"Whatever the specifics of the issues posed by this dispute, I believe it will do great damage to the reputation of the district if honest and intelligent dissent on the part of veteran teachers is punished by dismissal from their classrooms . . . In my year's of experience, nothing is more damaging to children than the interruption of their learning by a sudden change in staffing."
Jonathan Kozol, author of
The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America, 2005
Ordinary Resurrections: Children in the Years of Hope, 2000
Amazing Grace: Lives of Children and the Conscience of a Nation, 1995
Savage Inequalities, 1991
Rachel and Her Children: Homeless Families in America, 1988
Illiterate America, 1985
Death at an Early Age, 1967

Date: 10/28/05
We support your struggle for social justice in school and out.
Rich Gibson
The Rouge Forum
Syracuse, NY

Date: 10/31/05
The silencing of teachers' judgment is a frightening phenomenon.  I am heartened to learn of teachers who continue to stand for children.
Susan Ohanian, www.susanohanian.org
Winner of the 2003 George Orwell Award For Distinguished Contributions To Honesty and Clarity In Public Language

Date: 11/5/05
I applaud your professional, courageous efforts on behalf of your students.
Lois Bridges
Publisher, Heinemann Books

Date: 11/5/05
We in Colorado have heard of your courage, your willingness to speak truth to power regardless of consequences . . . You are an inspiration to all of us.
Don Perl
Coalition For Better Education
Greeley, Colorado

Date: 11/5/05
I laud your efforts and hearts.
Brett Dillingham
Teacher
Juneau, Alaska

Date: 11/7/05
I applaud your efforts . . . to make instructional decisions based on your assessment of the needs of the children in your class.
Richard C. Owen
Publisher, Richard C. Owen Publishers

Date: 11/7/05
Your courage makes me so proud of teachers -- brave ones like you. You are not alone.
Dorothy Watson
Professor emerita, University of Missouri, Columbia

Date: 11/7/05
Thanks and good luck.
Monty Neill
The National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest)

Date: 11/8/05
Bravo for your courage and honesty during tough times.
Regie Routman, educational consultant
Author of Literacy At the Crossroads: Crucial Talk About Reading, Writing, and Other Teaching Dilemmas

Date: 11/8/05
Stand firm!
Susan Harman, Ed.D.
Principal, Growing Children Charter School, Oakland

Date: 11/8/05
Thanks for stepping up and keep up the good fight.
KC Walsh
Teacher, San Jose

Date: 11/10/05
As the daughter of a teacher I understand and support your mission . . . I am praying that NCLB will be repealed.
Autumn Munday
Charleston, South Carolina

Date: 11/11/05
Hang in there!
Richard Allington
President, International Reading Association
Newark, Delaware

Date: 11/12/05
I've heard that you and some of your colleagues have taken a stand in favor of sound, research-supported reading instruction for students.  According to the law [NCLB] you can't be forced to use materials that are not scienntifically based.  I will personally testify to the documented inaccuracies in the materials you are being forced to use.
Elaine Garan
Professor, Fresno State University
Author of:
Resisting Reading Mandates: How To Triumph With the Truth
In Defense of Our Children: When Politics, Profit, and Education Collide
 

Date: 11/14/05
You are professionals looking out for the best interests of kids and your district people are caving in to the tyranny of misguided state officials! 
Sharon Zinke
Teacher, Berkeley

Date: 11/15/05
What a cruel injustice to both teachers and their students! Know that we here and Port Townsend are keeping you in our thoughts.
Ardith Cole
Teacher
Author of When Reading Begins: The Teacher's Role In Decoding, Comprehension, and Fluency

Date: 11/15/05
Thank you for taking a stand in defense of your students.
Kim Suppes
Teacher Mill Valley, CA and former teacher at Downer Elementary

Date: November 17, 2005
Elizabeth, I am soooo angry for you and your colleagues and your students  And their families and all of us who are fighting this craziness in other places.  If parents need any encouragement let us know.  But it sounds like the district has its back up against a wall. Reminds me of Bush and his team somehow.
Sally Thomas, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Chapman University
Teacher Education and Credentialing Program
Masters program Reading Certificate and specialization

Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 12:00 EST
Subject: Downer Five
I am happy to endorse what these courageous teachers are standing for.
Miles Gullingsrud
National Board Certified Teacher, Retired
Early Adolescent, English Language Arts
Coachella Valley Unified School District
Riverside County, Thermal, CA

Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 11:31 (PST)
Subject: Downer 5 have my backing, support, cheers et al

My name is Georgia Hedrick.  I am a retired teacher in Reno, Nevada.  I do cartoons for www.susanohanian.org. I am working on one now re: NCLB + Downer 5 and others NTLIP (NO TEACHER LEFT IN PLACE).

I've taught a total of 37 years, quit Dec 8th of my final year of teaching.  I told them: I don't do scripts, sorry. (It cost me: $14000 in sick pay never used.)  Taught 21years in the WCSD from whence I retired.  Taught also in CA, MO, and LA.  Have life credentials from CA and MO.

I support strongly what the Downer 5 tried to do--it wasn't radical or insubordinate.  It was professional.

Any which way I can help the cause, let me know. I write.  I draw.  It's what I do now.  gh

Fri, 25 Nov 2005
Jane Watson, 3rd grade teacher in Washington State
LiteracyForAll email list

Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 17:07
You have my full support .  Thank you for standing tall for public education.
Harold Berlak
Independent researcher
Senior Research Fellow, Applied Research Center, Oakland, CA
Fellow, Education Policy Reseach Unit, Arizona State University

Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 20:34
CalCARE - CA Coalition for Authentic Reform in Education

Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 11:19
I fully support your efforts at Downer.  You may use my name in that regard.
Alan Crawford
Emeritus Professor of Education
California State University, Los Angeles

Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 12:40
Please add my name and title to the endorsement list for the group of 
teachers at Downer Elementary in Richmond.
Deborah Palmer
Assistant Professor, Curriculum and Instruction
University of Texas, Austin

Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 18:31
From: Sarah Creeley

I have been hesitant to respond to [...]  the sad response to the teachers at Downer for 2 reasons: First and foremost: fear for my own position as a teacher in a school I love; ie. this action from the district is the 4th instance of involntary transfer at Downer that I am aware of. 

Cesar Cruz, was a Counselor whose things were packed into boxes as police looked on. Hundreds came to protest this action, and many, including myself, spoke against it, at the following School Board meeting. Yet nothing was changed.

And here we are now, with 5 veteran teachers being threatened [...] Two women teachers, (Why the women? I've been asked this and wonder myself) being removed midyear. Are they a threat to their students? I don't believe so. I've known Lina Prairie for 13 years. I worked with her and Eduardo Martinez during my 5 years as a Special Education teacher at Downer. Lina was an exceptional teacher trainer at teacher inservices for Math. I went to one of these trainings and saw her gift, and got great ideas that I still use with my 2nd grade students at Hanna Ranch. Ms. Jaeger is a literacy expert. I've never worked with her, but you would think literacy experts would be useful at any school.

I have heard/read in the paper many times that there is a shortage of veteran teachers at the neediest schools. Why then are these two teachers, with such exceptional training abilities being removed in such a way? This leads me to the 2nd reason I haven't written.

[...]

Why is it Downer that gets so many of these reactionary tactics from the district administration? Is it because there is a willingness to speak up against injustice and inequity? Is it perhaps because the Downer community realizes its power? This is what I believe to be true, and therefore am compelled to speak up, despite my fears of repurcussions.

Finally, I must say I agree that the new ELD beginning assessment has flaws, the Open Court has flaws, and clearly, the District's ways of resolving concerns is flawed as well.

Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 23:12
I support the Downer Five.
Dr. Yvonne Siu-Runyan, professor emerita
University of Northern Colorado
CELT, IRA, NCTE Member

Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 13:26 (PST)
Subject: Re: [LiteracyForAll] Endorsements for Downer teachers
Peter Duckett, PhD
Curriculum Coordinator, Cairo American College
Cairo, Egypt

Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 22:51
I support the Downer 5!
Pamela Perkins
Houston, TX

Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 06:31
Pete Farruggio, PhD
Assistant Professor, College of Education
University of Texas-Pan American
Edinburg, TX
Co-founder of CalCARE

The bureaucratic harassment and violation of contractual rights directed at the Downer Five by the school district administration is an outrage.  These teachers took a courageous stand in defense of their students and the integrity of the teaching profession.  The dictatorial overreaction by district officials reflects the growing paranoia of the corporate standardistas as their high stakes accountability regime loses legitimacy with the public.  All friends of democratic public education must rally in defense of the Downer Five. Read a more thorough analysis of the situation in my co-authored article in the December 2005 issue of Substance.

Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 07:48

I support the Downer 5 teachers!  I also believe they have not been given due process in this issue within their district.  I wonder why their Union is NOT behind them in supporting their due process rights.  A similar thing happened to me last year when I passed out an article by Elaine Garan, Joanne Yatvins, and Margaret Moustafa at a Literacy Coaches' meeting.  The Union came to my defense, saying I had a right to free speech.  I'm also amazed that the Downer 5's union contract allows teachers to be removed from one school without due cause.   Have you checked your contract?  Have you contacted your union leadership at the regional level?  You have my support and I believe your rights are being denied by your district.  Please contact your regional union office for support if you local is not supporting you.
James Venable
Title I teacher, Alameda Unified School District
Alameda, California

Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 09:16
Subject: Endorsements for Downer teachers
In Tucson, we've shared your letter with over 200 teachers to give them 
hope and a model to follow.  They feel oppressed by mandates that do not 
recognize their knowledge and years of experience.  Thanks.
Yetta and Ken Goodman
Professors emeriti, Language Reading and Culture
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 16:31
I am writing to express my support for the Downer 5. At no other time in recent 
history has the professionalism of teachers been so much as stake. What is 
happening to these committed teachers is disgraceful.
Lynne Hebert Remson, Ph.D.
Preschool Speech-Language Evaluator
Scottsdale Unified School District
Scottsdale, Arizona

Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 16:15
the five teachers at downer school did something that should not have been necessary.  they wrote a letter saying that, as teachers, they should be able to use their informed judgment to teach their students.  and, if the educational climate were truly about about providing the best for children, their letter should have been so innocuous as to go unnoticed.  but the climate is not about teaching children; it is about allegiance to a federal/corporatist agenda.  and so their act becomes a threat.  but the teachers did nothing wrong; they simply stated a 
professional position.  in the current climate, stating a position is apparently a punishable offense.  mccarthyism lives!
carole edelsky
Professor, Arizona State University
 

To: "Charles Ramsey" <hawgs@pacbell.net>,
"Glen Price" <glen@glensprice.com>,
"Dave Brown" <dbrown247@yahoo.com>,
"Karen  Fenton" <kfenton@pacbell.net>,
"Karen Pfeifer" <karenepfeifer@yahoo.com>
CC: <Alliance4MeaningfulEducation@yahoogroups.com>

Dear School Board,

    I understand that two Downer teachers, Elizabeth Jaeger and Lina Prairie, have been transferred out of ther classrooms and away from their students and school of over twenty years, because they spoke out against certain District educational policies.  Is this standard District procedure for perceived disobedience?

    I find it alarming that these teachers and their students are being punished because the teachers dared to stand up for what they believe to be the best interests of their students.  They did not stop teaching their students.  In fact, their concerns are based on well over twenty years classroom experience each, and their voices deserve to be heard.

    I respectfully ask that you do all in your power to return these dedicated teachers to their original students and classrooms immediately. Further, I hope the Board can find a way to address the concerns these teachers have raised about our District's educational policies.

Respectfully,
Wendy Fitch
ECHS Parent

Date: 11/27/05
Mary Fahrenbruck
Elementary educator
Tucson, Arizona

Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 15:22
I support the courageous teachers who are standing up for their students and other teachers.
Dr. Carol James
Retired Elementary Curriculum Director
Habersham County, Georgia

It's a tough stand that you've taken, but one so critical for the future of the students in your care.
Katherine Schlick-Noe
Chair, Department of Teaching and Learning
Seattle University
Seattle, Washington

Thanks for speaking up when so many people stay silent.
Amy Loubaly
Teaching Credential Program
Antioch University, Los Angeles

From: Gayle McLaughlin [mailto:gaylemcl@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2005 11:38 PM
To: 'Cynthia.LeBlanc@gw.wccusd.k12.ca.us'; karenepfeifer@yahoo.com; kfenton@pacbell.net; dbrown247@yahoo.com; hawgs@pacbell.net; glen@glenprice.com
Cc: 'March4Education@yahoogroups.com'
Subject: Transfer of Downer teachers

Dear Dr. LeBlanc and Members of WCCUSD School Board:

I understand that two Downer Elementary School teachers, Elizabeth Jaeger and Lina Prairie, have been transferred out of their Downer classrooms, where they love and are loved by their students.  I respectfully ask that you reconsider this action and rescind this unnecessary interruption in the emotional relationships and experience of the children.  Revisiting this decision is in the interest of all concerned:  the students, the teachers, the parents, AND the District and School Board who are held responsible for decisions that, for better or worse, impact the climate of learning. 

As a former teacher who has witnessed firsthand the grave shortcomings in our California school system, I can only say that any and all ideas that offer alternative ways to approach educating our children should be welcomed with open arms.   Certainly you will agree that the children of West County deserve the best in terms of educational policies.   And how are the best policies for our children to be determined?    When experienced teachers step forward from a position of principled dedication to their students, outlining difficulties with policy, it is time to listen.   Just as we need to hear the voice of the mechanic when he tells us our car needs repair, so too we need to hear the voice of the teacher telling us our educational policies are in need of repair.  It is hands-on experience in situations that offers the best vantage point from which to recommend solutions.

As a member of the Richmond City Council, I recently received an invitation from a School Board member to join one of the committees that are forming to give input on the design of school renovations, to be funded by the recently passed Measure J.    I welcomed the invitation and look forward to playing either a direct or indirect role (by way of someone representing me in one of these committees) in this effort.  Yet I feel saddened and frustrated that the same zeal isn¹t being put into policy renovation that is being put into the physical renovation of our schools.  Our schools have been decimated by state and federal policies leaving Richmond and other West County schools in a state of disrepair not only in terms of their built environments, but also and more importantly in terms of their ³environment of learning.²

Change is needed urgently.  The five teachers of Downer feel the urgency and are stepping forward to raise the red flags.  Please heed their call.  Rescinding the transfers of Elizabeth Jaeger and Lina Prairie and examining their concerns in the context of better educational policy-making is the right thing to do. 

Sincerely,
Gayle McLaughlin
Richmond City Councilmember 
Richmond, California

Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2005 09:04
I am awed and inspired by your civic courage. 
Gloria Pipkin
Lynn Haven, FL
co-author of At the Schoolhouse Gate: Lessons in Intellectual Freedom
and Silent No More: Voices of Courage in American Schools