Reply #33: My letter to the superintendent... [View All]

[bbernardini]

As a fellow music educator, it pains me to say this: Rita Campoli must go. Regardless of my political or religious beliefs, I feel Ms. Campoli's actions warrant immediate dismissal from her position. A suspension or a reprimand is simply not enough. The music classroom (or any other classroom, for that matter) of a public school is no place to subject FIRST AND SECOND GRADE STUDENTS to partisan political speeches of this nature. The children are there to enjoy the educational benefits of music, not to be an unwilling audience to a graphic speech about abortion.

If we allow this incident to go with just a reprimand, where does it end? Will physical education teachers be allowed to preach the Gospel instead of teaching the children good sportsmanship? Will the cafeteria staff be allowed to hand out religious pamphlets with each meal? Allowing Ms. Campoli to remain in her position is only the first step on what could become a VERY slippery slope.