Students forbidden, and issuing a clear threat that I would be fired if I adhered to the State Standards for the Performance and Conduct of Teachers was irresponsible.
I sent you all a summary of what transpired at that meeting and a copy of the memo I submitted the morning of August 13, 2002
(included here to refresh your memory)

(Heading)
In order to ensure that I adhere to those directives given at out meeting of 08/12/02, I am exercising the option you offered and request that you put them in writing.

Until I receive your reply, I will do my best to muddle through your directives as I understand them, and apologize in advance for any misunderstanding.

Instead of the requested written directives that he told me at out Monday meeting he would gladly supply me, the principal responded by calling for another meeting

(heading with initials)
Please come to my office this afternoon after school for a meeting to discuss your directives clarification request (NOTE: I did not request a clarification, merely a copy)
and other related issues. You are entitled to bring a representative with you. If this is not a convenient time for a meeting, please suggest a time, which can be held at your convenience.
Thank you for your cooperation.

Seeing no sense to having another meeting other than intimidation and further creation of a hostile work environment, I wrote:
(heading with initials)
As we spent a considerable amount of time in discussion at out meeting of 08/i2/02, I do not think a repetition or re-hashing would be of any benefit.
You offered at that time to give me the subject matter in writing, and I am simply availing myself of that offer. It would be of little value to repeat yesterday's meeting.
I do not need to discuss a directives clarification, rather, I simply need those directives in writing so as to avoid confusion on my part.
We both are aware of our sides of what you label an "issue", and further discussion, although cathartic, would be a waste of time better spent in other areas.
You offered to give me something in writing, and I am accepting that offer.

He wrote the following at the bottom of that memo:
Any other issues would be better discussed with the Curriculum Dept. or the school board.
Thank you for your acknowledgement of understanding the school policies at NWClassen
(signature and date-8/13/02)

The paradox to this response, besides it having nothing to do with anything requested, is that when you DO appeal to a higher authority you are told (and the principals love this as it gives them, in their estimation, almost dictatorial power) that because of "sight based management" principals control their own schools (sometimes, but more often ignoring the input of the elected Faculty Advisory Committee). In this case, while saying that any allowing of affirming information for GLBT Students should result from a district wide policy because a school should not be in the postion of having a unique policy, our teachers' handbook contains the unique policy related to the posting of materials in the classroom which came about as a way to be able to censor any affirming GLBT material by making it mandatory that before anything is hung in any classroom by any teacher it must receive approval from the principal which, obviously would never be received at NWClassen. This is the policy I exposed before that, although addressed to all faculty and staff, was given only to me so it was directed and pointed. Much like the after the fact Banner policy dreamt up by the Mayor as a way to selectively ban any Gay Pride Festival Banners on the OG&E owned light poles.
Principals pass the buck by referring you to down town, and down town avoids any responsible action by referring you back to the principal. The district's own Great Mandela).

As I was leaving school on 08/13/02 at the end of the day, I found the following in my mail box. In light of the above series of memos, notice how fabricated both the requests and the content of the meeting are in it.
This is to give the appearance that any subsequent actions of the principal are justified, BUT the record shows, as I keep all correspondence, that it is falsely created for such justification. (my comments appear in parentheses, so I would suggest you read it without them and then go back and read it with them.
Is the administration of the OKC Public Schools so disrespected by this man that in his arrogance he feels (and here I speak directly to DR. Weitzel and Cliff Hudson) that it is too stupid to see what he is doing?

(Heading with initials)
Thank you for your request for clarification concerning the school's policies (I neither requested clarification, but, rather, a written summary of his points of the 08/09/02 meeting, nor did I request such clarification of "the schools policies"). Although all other faculty members have had no problem understanding them I feel an obligation to point them out in the 2002-03 Faculty Handbook (the purpose of this is to imply I am unique in my lack of understanding of the Handbook so as to give him an excuse as to why I am being treated so uniquely while the rest of the faculty is left alone. He is trying to establish the lie that I am alone, while ignoring his own statement on the previous memo that I had noted my "acknowledgement of understanding the school policies of NWClassen").
Please see the Faculty Handbook for the following General Management and Faculty Responsibilities (Other than his repetition of J. Posting of Bills, NONE of the following sections of the handbook were even remotely addressed. He is obviously trying to create the impression that the meeting involved more than it did and to give the appearance that my "offenses" go beyond that of "Advocating"--his word during our meeting---so he can eventually advance the charges of "Willful Neglect of Duty" and "Educational Ineffectiveness". He is attempting to establish the foundation to claim I am incompetent and insubordinate. To do this he has to lie).
General management:
J. Posting of Bills (first and second paragraphs)
K. Appearance of Classroom
Faculty Responsibilties
E2 Lesson Plans
I Contact With Parents
Staff conduct

I acknowledge receipt of this memo

_______________________________________________
Joe Quigley

The above memo in no way reflects the content of our meeting nor the nature of my requests.

It is scandalous the length someone will go in order to deny affirming information to GLBT Students while claiming, as the district does, that we educate and treat all students equally.
If he cannot stop the kids from getting important information, he will stoop to lies to eliminate the source.
The suicide or killing of any GLBT Student, and their dropping out of school or mistreatment by their peers lies squarely on the head of this man. How will he, or those who fall for his lies and allow this callous attitude to continue, have clean consciences unless they truly reject GLBT Students while saying they educate all?
Rest assured, NOTHING WILL BE DONE. He will continue this progrom. He will attempt and possibly succeed in terminating my employment; the affirming information will dry up and GLBT Students will be successfully ignored.
It must be remembered, the largest High school in the District opened today (NWClassen), but while this was happening the principal spent time writing three memos, one of them unsolicited, unnecessary and totally fabricated. Yet, the charges of "willful neglect of duty" and "educational effectiveness" will not be advance relative to his obscene obsession--denying the existence of GLBT students, and preventing them from having affirming information conveniently available for them just as it is for their heterosexual peers.
Joe Quigley.

PS. Although he wants me to sign the memo to aknowledge that I have received it, innocent on the surface, but sinister in its purpose, I will not until I am told to do so by the Superintendent.
By the way, So far my classes seem to be filled with good kids, and rather than his crap and obsession, I would like to TEACH, Thank you Mr. Davis.

 

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