I got this email yesterday in regards to the piece
I published on Wednesday night. I thought long and hard about whether or not to make my response private of public but decided to go with the latter for complete transparency and to clarify some things from from Wednesday's post and my general mindset when it comes to MORE.
I want to first thank the person who sent it. This person will remain anonymous and I want her to know that in no way does Wednesday's blog post nor my feelings towards MORE are not any reflection upon her. In fact I have a great deal of respect for her and find her an passionate organizer and supporter of teachers, students, the communities, and education. She is a person I would want in my foxhole.
I respect her for not only taking the time out to email me feeling that she can email me and share with me what is on her mind.
Here is the email:
Peter, why are you writing these articles against MORE? We are on the
SAME side. You’re just creating divisions. With so many issues to
tackle, can’t you find something worthy to talk about...perhaps on of
the million of struggles we have?
I understand there
are many issues you might disagree with in regards to MORE. But how is
this helping the cause in any way? I’ve done much work for MORE, and am
deeply concerned about the plight of public education. Do you think it’s
right to criticize people like me who are just trying to make a
difference and help others?
In your article, you said,
“Time
for MORE to stop worrying about itself and this "struggle" and agenda
and trying to get kudos from the ISO crowd and start rolling up its
sleeves and doing something for others, not themselves.”
I’ve
spent so much time working with MORE and other public education
activism groups in general, at the cost of my own health, relationships,
loss health & free time and time to just plain rest. It’s articles
like this that dissuade me from the cause. Why should I bother when
people who have the same concerns and struggles as I do write such
offensive articles. Although there members from the ISO in MORE, they
spend as much time and efforts in this struggle as you do, if not more. I
am NOT an ISO member. But I respect the enormous amount of time, work
and sweat they have put into this struggle.
If
you and others think that these kind of articles are indeed in any
shape, way, or form productive to the struggles in public education,
then perhaps there is no hope for the plight of public education after
all.
Although
I have committed much time to MORE and other types of public education
activism, there was NEVER a time when I looked forward to giving up my
time with loved ones, my family and partner, and attending to my own
health. I worked with MORE because I felt I had a duty to. For all of
those teachers, students, parents and other public education employees
who are voiceless and haven’t the faintest inkling that they can make a
difference, it is for them that I continue the fight. In other words, my
activism with MORE and elsewhere has always been a GREAT sacrifice,
even though I have grown to respect and love SO many of the individuals
involved.
In
essence, I am deeply offended by your article, saddened that someone
from the same cause would write such a thing, and essentially, am
wondering if the fight is really worth it or if it will get anywhere at
all because of individuals like you who write viscous blogs against the
very people who are on their side.
Sincerely and deeply offended,
XXXXXXXXX
I'm going to try to address point by point but I'm to address the overall gist first.
If you will notice on the front of this blog on the right hand side there is a clock entitled,
"Days The MORE Duo Have Been Banished." As of me typing these words the clock is at 139 days, 5 hours, 42 minutes, and 50 seconds. That is the amount since both Mike S and John S have been banished from MORE. I need not write once again what stand up people they are. We all know that. I however will link the posts of what MORE has turned into (
here,
here,
here,
here, and
here). Let me ask you this. Would you not be abhorred with these shenanigans from any administrator, the NYCDOE, or even the UFT to any staff member either in your school or one that you just met in line at Target? What would you comments be if you read this on Facebook and it was the DOE doing this to a teacher? Knowing you, knowing what a kind, caring, ethical person you are, you would not stand for it, would you?
Both Mike and John were labeled as nothing more than misogynistic pigs. John was labeled as violent for supposedly threatening someone. In fact this person he "threatened" threatened John!
It would have helped so much if in your own way (Unlike mine and others big mouths) you spoke up for John and Mike and for truth. You think that within about 6 weeks of a new Steering committee that 3 members were extra-judiciously removed from Steering?
Three like minded members that along with two others formed a majority that's sole purpose was the betterment of what you say is the "struggle." Members that the Man Wearing the Red Star (And it's not a Heineken red star!) could not control.
I am sure you sacrificed much in this "struggle" (Which I would rather call a cause) as have I. But I will be honest with you. I know MORE and myself don't have the same goals, and I'll tell you another thing. I don't think you and MORE have the same goals either. You and I are on the same side. It is a side that MORE isn't on. This "struggle" is not for just a few, it is for the many. Your work has shown me that you know this.
The point of my blog on Wednesday was that I was trying to show that MORE, of course this is my opinion, still doesn't get it. That where the retreat was located, the message of the place it was located is so elitist. That MORE time and time again shows that the rank and file, that the downtrodden and middle class means nothing. Take you car. Drive through the Catskills, Upstate, Western NY, or the Southern Tier and these are the towns and the people that are struggling and want help. But help that doesn't come from the end of someone's nose.
Anyway, thank you for your time in reading this. I hope we can continue to communicate constructively in the future. In fact, if you still have my number, feel free to call anytime.
I've been listening to a lot of George Harrison's solo work of late. I was a big McCartney/Wings fan back in 
