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		NW Classen principal intensifies harassment of Quigley x

The following is an e-mail from Joe Quigley, sent yesterday to Dr William Weitzel, superintendent of Oklahoma City public schools, and numerous others

(Posted 9-13-01)

Just when you thought it was safe to re-enter academia.

     I was away from school on Sept. 6 and 7 attending a regional conference
of the American Federation of Teachers in St. Louis.
   On Monday, 09/10/01, my first day back, principal Davis told me that there
was something he needed to speak about with me which he did so on Wednesday,
09/12/01.
   My substitute had gone through my desk, allegedly looking for my class
role sheets that were in reality paper-clipped to my lesson plans inside the
substitute folder which made this search unnecessary. I had a recent copy of
the GAYLY in my bottom right hand drawer. It was not on display, nor was it
accessible to any students unless they went into my desk.
     It contained such articles as "Local Foundation Launches School Essay
Contest",
"right To Work is Wrong For Oklahoma", "Sign Gives Vitality To GLBT Center",
and "GSA'S Statewide Expected To Increase; GLSEN Prepared To Meet Challenge"
which contained references to my meeting with the principal at which he gave
me his written endorsement of GSA's at NWC and directed me to report
harassment based on sexual orientation, as well as the student request to
form such a club.
    I had brought this issue with me to show the two students who had
approached Davis about forming a GSA type club. I thought they would
appreciate seeing that the Community was aware of their work and supportive
of it.
     The Out and About pictures which contain no nudity, but rather pictures
of individuals in innocent poses and one of Ginger Lamar with two men (not
touching) were deemed offensive by the sub. She had complained to Davis who
then went to my classroom with another administrator and removed the Gayly.
     There was no need for such immediate action as the Gayly was IN MY DESK
into which I do not allow students to go.
     There was no need for the substitute to be rummaging through my desk.
The substitute registered a complaint with the principal, yet in violation of
contract I was not allowed to face the accuser as the principal relayed the
complaint, and my personal, non-offensive property was removed because of the
personal feelings and opinions of the substitute.
     The principal by his actions and by presenting the copy of the Gayly
with the Out and About section prominantly on top, along with the remarks he
made and his apparent agreement in words at this meeting and his removal of
the Gayly from the desk, agreed that this was offensive material.
     Apparently the principal cannot control his thoughts which obviously
turn to filthy and perverted ones when he sees an innocuous publication such
as the September 1, 2001 issue of the Gayly. He and the sub jump right to the
gutter, and try to press blame elsewhere as they will not   accept that the
filth they generate is their own responsibility.
    In spite of his words of support for Gay/Straight Clubs at school and his
empty claims that he supports GLBT Students, when it comes right down to it
he equates, without logic, any reference to Homosexuality, or things Gay to
whatever filthy imaginings he can conjure. How can he not carry this perverse
attitude over into his attitude toward the GLBT Students in our, or any other
school where he as an educator must treat all students equally and with
respect.
     His words and actions betray his true sentiment toward these students,
and he goes way out of his way to act on this.
     When I questioned why the substitute was going through my desk as the
lesson plans and role sheets were in the folder labelled "substitute" and
placed in the center of my cleared off desk, his weak excuse was that the
desk belongs to the district, and is, therefore, subject to the search of
anyone who wants to go through it, including students.
He drew the analogy that even though his desk is considered "his", anyone
could go through it.
I informed him that out of respect for his space and the fact that I might
find things in his desk that are none of my business, or may be related to
someone else, I would not go through his desk, nor would I have someone come
remove something that such an invasion turned up.
    Apparently I am now being evaluated by substitute teachers and am
answerable to their judgements.
   Does this man ever stop?
And more importantly, Why does he continually violate professional ettiquette?
The answer is quite simple, really.
   At the beginning of the year he failed in his attempt to issue a reprimand
for a fictitious act of defiance when he tried to broaden the scope of a
limited memo that was complied with when issued, and it was made clear that
in violation of the Grievance Resolution of 09/20/00 he had not given the
memo about posters that was addressed to "ALL faculty and Staff" to all
teachers as he was "directed" to by the district's legal department in
agreement with the local AFT.
(and he was NEVER reprimanded for violating this directive !!!)
    Failing at that, it is obvious he has decided to try again, but another
way, and has begun a systematic and deliberate campaign of harassment.
    Perhaps those in charge of the union and the district will see by this
that there is a clear case of harassment going on, and will take the
appropriate action so that I can return to just teaching my classes as the
professional I am, and give my students the good education I am capable of
providing.
I would rather do this than deny them a good education out of fear that
someone, somewhere might complain, or that the principal, perverse imaginings
and all, is lurking in the shadows hoping to find something to get me on.
     NWClassen has over 1400 students. I am not so important that the
principal can ignore running the school effectively so as to fire me on some
minor point he chooses to exaggerate.
    Look at how much time he has taken away from the effective running of the
district's largest school to give all his attention to the complaints of one
substitute, and trying to play "aha, I gutcha!"
DAMMIT, I WANT TO TEACH THESE STUDENTS. I WANT TO PREPARE THEM FOR THE REAL
WORLD WITH AN EDUCATION THAT GIVES THEM AN ADVANTAGE.
I DO NOT WANT TO PLAY WELDON DAVIS' PETTY LITTLE GAME.
CALL OFF THIS DOG NOW.

Joe Quigley
NWClassen

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