Posted on 06/02/2005 6:09:18 AM PDT by FreeKeys
Marine Corps Sgt. Zach Richardson survived Iraq, but not Carson Middle School in Greensboro.
When Richardson walked into the Greene County school last week, he expected to meet some of the sixth-graders who had written to him during his seven-month deployment.
Instead, he was shown the door, coming under the scrutiny of a principal enforcing a policy that requires prior approval for visiting speakers.
Principal Ulrica Corbett told teacher Matthew Lund, the Marine's host and former college roommate, to escort Richardson from the campus.
On Wednesday, after the incident had gotten attention across the nation, the superintendent of Greene County Schools apologized to Richardson and "all our other military personnel."
Richardson, 24, who corresponded with Lund's students while he served in the Persian Gulf, said he is still perplexed about what happened. "I know the principal wasn't trying to sabotage everything," he said. "I don't know what she was thinking."
His treatment, coming a few days before the Memorial Day holiday, led to front-page coverage in the local weekly, The Herald-Journal.
The story, written by 35-year editor Carey Williams and capped with a triple-decker headline, attracted the attention of talk radio and then the nation.
By Wednesday, people from Kansas and Louisiana were calling Greensboro, about midway between Atlanta and Augusta, and asking the editor to fax his story. Most were sympathetic veterans, he said. "The people here, they just can't believe it happened," Williams said. "They respect the soldier."
In his written apology, Superintendent John Jackson said the situation could have been handled differently. The principal, he said, could have allowed the Marine sergeant to speak with students, then dealt with the teacher who did not secure written permission for the visit.
"The thrust that's been placed on it was that he was unwelcome," Jackson said, although he insisted that was not the case.
Richardson, an Athens native, said he had planned to answer questions from the students and had brought combat items they might have found interesting, such as helmets and bullet-proof vests.
Lund had mailed postcards from students in September and December to Richardson and five other Marines stationed at Al-Asad, Iraq.
After Richardson returned from Iraq, Lund said he spoke several times with Corbett about having his friend come to the school. He said he asked for her written permission on May 3, but she never responded. Corbett did not return a call Wednesday seeking comment.
Lund, a first-year teacher, said his students were upset by the events. "Technically, she did her job. But what was right [was] for him to come speak to my kids," he said. "My kids earned the right for him to come speak to them. He certainly earned the right to be there."
The liberal idiot has now gotten the administrators to block emails to her. Perhaps a paper based campaign is now needed?
Could someone please tell this woman the reason she is allowed to teach the children in her school with the ENGLISH LANGUAGE!!!!!
I did not get this kind of response to my e-mail, the subject line of which was "Support for Our Troops." Here's hoping it got through.
The FIREWALL likely looks for certain terms to block, "support" not one of them, I suppose. She's in for a surprise if she expected that my e-mail would praise her actions!
If this teacher loses his job and the principal keeps hers or gets promoted, the good citizens should boil up a batch of tar and pluck a few chickens.
Seriously, that should become the new punishment for these people who keep insulting our soldiers.
I'm way too tired of reading these stories.
I believe you're right. I later fired off an email from another account (same SMTP server though), with the subject "Shameful". It hasn't bounced back, at least not yet.
Looking forward to hearing the principal identified as "former principal Ulrica Corbett".
.
Puhleeze - Let us know when Ulrica is fired!
Updated info!!
Patriotic Citizens Plan Event
For
Marine Sergeant Richardson
There is no need to go into details of the disgraceful incident that occurred at Carson Middle School on May 23rd. All of us, as well as many people throughout our state and nation are aware that Ulrica Corbett, the Principal of our Middle School, had a guest speaker of 6th Grade teacher, Matthew Lund, escorted off school property. We, and by now much of the world, are also aware that this guest speaker was Sergeant Zack Richardson, a United States Marine who had just returned home from Iraq. A Marine who was attempting to meet with and say thank you to the many students and teachers who had sent him and some of his fellow soldiers care packages and letters of encouragement while they served in Iraq.
What many of you may not be aware of is that within days after the incident appeared in the Herald Journal, there were plans underway to right this terrible wrong. Like many of my fellow citizens I was outraged at what had taken place here in Greene County. My wife and I decided that we would attempt to bring Sergeant Richardson and Mr. Lund’s students together on neutral ground so that these children who were so disappointed, hurt, and confused, would have a chance to meet their hero. Through Greene County Commission Chairman, Zippy Duvall, I reserved the 3rd floor of the Greene County Court House for Saturday, May 23rd.
The plan was for Mr. Lund to arrange to have his students, their parents, and the other participating teachers to come to the courthouse, meet with Sergeant Richardson, and hear his presentation. I contacted Mr. Lund and he was delighted with the plan. I then called Sergeant Richardson, who was unfortunately out of the state and would not be back till after Memorial Day. Sergeant Richardson was enthusiastic about the idea and said he would be honored to come back to Greene County. We tried to coordinate both Sergeant Richardson’s schedule and Mr. Lund’s schedule for the week following Memorial Day. Sadly, Sergeant Richardson’s schedule would not afford him time to return to Greene County at that time. However, all was not lost. I asked Zack when he could return, and he told me that he would be off active duty at the end of June and would then be able to return to Greene County. He asked if he could bring some of the other Marines who had corresponded with the children and I told him that we would be honored to host as many Marines as he would care to bring!
On Tuesday night, May 31st, I sent out an email to many of my friends and associates expressing my own outrage over the school incident and explaining what had happened and what we planned to do about it. There is no way I can describe to you what ensued the following morning when I arrived at my office.
The response to the email I sent out was simply overwhelming. By noon of that same day I received inquiries from three State Senators, one of whom was State Senator John Douglass, Chairman of Ga.’s Department Of Veteran’s Affairs. US Congressman Charlie Norwood, and countless other community leaders from Greene and surrounding counties also called and voiced their concern and support. Governor Perdue’s office asked to be kept abreast of any new developments and offered their support as well. Later in the day, Glenn Richardson’s Chief of Staff, from the Georgia Speaker of the House’s Office also called. All were responding in disbelief and offering their encouragement. Larry Hone, from Putnam County pledged his support and that of 150 of his fellow retired Marines residing in and around Putnam County. One email in particular caught my eye. It was from a Major at the US Pentagon. Marine Major Clarence Harper III, an Eatonton native, had heard about the incident and could not believe that such a thing could happen so close to his home. He too offered encouragement and support.
Coincidentally, that same morning I was told that Neil Boortz had picked up the story, and by the afternoon it was also being discussed on the Kim Peterson show where our email was posted on WGST’s web site.
It was becoming clear throughout the day that we in Greene County may have been alone in our embarrassment over the incident but not our outrage. That afternoon I sent out a follow up email to update everyone on the public’s reaction. I also called Matthew Lund and Zack Richardson to let them know about the outpouring of support. Later that same day, amidst the growing public firestorm, the Greene County School Superintendent sent out a press release. Nearly one and a half weeks after the incident occurred and after unprecedented negative reaction, an apology was finally offered to Sergeant Richardson. As of today, Sunday June 5th, I am unaware of any such public apology being offered to Mr. Lund and his students.
On Wednesday afternoon, Larry Hone contacted me with an offer from Steven Freund, the General Manager for the Ritz Carlton. Mr. Freund wanted to offer Sergeant Richardson a complimentary stay at the Ritz when he returns for our special event. Mr. Tim Peterson, also with the Ritz Carlton, wanted to offer the Ritz as a venue for the upcoming meeting between the Marines and the children. The support just kept coming.
School Superintendent John Jackson contacted me later in the day via email. Apparently he had contacted Sergeant Richardson about returning to the school, but as stated earlier the sergeant’s schedule would not permit a return before the end of June. BOE Chairman, Janice Gallimore also contacted me that evening and asked if we would consider having the event at one of the school’s facilities. I explained to her that it was up to Sergeant Richardson and Mr. Lund. I called Sergeant Richardson and Mr. Lund that night and we agreed to have the event sometime after the July 4th Holiday. We also agreed that the children deserved to have this special event at their school. I informed Chairman Gallimore that the event could take place on school property with the understanding that this is a citizens sponsored event and not subject to the school’s previous protocols and regulations that denied Sergeant Richardson the opportunity to meet with students in Mr. Lund’s class. The event will be coordinated and the agenda set by we, the volunteers. Should this not be acceptable to the school system we will take advantage of the generous offer from the Ritz Carlton and have the event there.
How wonderful it is to know that so many people have been moved by this incident and want to know what they can do to right this terrible wrong. I can assure you that when Sergeant Richardson and his fellow Marines return to Greene County everyone will be invited to attend and express their support. As soon as the logistics for this meeting can be worked out we will make all the details public.
Our goal is to show the young children in Greene County that the brave men and women who risk their lives everyday so that those same children have the freedom to go to school and attain an education, should ALWAYS be treated with dignity and respect. And to the rest of the world, we want to show that the inexcusable and indefensible actions of one Middle School Principal in no way reflect the depth of gratitude we feel towards Sergeant Richardson and all the men and women serving in America’s Armed Forces. God bless them all.
Greene County Republican Party Chairman
I posted updated info on post #90, can you add "Updated Info" to the title? Thank you.
1. Handcuffed (by their school boards),
2. Leftist ideologs,
3. Brain dead,
4. Some combination of the above.
Throw out number one....and I would agree.
Yeah, you would extinguish the fire. And so would I.
And THAT is what makes us different than them. We would roll our sleeves up...and do the RIGHT thing...because it is the RIGHT thing.
FRegards,
I have an idea. It's one of the things I have witnessed in over the course of my life, which dovetails a bit with the 'Peter Principle,' in fact.
That is, many people (maybe even most) have no idea how to wisely exert influence and power, and when they are given even a little bit of power, they tend to use it poorly. Give an inch and they take a mile - people tend to not know when to stop, and tend to show amazingly poor judgment in deciding what battles to fight.
This situation smells like an inept, small administrator showing characteristic poor judgment. I've seen it 10,000 times.
LOL!!
Yeah....I wouldn't be all sweetness and peaches....but I'd put her out, and do what I could for her.
Best FRegards,
Thanks!
I guewss your are right...it is a battle that should be confronted directly...
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