Ignored no more

The mother of a child in Orange County Schools was kind enough to send me a Letter to the Editor she has submitted for printing by the News of Orange, the Durham Herald-Sun and the Raleigh News & Observer. (If any of them print her letter, I will link to it.)

[Update: Ms. Chandler's letter was printed in the N&O's Chapel Hill News on Sunday Feb. 17. Ut appeared in the Durham Herald-Sun on Tuesday, Feb. 19. I have still seen nothing in our hometown newspaper, the News of Orange.]

Dear Editor,

The right to challenge elected officials and express dissent at policies with which there is disagreement are foundations to the concept of American democracy. However, occasionally a board of elected officials behaves in such a way that even these most basic of rights are ignored. This is the case with the current Orange County School Board. There is an attitude that permeates this Board that is most unbecoming. As a parent of children in Orange County schools, I have witnessed some disturbing behavior over this past year. Comments made by Board members during open meetings, comments made between Board members and other parents, and comments made to the media by various Board members have left many parents feeling intimidated and undermined: bullied into submission rather than engaged in their children's learning. In short, parents fear speaking out against this Board for fear of unfair retaliation. I would have hoped that the current Chair, with his long military career, would have understood and honored this most important of American ideals.

In addition, the secretive methods employed by this Board only exaggerate these fears. For example, I have met many parents who feel as if the “real” conversations about Board policies do not occur in the Board room in public as they should be, but rather occur after hours, during frequent lunch outings among Board members, or in communications that are not in the public sphere. Doesn’t this undermine the transparency that is required of a school board? It is time that the voters of Orange County step up and reclaim for themselves what belongs to them. Hopefully on May 6th they will.

A.R. Chandler

Efland, NC

The fact that I have heard many parents speak of fearing their children will be targeted by the Orange County Board of Education if they dare to raise their voices against the travesty occurring on King Street, tells me that this parent's concerns are mirrored in homes all over the county.

The best way Orange County parents can fight back against these schoolyard bullies is to support the only grassroots effort using the rule of law to oppose this rogue Board - Attention Orange.

If you care about fairness in Orange County Schools and the "concept of American Democracy", please support Attention Orange with your thoughts and prayers, but most importantly at this critical time, with your money. Please donate to Attention Orange!