Boston Globe - very interesting reader comments

Click on the link to view the reader comments that were posted in response to the Boston Globe article of November 30, 2008. The comments from those who identify themselves as being from Woodbury, Vermont are very supportive. Those from Woodbury School Board Chair Retta Dunlap and Woodbury resident Stephanie Fraser, who both oppose returning the Pledge to the classroom, in my opinion, continue to defend the indefensible.

Dunlap is also the Director of an organization called Vermonters for Better Education. The organization believes in the privatization of the public school system. I have begun to wonder if Dunlap is keeping this controversy alive in order to promote the closing of Woodbury Elementary School. In the end, that would be consistent with the beliefs of the group that she heads. If that were to happen, it is my opinion that she would win an even greater victory for her organization than just keeping the Pledge out of the classroom.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2008/11/30/one_nation_indivisible_one_town_torn_in_two/#commentAnchor

WDEV Radio - The Mark Johnson Show of 12/9/08

http://www.gcast.com/u/MarkJohnsonShow/main

Then go to: 12/9/08 Ted Tedesco, Pledge, Pt 1

WATCH the WCAX TV Burlington, Vermont broadcast on this issue.

The woman who says she has lost friends over this has in fact dumped friends because they support the Pledge in the classroom and she is OPPOSED to the Pledge in the classroom.

http://www.wcax.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=3164066&h1=Woodbury%20Pledge%20Controversy&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=169800&LaunchPageAdTag=News&activePane=info&rnd=76208763

LOOK at what I found on the internet. Standardized test scores that show about 50% of all the children at Woodbury Elementary are failing.

With test scores like these it is my opinion that Principal Michaela Martin and School Board Chair Retta Dunlap should have given the taxpayers of Woodbury a return of the Pledge of Allegiance to the classroom. But they did not and I found these test scores on the internet while researching the Woodbury Elementary School. In my opinion, scores like these that reflect about a 50% NOT proficient or lower rating are tantamount to educational child and TAXPAYER abuse. Imagine if the town road crew only plowed one lane of every two lane road in Woodbury. How the heck would that make you feel about the plowing budget? Would you double the plowing budget for the next year or would you find people who can plow? Let me make it clear that I have the utmost respect for the hard working road crew here in Woodbury. I was just pointing out that each town department has to do their job with the tax money allocated. The road crew achieves great results with their tax dollars, the fire department does with their tax dollars, but the school does not. For all the tax dollars that go into that school, about $12,00 per student, we are only getting about half the educational job done. Essentially, we are getting a $6,000 educational product for every $12,000 spent, and that $12,000 is more than almost any other town spends.

Double click on the document to make it larger or visit

http://www.city-data.com/school/woodbury-elementary-school-vt.html

to see this and more information.

KOGO AM Radio podcast interview

http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/18227/1h/cchannel.download.akamai.com/18227/podcast/SANDIEGO-CA/KOGO-AM/CF%2011-19-08-3.mp3?CPROG=PCAST&MARKET=SANDIEGO-CA&NG_FORMAT=talk&SITE_ID=670&STATION_ID=KOGO-AM&PCAST_AUTHOR=Chip_Franklin&PCAST_CAT=News&PCAST_TITLE=Chip_Franklin_Mornings

Those who OPPOSE the Pledge in the classroom.

Boston Sunday Globe - November 30, 2008 - Photo Caption: Woodbury, Vt., residents Robin Grant, Stephanie Fraser, and Heather Lanphear all oppose what the school has done regarding students saying the Pledge of Allegiance at Woodbury Elementary School.

WHO is keeping the Pledge out of the classroom?

For those of you who would like a face with this story, I suggest you go to the Boston Globe Online article to see who is leading the opposition to returning the Pledge of Allegiance to the classroom. Both Fraser and Grant, Woodbury residents but not native Vermonters, have spoken in oppostion to the Pledge being recited anytime and anywhere. Now that the District School Superintendent, Mark Andrews, and over 300 Woodbury residents who signed the petition want the Pledge back in the classroom, why does Principal Martin, Stephanie Fraser and Robin Grant block the will of the people of Woodbury? After all there are just over 600 voters in Woodbury. The Pledge is legal, traditional and convenient when said in the classroom. This is not about forcing anyone to say the Pledge. That has been unconsttutional since 1943. It is also wrong for children who want to say the Pledge to be forced to leave their classroom. Let the children say the Pledge in the classroom.

Another person in opposition to returning the Pledge to the classroom is the School Board Chairwoman, Retta Dunlap. In my opinion, she is simply on the wrong side of this issue having no connection with the recitation of the Pledge as she had little experience with reciting it as a child herself. As Retta put it to me, she does not understand the emotional connection that Pledge supporters have with the Pledge of Allegiance. Why she continues to miss the connection that the town of Woodbury has with the Pledge is beyond me. The message has been loud and clear. Retta Dunlap is a past unsuccessful 2006 candidate for the Vermont State House. Based upon her deaf ear to the community, it is my opinion that her political career reached a personal high when she was defeated in 2006 and any aspirations for future elected office will not be met with much support.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2008/11/30/one_nation_indivisible_one_town_torn_in_two/

Old Glory Radio podcast interview

Anyone wanting to hear the truth about the Woodbury, Vermont school principal and the school board that refuses to allow the Pledge of Allegiance in the classroom can listen to my podcast interview of November 28th. Just click on the link.

http://oldgloryradio.podbean.com/2008/11/28/interview-ted-tedesco-woodbury-vt-pledge/

E-mail threat to my wife from someone who, in my opinion, is a far left person. The VT State Police have been notified.

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Patricia:I have tried to see that you are not Ted, and that you are not pushing this dangerous vendetta.But it is getting harder and harder to believe that... especially when you call the HCTV station doing Ted's bidding.No one in this community stands behind you and your husband anymore.I understand you went to the T-Giving dinner at the WES and no one spoke to you. Do you want that? Do you want to be shunned in your own community, because that is what you are facing.Many of the 300 people who signed your petition regret the decision to sign.Furthermore, Ted is now being described in this community as a bully.And no one can refute when I describe him as a terrorist, although they don't like it and when I lay out my case: no one disputes my assertion.Both of you need to stop this now before someone gets hurt.Have your read the comments on the right wing blogs? They are being whipped up into a frenzy against this community and Vermont as a whole.Is this your intention?Do you want it on your conscience if some unstable person with a gun shoots up the school?Do you want to be responsible for that if it were to happen.Because you will be responsible if it does.You. Patricia. And I would venture: the law will hold you responsible. And so will your God.Not Ted. Ted is insane and you know it.You are not insane and you are enabling this.Hannity and Colmes? What the hell are you both doing?I am horrified by this. And you should be too.No one will come to your Barn Party. No one will invite your children to birthday parties. No one will want to know you.Any further move will only serve to ostracize you more. Is this what you want?Stop it now. Let it go. You got what you wanted.Stephanie

Tell them what YOU think!

Woodbury, Vermont - Pledge of Allegiance - Contact Information

Remember, by an overwhelming majority, the residents of Woodbury are supportive of the Pledge and want it in the school classroom. It is only the Principal, who is from outside Vermont, and the School Board, who in my opinion have lost their senses, that oppose the Pledge in the school classroom.

Ted Tedesco
Major USMC (Retired)
(Wants the Pledge returned to the classroom.)
SaveThePledge@hughes.net

School Superintendent
Mark Andrews
(Wants the Pledge returned to the classroom.)
(802) 472-6531
mandrews@ossu.org

School Principal
Michaela Martin
(Keeping the Pledge out of the classroom.)
(802) 472-5715
mmartin@ossu.org

School Board Chairperson
Retta Dunlap
(Keeping the Pledge out of the classroom.)
mountainfold@comcast.net

School Board Members
Lindsay Whalen
(Keeping the Pledge out of the classroom.)
lindsayw29@yahoo.com

Matt Hill
(Keeping the Pledge out of the Classroom.)
mhill@cabotcheese.com

Judy Sassi
(Keeping the Pledge out of the classroom.)
jmsassi@wildblue.net

Chris Casey
(Keeping the Pledge out of the classroom.)
Cgcasey@together.net

Hardwick Community TV
(Will not release the tapes of the Woodbury School Board meetings.)
(802) 472-6655

So you think that giving the taxpayers of Woodbury WHAT THEY ALREADY HAD A RIGHT TO is compromise?

The last position offered by Principal Martin and the one accepted by the School Board is that the Pledge be returned to the school during the morning free time prior to the start of the educational day and outside of the classroom. I have to inform School Board Chair Retta Dunlap and Principal Michaela Martin that our legal counsel, and ours is free, has advised us that this is not a good faith offer. Seems that for several years now, and based upon a Supreme Court ruling, that should only one student have requested a Pledge recitation meeting prior to the start of the school day and held on school property, the school would be powerless to deny it. Seems that the 1st Amendment to the Constitution extends to elementary school children. So what the Principal offered and the School Board affirmed as the last best offer is something that the pro Pledge movement already had a right to. To Principal Martin and School Board Chair Dunlap, this entire episode does not pass the smell test. To further make the situation insulting to the pro Pledge movement is that Chair Dunlap has gone on the record in the newspaper saying that the Pledge issue needs to be dropped. Exactly why the pro Pledge movement should drop the issue is unclear. Did we get anything that we did not already have a Constitutional right to? The morning Pledge recitation outside of the instructional day is not something that the school was empowered to prevent. The 310 plus taxpayers of Woodbury who signed the petition expected better than the fast deal they have been dealt. Now that we have legal counsel onboard, perhaps we will do some dealing of our own.

It never ceases to amaze me how some people JUST DON'T GET IT!

Before I go any further with this history of the very political events that have been happening in Woodbury, Vermont, I want to make a couple of things clear. First, there are no legal prohibitions to reciting the Pledge anytime or anywhere. In 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a lower Federal court on an issue involving the Pledge. The decision to overturn was unanimous, 8 to 0. Justice Scalia had recused himself as he had made some pro Pledge remarks shortly before the Court was scheduled to hear the case. Symbolically, the unanimous Court decision was announced on June 14, 2004. A date in June also know as Flag Day.

Second, the disagreement about the Pledge within the classroom is not about compulsory recitation. That has been unconstitutional since 1943. Imagine if you will, the greatness of our Country. Even at the height of World War II, the U.S. Supreme Court was willing to rule that no one may be compelled to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

So what is it about the Pledge of Allegiance in the classroom that, in my opinion, has both Principal Michaela Martin and the School Board, Chaired by Retta Dunlap, acting against the expressed interests of the over 310 townspeople and taxpayers who have signed a petition asking that the Pledge of Allegiance be returned? Remember, this town has just over 600 voters.

With regard to Principal Martin, I am of the opinion that she lacks any belief in the value to be gained from the recitation of the Pledge by students. The school teaches math because there is a societal value in the citizenry learning math. The school teaches reading because there is a societal value in the citizenry learning to read. What is it about a legal, traditional and convenient, (when done in the classroom) patriotic ceremony of 20 seconds duration that Principal Martin could find objectionable? Why is it that the Pledge is opposed by an educator? Doesn't Principal Martin realize that for someone to know of the fundamental greatness of their country that it would help if the school would educate in that realm also? Faith in the fundamental greatness of our country is not part of the DNA. We are not born with it. At some modicum of a level it has to be nurtured, lest we end up with self absorbed adults who think that the gifts of liberty and justice for all are not an ideal worthy enough to be fought for. Of course, it could be that Principal Martin does not believe in the fundamental greatness of this country.

With regard to Retta Dunlap, in the many one-on-one discussions that I have had with her, she has disclosed that she has had little life experience reciting the Pledge. That it simply was not part of her educational experience growing up and therefore she does not feel very connected to it. My representations that to most of her fellow residents of Woodbury, the Pledge is an important, traditional and fondly remembered American public school tradition, was simply met with what in my opinion would have to be called, a blank stare. It is my opinion that Retta Dunlap simply did not get it and is now in way over her head on the wrong side of this issue. Her continued insistence, at School Board meeting after School Board meeting that the Board had more important things to consider was belied by the fact that the Board took over two months to make the wrong decision in that they did not support the return of the Pledge to the classroom, but rather first to the gym and then the school lobby. That's right. You read it correctly. Those students who want to say the Pledge must now leave the classroom to do so. Do you think there is a message being received by the 5 to 12 year olds about saying the Pledge? By separate vote on different days, the Board affirmed both locations. It is my opinion that Retta Dunlap's name is now associated with blocking the return of the Pledge to the school classroom and her political aspirations to a seat in the Vermont Legislature, which she had made know to me as her objective for 2010, are little more than dreams.

Now enter the multi-town School Superintendent. His name is Mark Andrews and I am of the opinion that he is a savvy, educated man who came to realize that he needed to help Principal Martin and the School Board out with an escape from this controversy. After all, the other towns in his jurisdiction that recite the Pledge on a daily basis do so in the classroom. To his credit, at the School Board meeting of November 18th, he recommended that the Pledge be conducted in the classroom. Unbelievably, and to the astonishment of the taxpayers of Woodbury, the School Board refused to change their position and affirmed the Principal's decision to have the Pledge occur in the lobby for those students who desired to participate.

Next entry will discuss why the Principal agreeing to allow the Pledge in the school lobby before the start of the instructional day is agreeing to allow Pledge supporters to do what they already have the right to do. More on that next.

Standing toe to toe AGAINST the "Hate America First" crowd

My name is Ted Tedesco and I live in Woodbury, Vermont. The battle began on September 2, 2008 and still continues. That is the date of the letter I sent to the Woodbury, Vermont School Board informing them that the Pledge of Allegiance was no longer being recited within the school since the previous school year. At the time, I had two elementary school age children enrolled in the town school. More on that later. In the past, the Pledge had been relegated to the Wednesday morning school wide assembly, but now it had even been removed from there. Although the Principal, Michaela Martin, will not acknowledge she directed the ending to the recitation of the Pledge, it is my opinion that to believe otherwise would also require that you believe the Principal is unaware what is happening in a four classroom school with a weekly assembly attended by about 55 children and 5 teachers and staff, herself included. It is my opinion that if it had not been directed by her to cease, then surely one of the teachers would have informed her that the Pledge was no longer being recited. When you take into account the Principal's resistance to the return of the Pledge, as I will detail later, it is my opinion that it is plainly evident where she stands on the subject. Principal Martin is not a supporter of the recitation of the Pledge within the classroom. Enough said on that.

Those on the side of bringing the Pledge back to the public school classroom are now known as the Save the Pledge movement. They are composed of a wide cross-section of the town of Woodbury. Parents, grandparents and the equally important taxpayers who are frustrated to have lost control over what their tax dollars are failing to promote. Those on the other side, although lacking a name and unwilling to debate me or to truthfully represent their position except in the smallest of groups when they think they cannot be held accountable for their beliefs and expressions, wanted one thing and that was to keep the Pledge from being reestablished within the school. Notice I said wanted. There is a long story to tell here and much more work to do, but the Save the Pledge movement is winning. From the extreme left, this is a story of their deceit, their telling of untruths, their attempted character assassinations, their suggestion that the school might be the scene of a shooting which the pro Pledge movement would be responsible for (currently under police investigation), the destruction of the political career of the Chair of the School Board who thought she could resist the will of the people to satisfy the ideological extreme left (she badly lost a minor local election on November 4 for a Justice of the Peace position and now has little hope of making it to the State Legislature in 2010, something I know she wanted very badly as she told me herself) and ended friendships when the willing dupes of the extreme left found themselves isolated from their mainstream and patriotic fellow residents of Woodbury.

Back to the fight! More posts to follow.