I haven't scanned it into the computer yet, but my letter was printed in our paper.
Here it is, if anybody wants to read:
To The Editor: Last week I read with interest all the attention Willett School received because of the "No Tag rule," and the responses to the articles in the Sun Chronicle bashing Pia Durkin, School Superintendent for saying that this whole tag media circus was a "non-issue", accusing her of being elitist and not understanding the common man. I read nasty comments about our new principal for single handedly turning every child in America into Obese whiners who don't understand the rules of life because tag was taken away during recess. Now, I have never met Ms. Durkin, but I have met Mrs. Heppe on several occasions, my son is in first grade at Willett School; and to me Tag is not a big issue. The second week of school all the parents at Willett got notices in the mail that our school had not met the State of Massachusetts learning requirements and that our children could transfer to another school that is meeting the Standards. This is an issue! Willett school started a literacy program where parents come in to their children's classroom and read books to encourage kids to have a love for books and reading, so far none of the parents have been able to do this. Why - because they have not been able to be Criminally checked (CORI) to come into the school and volunteer. There is no date yet, when these CORI checks will happen. This is an issue! The monthly Parent Teachers Organization meeting was last week. Out of a school of 400+ children, 20 people were at the meeting. This number included Teachers and the Principal. Where are all the people who care about their children not being able to play tag? Everyone was so outraged, they stayed home? I think people have forgotten how this whole mess started. A simple article was published about Willett School trying to earn funds to build a new playground. The playground is old and children get a lot of splinters when they are trying to play at recess. Some days the kids have not been able to play on the equipment at all because of wasps and bee's making homes in the old wood structure. We just wanted a new safe play structure. We did not ask for this media attention. We did not ask for the children walking home to be accosted by news media in unmarked vans. We did not ask to be an international joke. We asked for the communities help in raising funds for a fun place to play. Willett School has the most children from low income families of any school in Attleboro. Some of the children come home to apartments, or multi-family homes and the Willett playground is the only one they will get to play on. I live in one of the poorest sections of Attleboro, and the only play area is the street in front of my house. So again, Tag is not an issue. No one has been hurt from not playing Tag. Children have been hurt from old playground equipment. Children have been hurt from not being able to read and do math. Children have been hurt by apathy. Everyone who is so upset about the No Tag issue, do something to actually help Willett School! Volunteer, Go to a PTO meeting, send in Box Tops for Education , do something besides complain to help our kids.
