This letter is what I'll be handing over to my principal and superintendent. Let me know if I should add or change anything on the last page.
Thanks. Oh, yeah, enjoy!
(First page)
Incident that occurred with Tracy Benitz
Tracy approached me as I was conducting personal business with a photography client. (I also had my 3 year old daughter with me.) The incident that will be explained took place at Lindsay Miller’s house around 4pm on November 19, 2007.
I was leaving the residence of Mrs. Miller’s, I had just stepped out the door, when Tracy followed me out and asked me to explain what occurred with her son, Jett Benitz, during his library class last Wednesday. I explained the detention and reason for the detention to Tracy, as well as I could, since it had occurred almost a week ago. I explained to Tracy that Jett had 1 week to complete an assignment and then another two weeks to get that assignment turned in. Jett, along with his entire class, was told that if the assignment were not turned in by the end of the two weeks, a detention would need to be served. Jett, along with his class, was reminded of this at least two times each week; as that is how often I meet with the students each week. On the final due date, I asked Jett to hand in his assignment, he responded that his mother had thrown it away and he said to me, “You need to give me another one.” I responded, “No, Jett, I do not need to give you another one.” I then proceeded to explain to him that he had known about the deadline for well over two weeks, and that he had numerous chances to ask for another paper. While I was speaking, Jett continued to interrupt me and tell me that I need to just give him another sheet. I did raise my voice towards Jett in order to be heard, and I also explained to Jett that disrespecting and back-talking towards me would not do him any good. I ended the conversation by informing Jett that his detention would need to be served that Friday.
Tracy listened to my explanation, claimed that I ‘yelled at and embarrassed Jett in front of his friends’ and then Tracy proceeded to threaten me by saying, “Don’t ever speak to my son like that again, or else”…. I attempted to explain to Tracy that she had no right speaking to me like that, nor was it the right time and place to discuss those matters. I attempted to explain to Tracy that her accusations held no merit and were not the truth. I also attempted to explain to Tracy that she should have voiced her concerns, last week at school, when the detention with Jett was served. Tracy continued on with telling me that I need to teach differently and that detentions should not be given since library work is not graded. Tracy asked me as to why I did not contact her regarding Jett’s behavior, I responded by informing Tracy that Jett does not always misbehave, this was one incident, and that I didn’t feel that the incident was big nor horrible enough to require a phone call to her. I also explained that phone calls home are made to praise the child or when the child is in serious trouble. I tried to explain to Tracy that sometimes misbehavior comes from the fact that a kid is just being a kid, and that I don’t have time to call every parent regarding those small incidents that take place in the library. I don’t think she heard much of my explanation, as she continued to throw accusations around and raise her voice with me, never giving me a chance to explain in greater detail my reasoning.
Tracy then claimed that she tried to contact me at school three times last week, however I only have word of that contact attempt being made once, and that was on Thursday. (I was absent that particular Thursday as I had a procedure done with a GI doctor.) I tried to explain to Tracy that I had only known of the one attempt at contact and that I was gone that day. Tracy then responded, “Well, you need to keep your personal life separate and remain at school doing your job.” At that point, I began to walk away and Tracy began to yell out more accusations, claiming she had heard from people, that I have ‘bad mouthed’ her son through emails with Mrs. Fuller (again, another false accusation). I continued to walk away and told her that she could speak to my boss regarding problems and concerns with my teaching. I buckled my daughter into her seat, got into my car, and left.
(Last page)
I am in more ways, than one, upset and embarrassed by all that occurred.
#1-I was humiliated in front of paying photography clients, clients that view me as a professional.
#2-The time was the not the place for Tracy to approach me, as again, I was conducting personal business, it was not during school/work hours, and my daughter was present.
#3-The accusations thrown by Tracy, directed at me, hold no truth or merit but I was not able to explain this, as Tracy would not give me the chance.
#4-The fit that Tracy threw was immature and uncalled for. She has done this more than once, and never seems to understand how wrong it is.
#5-I feel that I should not have to stand for a parent to tell me how to do my job and tell me when I should or should not take time off for particular reasons.
If need be, I will explain now as to why work given during library lessons should be taken seriously and should be completed within given timelines.
As a media specialist (librarian) it is my job to teach the students, in all grades, information literacy. This includes reading, writing, technology, and research. I teach students how to research by using nonfiction books, dictionaries, the encyclopedia, and the Internet. I teach students the correct ways to find reliable, true information. I teach students how to correctly cite their information. I also teach students the pros/cons of technology and how they can use it to increase their knowledge. I spend my time preparing students for state assessments by reading with them, to them, and having them read to me. I am able to prepare the students through discussions of story elements, and I observe the students’ reading comprehension skills. All of this is done so that I can better see what areas need focused on, and what areas can use improvement. The students are able to benefit in so many ways. The students, by taking the skills learned during library lessons, can better complete curriculum assignments. They can research on their own, and make use of available resources with the understanding and knowledge of what can be taken from those resources. The students learn life skills during library lessons. They learn the importance of reliable information and how to acquire knowledge. The students learn reading skills and comprehension skills and are better able to perform on state and class assessments.
The reasoning for my requiring completion of the assignments is so that I have a way to evaluate the students’ learning. Without the completed assignments, a student may fall behind and not be able to acquire the necessary knowledge that will be needed throughout his/her life. With the completed assignments, I am able to review the students’ learned knowledge, and can emphasize my focus on the areas that the students need to improve and master.
