S
spaethg0
Guest
What is the name of your state? New Jersey (NJ)
I wrote a letter as follows:
June 29, 2004
Mr. X
College in New Jersey
Dear X,
Several complaints have come to my attention regarding the teaching styles of Ms. Y at College in New Jersey. Ms. Y is consistently condescending towards her students and more so when she has had come back from a bereavement and her ankle fractured. Striking me most is her ignorance to those students with learning disabilities. These young adults are at CNJ to improve their education and struggle doing so. However, she feels that the special circumstances or treatment they may receive are silly. By taking students aside and verbally telling them such comments as they are “too stupid to be in college” is a heinous act by anyone in the position of education. Ms. Y’s actions have gone on for years and it is time her violations of proper conduct are responded to accordingly.
Sincerely,
Me
Cc: Ms. Y, Assistant Professor
Cc: Vice-President of NJEA
Cc: Ms. Z, Morris County Council of Education Association
Also had the following email correspondence:
The students need to contact me directly. I will speak with each individually. Also, as these students are adults in college, I will not be able to discuss their comments with anyone but the students themselves.
-----Original Message-----
From: Me
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2004 1:06 PM
To: Important School Board Person
Subject: RE: Professor Y
I will see what can be done. For the safety of those students who might be taking her this summer, as well as in the fall, this might be a difficult task. I have written on behalf of several students who expressed great displeasure having her as a professor. I'll see if a gathering of these students can be made and we can schedule a meet.
Thank you,
Me
-----Original Message-----
From: Important College Person
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2004 12:28 PM
To: Gene Spaeth
Cc: Important People including Ms. Y
Subject: RE: Professor Y
Thank you for the information sent.
As chair of the English and Philosophy Department, I am the person these students should see. Please have them contact me.
-----Original Message-----
From: Me
Sent: Friday, July 09, 2004 10:18 PM
To: Important People at college
Cc: Subject: Professor Y
Pertaining to the letter received from Mr. X at College and carbon copied to those addressed, attached is my letter that was originally mailed, for your records. As requested, my complaint is now forwarded to the appropriate parties. Please let me know if I can be of any other assistance.
Thank you for your time in this important matter.
-Me
I received a letter from Ms. X's attorney advising they are in receipt of letters to high ranking officials at College. They write as follows.
"I am in receipt of your letters to high ranking officials of the College and others, which make scurrilous and false accusations against Professor Y. Without addressing each of them in detail, suffice it to say that each of your allegations of improper conduct or improper commentary by her to any of her students is absolutely false, and any contention to the contrary is completely meritless.
More serious than the unsupported allegations, however, is your method of communicating these falsehoods. I have been advised that you have absolutely no connection with the College, have never observed or interacted with Professor Y, and therefore are simply transmitting statements that anonymous third parties have made to you. Putting aside the inaccuracy of the false claims contained in your correspondence, this method of character assassination significally compounds the initial impropriety. Without providing anyone with the names of the individuals making these allegations, and the dates, times, and places which they occurred, Professor Y has absolutely no way to defend herself. It also leaves the College in an impossible situation, since it clearly cannot investigate claims which are apparantly statements made by anonymous third parties.
I suggest you have two alternatives. Either retract the statements because you have no personal knowledge of these false claims, or provide specific and detailed information regarding these allegations so that they might be legitamately aired and properly investigated pursuant to applicable procedures. In the absense of hearing from you within seven days of the date of this letter, Professor Y reserves the right to institute suit against you for libel and defamation, and will vigorously pursue all available remedies against you."
Now the background on this. I did receive word from two upset students who I am very close with. They want to keep anonymous, for fear from having this professor again, and from the school board. What action do you advise? Do they have a case?
Thank you.
I wrote a letter as follows:
June 29, 2004
Mr. X
College in New Jersey
Dear X,
Several complaints have come to my attention regarding the teaching styles of Ms. Y at College in New Jersey. Ms. Y is consistently condescending towards her students and more so when she has had come back from a bereavement and her ankle fractured. Striking me most is her ignorance to those students with learning disabilities. These young adults are at CNJ to improve their education and struggle doing so. However, she feels that the special circumstances or treatment they may receive are silly. By taking students aside and verbally telling them such comments as they are “too stupid to be in college” is a heinous act by anyone in the position of education. Ms. Y’s actions have gone on for years and it is time her violations of proper conduct are responded to accordingly.
Sincerely,
Me
Cc: Ms. Y, Assistant Professor
Cc: Vice-President of NJEA
Cc: Ms. Z, Morris County Council of Education Association
Also had the following email correspondence:
The students need to contact me directly. I will speak with each individually. Also, as these students are adults in college, I will not be able to discuss their comments with anyone but the students themselves.
-----Original Message-----
From: Me
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2004 1:06 PM
To: Important School Board Person
Subject: RE: Professor Y
I will see what can be done. For the safety of those students who might be taking her this summer, as well as in the fall, this might be a difficult task. I have written on behalf of several students who expressed great displeasure having her as a professor. I'll see if a gathering of these students can be made and we can schedule a meet.
Thank you,
Me
-----Original Message-----
From: Important College Person
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2004 12:28 PM
To: Gene Spaeth
Cc: Important People including Ms. Y
Subject: RE: Professor Y
Thank you for the information sent.
As chair of the English and Philosophy Department, I am the person these students should see. Please have them contact me.
-----Original Message-----
From: Me
Sent: Friday, July 09, 2004 10:18 PM
To: Important People at college
Cc: Subject: Professor Y
Pertaining to the letter received from Mr. X at College and carbon copied to those addressed, attached is my letter that was originally mailed, for your records. As requested, my complaint is now forwarded to the appropriate parties. Please let me know if I can be of any other assistance.
Thank you for your time in this important matter.
-Me
I received a letter from Ms. X's attorney advising they are in receipt of letters to high ranking officials at College. They write as follows.
"I am in receipt of your letters to high ranking officials of the College and others, which make scurrilous and false accusations against Professor Y. Without addressing each of them in detail, suffice it to say that each of your allegations of improper conduct or improper commentary by her to any of her students is absolutely false, and any contention to the contrary is completely meritless.
More serious than the unsupported allegations, however, is your method of communicating these falsehoods. I have been advised that you have absolutely no connection with the College, have never observed or interacted with Professor Y, and therefore are simply transmitting statements that anonymous third parties have made to you. Putting aside the inaccuracy of the false claims contained in your correspondence, this method of character assassination significally compounds the initial impropriety. Without providing anyone with the names of the individuals making these allegations, and the dates, times, and places which they occurred, Professor Y has absolutely no way to defend herself. It also leaves the College in an impossible situation, since it clearly cannot investigate claims which are apparantly statements made by anonymous third parties.
I suggest you have two alternatives. Either retract the statements because you have no personal knowledge of these false claims, or provide specific and detailed information regarding these allegations so that they might be legitamately aired and properly investigated pursuant to applicable procedures. In the absense of hearing from you within seven days of the date of this letter, Professor Y reserves the right to institute suit against you for libel and defamation, and will vigorously pursue all available remedies against you."
Now the background on this. I did receive word from two upset students who I am very close with. They want to keep anonymous, for fear from having this professor again, and from the school board. What action do you advise? Do they have a case?
Thank you.