Dear Editor,Anyone who has gone through Delaware County public schools, especially Springfield School District as I had, knows that politics -- Delaware County Republican Politics pervades through every aspect of public school life. This is what makes Michael Puppio's comments, in response to an aide of Democratic Congressional Candidate Joe Sestak passing out campaign literature in a Marple Newtown classroom, ("Sestak Apologizes for Campaigning at School" 15 June 2006) all the more incredulous.
Mr. Puppio claimed that "Anyone…vaguely familiar with Delaware County knows that you don't engage in political activity in our classrooms." Well, I'm more than vaguely familiar with Delaware County and I can say without reservation that, from the GOP sponsored scholarships to class trips to see political candidates speak, Republican Politics were a huge part of the education I received from Springfield School District -- both in and out of the classroom. One instance that I remember vividly: on October 12th 1992 President George HW Bush spoke on a campaign stop at the then Springfield Township Municipal Amphitheatre. Some of my fellow students attended this overtly political event and returned to E.T. Richardson Middle School proudly waving Bush/Quayle signs. Where was the outrage and indignation regarding politics in the classroom then? There was none! Perhaps it's because in 1992, those were the "right" kind of politics and there was no danger of Curt Weldon losing his job.
A more troubling underlying concern with the reaction to what happened on June 1st in Marple Newtown is the fear of our children becoming politically engaged and educated. Why are we so afraid of high school students learning more about the people who want to become their leaders and where they stand on the issues? We can not continue to raise our children in a bubble of ignorance where only ideas approved by Mr. Puppio and Curt Weldon are taught and other ideas are treated as a perverting influence on our way of life by outsiders who do not think the "right" way. By allowing this to carry on, we're only doing our children's education an injustice for the benefit of the Republican Party. Because really, Mr. Puppio, isn't that what this is about: Keeping Democrats out of the classroom so that the Delaware County Republican Party can continue its unfettered political indoctrination of future voters into its ranks?
Christina Rockwell SHS 1999 Morton PA
Chrissy-
ReplyDeleteThanks for your letter. I have written to the Delco Times as well. I think they may publish it, but they seem to take some time before they print most letters.
Keep on speaking truth to power!!
Colleen
Joe Sestak is the manwho will bring the GOP in Delco down. Watch as the Bush admin tries to do another 911 before nov it wont work.
ReplyDeleteChissy, your 100 percent correct in your post. Amazing that people are so blind and ignorant as to what's going on in "good old boy" Delco?
ReplyDeleteThe American people are being royally screwed by the Republicans, and as the Democrats stand by with thier collective thumbs up thier asses. I put away my so called party alligence years ago, as I come to realize that BOTH parties are whores.
I'd gladly vote for a bum on the street if he sincerely would try to help his fellow Americans instead of whoring to the lobbyist here in Pennsylvania.
Also, on a side note: The "BAR association" is another racket designed to impede true justice under the colour of law.
Cheers.
Explaining to the person who e-mailed me about the above quote: "Also, on a side note: The "BAR association" is another racket designed to impede true justice under the colour of law." What I mean is that the BAR is a association of lawyers and judges. How can one receive a fair trial is the Judge in the case is a member? How can he/she be an impartial jury?
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'm wrong about this, if so then so be it.