For the six years that C. J. Huff has been at the helm of the Joplin R-8 School District, we have seen one public relations initiative after another and until the past year no one has ever challenged him.
Now as the walls are closing in around Huff, he has sounded the note that he has mounted his biggest public relations initiative yet.
Now that word has spread about $8 million in "might-as-well" spending and $11,000 for a six-and-a-half mile ribbon and an excess in spending (and not just from the construction project) that has placed the education of Joplin students in jeopardy for now and for years into the future, we are learning that if we speak out about these problems, and so many more that have been created by C. J. Huff and his administrative team, we are attacking the students.
During an interview on KZRG Wednesday, Huff talked about an "element that wants to see us fail."
The message has also been sent, without any subtlety, that if the media dare say or write anything negative about the school district, it is tearing apart the community and ruining what should be a wonderful occasion for our children, the opening of the new high school.
One of the administrative team, Bright Futures Coordinator Melissa Winston, posted a Facebook message saying it is time for Joplin to come together and warned "don't post anything negative here in response to this post- I will delete it."
Though I am sure that the thought never ran through her mind, that has been the same approach the C. J. Huff team has taken for the past six years, anyone who does not agree has been deleted.
The Facebook message, which has already been shared 89 times at this writing, is printed below:
Dear Joplin,
Remember what happened on May 23rd, 2011 (the day AFTER the storm)? Remember how we all came and helped and served and cared nothing about details - just people? Remember how we spent the summer rebuilding our schools and moving them and opening them less than 100 days after the tornado? Remember how proud we all were to send our kids to school August of 2011 and how good we all felt that we had done that TOGETHER!? The whole nation watched and celebrated with us - it was a beautiful day!
Now…3 years later, we are nearing the finish line as we prepare to open our last, largest, and most difficult building - the high school. We still have smaller safe room projects to finish, but THIS is the big one. We've had delays, but I cannot tell you how hard the Joplin School system and Construction Team is working for you - for your kids! I sit here and cry as I think about how hard these people are working - how much they've sacrificed so your kids and my kids can start school on August 25th.
Joplin…will you please remember that we are the same people today as we were three years ago? That just as much as we needed to come together THEN, we need to come together NOW! Please believe the TRUTH that you have an administrative team that is not perfect, but they love kids! And they love families! And they believe in this community! And they are fighting on your behalf! They need your support and encouragement now more than EVER! For most of Joplin, the recovery ended 1 1/2-2 years ago. Not for this team. It's not over yet. Please help them cross the finish line! Your kids deserve it - this team that has given so much deserves it! On August 25th, may we stand together PROUD, yet again, to send our kids to school in a district that has overcome SO much.
Please don't post anything negative here in response to this post - I will delete it. This team needs support and encouragement right now - nothing else. So tonight, you can like this status and share it if you want - but stand TOGETHER. That's what made Joplin great THEN - it will make us great NOW!
#wearejoplin #joplinstrong
While I have no doubt as to Ms. Winston's sincerity in her beliefs, what a message to be sending to our youth- no dissent will be tolerated. If we dare disagree with C. J. Huff, we are harming the community and ruining a big moment for the students.
It is also a dangerous message- if you oppose the actions of C. J. Huff, you are opposing the children because everything he does is "for the kids."
The people who have expressed concerns and sometimes outright opposition to the policies and actions of C. J. Huff are not anti-student and are not against the Joplin School District. They simply have a strong disagreement with the course administration has followed for the past six years.
And to once again use the Joplin Tornado, which has been the excuse for every excess that has been approved by administration, is an insult to the people of Joplin.
6 comments:
She must have passed the crying test in the interview
Are they serious? We want to see them fail? Who are theytrying to fool. Huff and team 'ruin' what is a great thing and then when all their crap piles up and starts to look bad it is blamed on the public that we want them to fail?!? They have thousands of childrens educational needs in their hands. Believe me when I say, above all else, I DO NOT WANT MY CHILDREN TO FAIL! Huff failing is ultimately making my children fail. His carelessness is catching up on him. Instead of being a man and simply saying, Not everything I've done is right. People make decisions, split decisions, that are nit always right...he blames the world fir their wrong doing.
Furthermore, telling people not to talk is crazy. They hold jobs over heads and everyone kniws that. If you dont fully agree, you want failure. They want your head.
Our district has become a shame. Its an embarrassment to be a part of.
I pray that our children will be able to attend school on time. ..as late as it is. Huff and Team, I end by saying its not our schools, not our teachers, nit our studends that we want to see fail. Its the idea that if YOU fail us, ourchildren, that you will stop thinking that you are God all Mighty and see what is being done.
It must be a requirement that, to be a Huffette, you must adopt his way of thinking.
If you disagree or voice dissent on Bright Futures FB page...deleted!
If you work for R-8 and disagree or voice dissent...deleted! (Actually, in R-8 land you don't get outright deleted. Instead, you are bullied and tormented until you can't take it any more and quit on your own.)
We don't want to see the school district fail. We want to take the school district back from Huff and his fools to ensure the district DOESN'T fail.
Blind allegiance, guilt, and fear tactics lead to the Nazis, the Communists, the disaster at Jonestown, and Waco. Thank you so much, Ms. Winston, for giving us a relevant lesson of the dangers of not thinking and questioning. This will make great lesson plan material.
This coming from a school-affiliated organization at a time when we are supposed to be teaching students to use evidence and critical thinking skills in reaching a conclusion. What does R8 want? Unquestioning obedience obtained by exploiting the tornado. She is the perfect tool for her job, like the majority at MODOT and on the Board of Education.
Hey bartender..Another round of koolaid for everyone
Put it on Ms Winston's tab!
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