May 21, 2004

"Debacle" at East High School

Highly respected East High School biology teacher Paul de Vair, who chairs the school's National Honor Society Selection Committee, wrote a two-and-a-half page memo to Principal Catherine Tillman on May 7.

It starts, "I am writing this letter to formally protest the debacle involving six honor students who were elected to the National Honor Society by the Selection Committee and who were denied membership on the day of the induction ceremony."

He goes through the details of "the mess you (Tillman) created," resigns as chair of the Selection Committee, and concludes in italics, " Never in my 40 years in education (which includes MTI and WEAC presidencies and terms on the NEA Board of Directors) have I seen a faculty's spirit and enthusiasm plunge so rapidly as it has in the last 2 years at East High School."

Mr. du Vair's memo seems to be a public document, so I assume that I'm not violating any confidences by quoting it. He copied it to President, Board of Education; Superintendent of Schools; NHS Selection Committee; East High School Administration; EHS Faculty and Staff.

Ed Blume

Posted by Ed Blume at May 21, 2004 07:50 PM | TrackBack
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