Vote No on Issue 11

Dan Shields · Post by **Dan Shields** » Thu May 03, 2007 2:04 pm

I have read with great interest the discussions surrounding the upcoming vote on Issue 11. I intend to vote No on Issue 11 and would urge Lakewood residents to vote against this issue for the following three reasons:

1. It appears that this issue is being spearheaded by and will only benefit one person at this time - Ryan Patrick Demro. I believe that it is an abuse of the democratic process for one person - Councilman Demro - to try and have the Charter changed so that he might potentially become a teacher in Lakewood.

2. The argument has been put forth that the Lakewood City Charter 'restricts residents civil rights' by preventing school board employees from seeking public office. The civil rights of the residents of Lakewood and all Ohio citizens are protected by the Ohio and United States Constitutions. There is no constitutionally protected right here, when school board employees and elected office are kept separate by Charter.

3. As a member of the 2005 Charter Review Commission, I can state that this issue was debated at length. The commissioners decided that irrespective of the original intent from 1910, politics should be kept out of the schools and the Charter not be changed.

I again urge a No vote on Issue 11.

Ivor Karabatkovic · Post by **Ivor Karabatkovic** » Thu May 03, 2007 4:34 pm

I had Mr.Demro as a substitute teacher in 8th and 9th grade. I was wondering why he didn't teach anymore, because usually we saw him in the halls every day.

how did this issue even make the ballot?

Gary Rice · Post by **Gary Rice** » Thu May 03, 2007 5:13 pm

As a retired teacher, with all the emphasis that I can muster, I would second Dan's opinion that Issue 11 deserves to be defeated.

In the first place, conscientious teachers have enough to do, managing their classrooms, as it is. A good teacher might spend several hours grading papers, attending meetings, or going back to college for required coursework in the evenings.

Although a number of teachers do have part-time jobs, it is extremely difficult to manage ones time, with multiple employment commitments, when one is a teacher.

When you have to be up by 5:00 am to be at school by 7:30 am, you must be the best you can be to those students in your care. They deserve it.

In the second place, a classroom, at least in ideal form, would be where the teacher provides an open and impartial discussion for local, state, and national topics of interest. Historically, teachers have often kept their particular opinions separate from the classroom, or at least, leaving open the opportunity for students opinions to be valued, as well.

Students, after all, must be there. The teacher, in order to be an effective guide, must, like a minister, priest, or rabbi, steer a course of professional compassion and impartiality, for all with whom they are dealing.

To hold an elected office in the community where you teach, would represent a horrible conflict-of-interest situation, at least in my eyes.

This bad, BAD idea needs to be stopped right now. At least, that's my point of view.

Bret Callentine · Post by **Bret Callentine** » Thu May 03, 2007 6:20 pm

With all due respect. What a complete load of crap!

IF, and I mean IF this issue deserves to be defeated it's because of a possible conflict of interest, not because teachers should be kept barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen, all the while keeping their morally pure soul's out of harms way.

Gary, wasn't that the same line of reasoning that kept women out of a voting booth for so many years?

Is anyone suggesting that the possibility for conflict of interest does not exist with members of council who serve in other capacities?

Ivor, as far as I understand, Demro is actually still teaching, just in another part of town.

Are we really served as a community by forcing him to teach elsewhere?

I believe that it is an abuse of the democratic process for one person - Councilman Demro - to try and have the Charter changed so that he might potentially become a teacher in Lakewood.

That's funny, I distinctly remember reading something about Ryan Demro's career aspirations, but I don't think it said anything about wanting to work in the Lakewood Public Schools.

DougHuntingdon · Post by **DougHuntingdon** » Thu May 03, 2007 7:31 pm

If Councilman Demro becomes mayor, will he resign from schoolteaching?

Is this like Lord Bentsen running for Vice President and Senate at the same time?

Doug

Lynn Farris · Post by **Lynn Farris** » Thu May 03, 2007 8:18 pm

I completely agree with Mr. Callentine. This is an issue of potential conflict of interest, not teaching.

As I understand it, Mr. Demro teaches outside of Lakewood. He could also teach in a private school within Lakewood. He can not teach the way the charter is writen in a Lakewood Public School.

I was on the charter committee and Mr. Shields is right we did discuss this quite a bit. Mr. Davis also made his comments known in a letter to the editor in the paper.

Currently we have lawyers, county workers on council. Are lawyers not as busy as teachers? I believe Mr. Fitzgerald served as both a prosecutor and on council. I believe Mr. Fitzgerald was a busy prosecutor.

The question is whether a teacher would take it out on a student if the parent disagree publically with the teacher. (Or other examples like that.)

It also doesn't have to be a teacher - it could be anyone employed by the Lakewood School Board as I understand it. Obviously we don't want the superintendent of schools serving - but a secretary - why not? The question is where you draw the line.

On the other hand, we do have Lakewood City employees that are members of the school board. Mr. Favre - who is a policeman. Is that a conflict of interest?

There was debate, but we decided not to change the charter as it stood.

Ryan Patrick Demro · Post by **Ryan Patrick Demro** » Thu May 03, 2007 8:23 pm

I currently, and have for the past two years, worked full-time for a school on Cleveland's East Side. If elected Mayor, a full-time job, I will resign my teaching position. I love my profession, but frankly my City is in trouble and needs a leader to direct us out of the fog.

Laurie Campbell · Post by **Laurie Campbell** » Thu May 03, 2007 9:34 pm

Lead us out of the fog? I'm curious to know what that looks like to you, Ryan, and your plan for "leading" us.

I've spoken to you several times (unsolicted, at my front door), and the trouble here for me, Ryan, is that given the option, I would prefer if you were neither my council person nor my son's school teacher. Unfortunately, I'm stuck with the former. You've told me your opinions about gay families, and, while it's absolutely appalling that your party has launched a war on my family's well-being and right to exist as a cohesive unit, it's frightening to think that you could actually carry and voice these opinions in my child's classroom.

I'm voting no for Issue 11. It's bad enough that religion and politics are so disgustingly entangled in this country. Let's not let our educational system become tainted with the filth of politics too.

Gary Rice · Post by **Gary Rice** » Fri May 04, 2007 7:31 am

People,

The children of Lakewood deserve the best.

Period.

Jeff Endress · Post by **Jeff Endress** » Fri May 04, 2007 7:55 am

Gary:

The children of Lakewood deserve the best.

Period.

There goes that retirement?

Jeff

Bret Callentine · Post by **Bret Callentine** » Fri May 04, 2007 7:55 am

...and so do the adults!

Colleen Wing · Post by **Colleen Wing** » Fri May 04, 2007 7:57 am

Gary Rice Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 8:31 am Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

People,

The children of Lakewood deserve the best.

Period.

_)______________

So....Lakewood teachers aren't the best?

Seriously,
How about the janitors, cafeteria workers, and the whole variety of employees and citizens that for the BOEd.
Sounds like a lot of personal attacks on one person to me.

Jeff Endress · Post by **Jeff Endress** » Fri May 04, 2007 8:19 am

Sounds like a lot of personal attacks on one person to me

Colleen:

It seems that way, doesn't it? It seems that there is some confusion, some intermingling of Issue 11 with its chief proponent, Mr. Demro. That's really a disservice. Regardless of the messenger, regardless of the motivations (perceived or real), that shouldn't be the basis on which the decision is made. Sometimes good people have crummy ideas and vice-versa.

I would urge all who are considering their position on issue 11 to divorce themselves from anything but determining whether politicizing the schools is a good thing.

Then vote against issue 11.

Jeff

Ivor Karabatkovic · Post by **Ivor Karabatkovic** » Fri May 04, 2007 9:57 am

I'm voting no for Issue 11. It's bad enough that religion and politics are so disgustingly entangled in this country. Let's not let our educational system become tainted with the filth of politics too.

I couldn't agree more.

But I also do agree with Lynn and Bret that this would be a conflict of interest. Then again, the whole running for the BOE defeats the purpose of democracy (this is what we learned in government class over the last few weeks) because no one runs against the people that are running.

That's why board votes are 5-0..which isn't necessarily bad, but it shows that there is no room for conversation and that nothing that is proposed is questioned or debated before it's voted on.

Education is already slanted here in the US, especially in the text books. All of my history teachers tried using their textbooks as little as possible and taught using their own knowledge and showed movies, literature ( or any other historical videos) that showed the counterpoint, or the "enemies" side.

We shouldn't get politics and education mixed up. We'll have great new buildings and we already have a good school district. Let's not turn this positive momentum the other way and head for the worse.

Gary Rice · Post by **Gary Rice** » Fri May 04, 2007 4:24 pm

For myself, as I would only hope you all do, I'm only stating my opinion on an issue.

I do not approve of "attacks".

Vote No on Issue 11

Vote No on Issue 11

Resignation