Thursday, July 11, 2019

"To forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time." Elie Wiesel





Education is not the same as it was when I left it a few years ago.

Have you heard about a principal in Florida?  The story has not received much attention in the news.

A principal of a high school on Boca Raton, Florida, had an email exchange with a parent who asked if the Holocaust was taught in school.  You need to know that Boca Raton is a wealthy area with a large population of Jewish citizens. Principal William Latson  told the parent, " Not everyone believes the Holocaust happened." 

WHAT?????

I don't even know what to say about this.  

I know there are Holocaust deniers, and I also know that you can find lots of articles on the Internet that say the Holocaust never happened.  I am aware that when The Holocaust was happening, The New York Times refused to acknowledge and report the carnage and murder in their paper, so Americans were not informed about the atrocities as they occurred.  (Here is the link to that story. https://historynewsnetwork.org/article/10903 ) 
 But for an educator to tell a parent this statement:"Not everyone believes the Holocaust happened and you have your thoughts but we are a public school and not all of our parents have the same beliefs so they will react differently,"   I just don't know what to say.

Administrators are educational leaders and role models for students. To say that I am shocked and disappointed by his statement that "Not everyone believes the Holocaust happened"  does not describe my disbelief.

 Although the principal was reassigned after the email exchange, according to newspaper articles, he was not disciplined. 

I have had enough of the political correctness and the rewriting of history.  Saying it isn't so does not make history disappear.  I will not forget the 6 million victims.

End of rant. 

Here is a link to the story:  https://www.huffpost.com/entry/principal-removed-over-holocaust-comments_n_5d24baebe4b0583e482801a9

As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions. 
Rittman Publishing, LLC ®


Please invite Grady Gets Glasses (and me) into your school.  if you are not in the Pittsburgh area, we do virtual field trips with a group called Field Trip Zoom. www.Fieldtripzoom.com  GRADY GETS GLASSES was the winner of Best New Children's Book 2016 and 2018 (new edition) from The Authors' Zone.Grady also won a 2018 prestigious Moonbeam Award for Best Children's Book with Merchandise.




Visit Dede's webpage for complete details on her award-winning book, STUDENT TEACHING: THE INSIDE SCOOP FROM A MASTER TEACHER. Many colleges have made the book required readingSigned copies are available  www.dederittman.com Dede is also a national speaker on The Three C's for Classroom success: Confidence, communication, and Creativity; Avoiding Teacher burnout; and many other inspirational topics. 

I LOVE writing. And I love writing children's books- my newest passion. Although it will be a ton of work, I am looking forward to selling my books.  Since I was a secondary teacher, I know that I have much to learn about elementary students, and I will have to follow my own advice and be my genuine self.  However, I also know that I am passionate about helping kids who have to wear glasses, and that GRADY GETS GLASSES sends a positive message. I am willing to work hard and do all the things that also made me a successful teacher for 37 years. I remain inspired! 

Elementary teachers in Western Pennsylvania and beyond - I am willing to come into your classroom in person or as a virtual field trip through a group called Field Trip Zoom.  Check them out!  http://www.fieldtripzoom.com/ 

Teacher friends- let me know if you want me to read GRADY GETS GLASSES at your school. I am willing to come in to discuss the creative writing process, why writing is important, and personal fulfillment through writing, along with reading my book.  I would appreciate the exposure, and I would make signed copies available for purchase in your classrooms following the reading.  Please email me at dederittman@gmail.com  The website www.gradygetsglasses.com now has plush Grady bunnies for sale!
 Please like Dede's new page Grady Gets Glasses for updates about her children's book. https://www.facebook.com/gradygetsglasses?ref=hl 

Connect with Dede!

Twitter       @dederittman
Periscope   @dederittman
Facebook   Dede Faltot Rittman or Rittman Rules
LinkedIn   Dede Rittman
Google +   Dede Rittman
Tumblr      The Bunny Teacher
Instagram   dede_rittman  and Gradygetsglasses
Pinterest   Rittman Publishing, LLC ® 

















No comments:

Post a Comment