An editorial written by a texas school superintendant... did I say "I'm Proud"?

[w8liftinglady]

http://www.thedailylight.com/articles/2011/03/14/opinion/doc4d7e453a8da61292482169.txt

School chief issues open letter to Texas lawmakers
Published: Monday, March 14, 2011 11:51 AM CDT
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following open letter to Texas lawmakers, written by John Kuhn, superintendent of Perrin-Whitt CISD, was delivered during Saturday’s rally in Austin.

Gentlemen,

I am besieged, by a hundred or more of the Legislators under Rick Perry. I have sustained a continual Bombardment of increased high-stakes testing and accountability-related bureaucracy and a cannonade of gross underfunding for 10 years at least and have lost several good men and women. The ruling party has demanded another round of pay cuts and furloughs, while the school house be put to the sword and our children’s lunch money be taken in order to keep taxes low for big business. I am answering the demand with a (figurative) cannon shot, and the Texas flag still waves proudly from our flag pole. I shall never surrender the fight for the children of Perrin.

Then, I call on you my legislators in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch. The enemy of public schools is declaring that spending on a shiny new high-stakes testing system is “non-negotiable”; that, in essence, we must save the test but not the teachers. The enemy of public schools is saying that Texas lawmakers won’t raise 1 penny in taxes in order to save our schools.

If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and fight for the kids in these classrooms like an educator who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his community. Make education a priority!

With all due respect and urgency,

John Kuhn

Superintendent

Perrin-Whitt CISD

[kalli007]

1. We got this in out email

at school. I'm a teacher.

The thing that I cannot believe is that this problem could be solved- or at least patched- by a ONE CENT sales tax increase!!!!!!!!!!! This is truly ridiculous.

[Jazzgirl]

3. I am in Texas and wondered why there were so many layoffs.

I had no idea all they had to do was increase sales tax by one cent. I don't even have children but I would gladly pay one cent (or more) if it would help the schools and keep teachers in the classroom. This is ridiculous!

[Horse with no Name]

6. Their pledge to Norquist--NOT ONE RED CENT IN TAX INCREASE

I don't know anymore--people are so fucking selfish and don't understand the greater good!

[Bandit]

7. Rather than a Regressive tax of even .01 cent , why not a very tiny

increase on the very wealthiest among us...That is what is ridiculous...

[Enthusiast]

11. The right wing will

not let this 'fiscal crisis' go to waste. I mean, they created it specifically for this very purpose. Cutting taxes was the mechanism.

[WolverineDG]

2. OMG, he re-wrote Travis' call for help!!

Bet that flies over Good Hair's head.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_B._Travis#Travis.27s_famous_letter_from_the_Alamo

dg

[Tippy]

4. K&R....where has everyones, common sense gone???

Superintendent Kuhn is a brave man....and a good man

[Bigmack]

5. NOT from Texas...

but waaaay back in my aged mind, I remembered the letter from Travis at the Alamo asking for help.

This letter from the Superintendent is a mirror of that letter from Travis.

This is great stuff... using Texas sacred texts to fight Gov. Goodhair and the Teabag-licans who run that state.

Here's the letter from Travis...

http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/treasures/republic/alamo/travis-full-text.html

"Fellow citizens & compatriots—
I am besieged, by a thousand
or more of the Mexicans under
Santa Anna—I have sustained
a continual Bombardment &
cannonade for 24 hours & have
not lost a man—The enemy
has demanded a surrender at
discretion, otherwise, the garrison
are to be put to the sword, if
the fort is taken—I have answered
the demand with a cannon
shot, & our flag still waves
proudly from the walls—I
shall never surrender or retreat
Then, I call on you in the
name of Liberty, of patriotism &
& every thing dear to the American
character, to come to our aid...

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

8. +1 for giving the statement better context.

[MedicalAdmin]

9. Well - he's fired.

He said no. He complained. He's done. That's how it works in education.

[Snoutport]

10. a hero nt

[nykym]

12. But not a mention of

the stone age rewrite they are doing on the textbooks.

[patrice]

13. Exciting to see such passion dedicated to a life's purpose in service to children & learning!

I hope to hear more about/from John Kuhn.