Entry Seven: Letters to the Editor
From the December 25th Austin American Statesman:
In support of Gillespie
Re: Dec. 21 letter to the editor, "Author was inappropriate":
I take exception to the letter writers view that Spike Gillespie is an inappropriate choice for a book group leader of older primary students. In fact, Gillespie is a gifted writer and teacher who has considerable experience teaching both reading and writing to kids of that age.
My son attended her writing workshop last summer, and he absolutely loved and was inspired by her. After dropping him off one day, I did an Internet search to learn more about her. Her life experience, admittedly varied, informs both her writing and her teaching but not in a sinister way. For example, to do research for National Geographic's teen travel magazine, she took her young son on a road trip that spanned the U.S. map.
My son's elementary school is among those that are fortunate to have Gillespie lead monthly book clubs for older students. As an elementary school teacher and parent, I applaud the Austin school district for recognizing and employing this talented author. We want our kids to love to read and write. She is part of the reason why my son loves to do both.
LORENE WALLACE
Austin
Who spiked Spike?
There has been a lot of noise circulating lately that the parents of Highland Park Elementary students are against Spike Gillespie leading the book club discussion for fifth-graders.
My daughter is in the fifth grade at Highland Park. I know many of the parents, and I've never heard any of them voice an opinion one way or the other about Gillespie. Could it be this is a small group of parents, working behind the backs of the rest of the parents, who are trying to force the school to comply with their agenda? I wonder indeed if this could be a majority of Highland Park parents who, instead of going through civil channels, have threatened administrators' jobs to get what they want. I hope not. I wouldn't want to be counted as part of that crowd.
CLINTON STOUT
Austin
In support of Gillespie
Re: Dec. 21 letter to the editor, "Author was inappropriate":
I take exception to the letter writers view that Spike Gillespie is an inappropriate choice for a book group leader of older primary students. In fact, Gillespie is a gifted writer and teacher who has considerable experience teaching both reading and writing to kids of that age.
My son attended her writing workshop last summer, and he absolutely loved and was inspired by her. After dropping him off one day, I did an Internet search to learn more about her. Her life experience, admittedly varied, informs both her writing and her teaching but not in a sinister way. For example, to do research for National Geographic's teen travel magazine, she took her young son on a road trip that spanned the U.S. map.
My son's elementary school is among those that are fortunate to have Gillespie lead monthly book clubs for older students. As an elementary school teacher and parent, I applaud the Austin school district for recognizing and employing this talented author. We want our kids to love to read and write. She is part of the reason why my son loves to do both.
LORENE WALLACE
Austin
Who spiked Spike?
There has been a lot of noise circulating lately that the parents of Highland Park Elementary students are against Spike Gillespie leading the book club discussion for fifth-graders.
My daughter is in the fifth grade at Highland Park. I know many of the parents, and I've never heard any of them voice an opinion one way or the other about Gillespie. Could it be this is a small group of parents, working behind the backs of the rest of the parents, who are trying to force the school to comply with their agenda? I wonder indeed if this could be a majority of Highland Park parents who, instead of going through civil channels, have threatened administrators' jobs to get what they want. I hope not. I wouldn't want to be counted as part of that crowd.
CLINTON STOUT
Austin
1 Comments:
When I saw your letter to the Griffin parents, it was the first I had heard of you leading groups for AISD kids. Frankly, I am floored. Laura Bush maybe...you? AISD principals like to play it safe and stay out of the papers as much as possible, unless their school earns "exemplary" test scores... Unfortunately, this "playing it safe" attitude hurts kids, contributing to their perception (or is it reality!?) that school is a prisonlike environment that one must simply go to and get through. Kudos to you for the work you have done with AISD.
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