[Casie]

This is the email I received from Mr Valastro:

It appears that we have a group that is focusing on spreading fear about curriculum tool that we use, called C-Scope. Lumberton does not “promote” Islam, but “teaches” a world history as defined by the state of Texas’ objective called the TEKS. Key point. The teacher is a veteran teacher and she is Jewish. Now of all people, if anyone had an agenda to teach the negative aspects of Islam, it might be her. The teacher was teaching about culture and not about a dangerous radical religion .

Question, it more dangerous to teach: “Fear and ignorance” or “educate and understanding”.

I have two daughters, and if nothing else, this gives me an opportunity to discuss the negative oppressive nature of the religion, but at the same time, that people thrive on hate and misinformation.

John Valastro

Superintendent
Lumberton ISD

409-923-7504 Secretary

409-923-7506

409-923-7505 Office

This is my first reply:

Thank you for the reply. If misinformation is indeed out there, perhaps it is you that need to better inform your parents and community. But do not be surprised if the general public still does not agree with your exposing children to Islam.

There is no justification for putting girls in burkas. I am not speaking from "fear and ignorance". I am speaking as a woman who correctly views a burka as a symbol of sex slavery.

This is my second:

Dear Mr. Valastro,

I won't bother you with this again, but now there is an actual photo of girls in your school wearing burkas so your claim that myself and others have been misinformed is infact untrue. Islam and Sharia law make little girls into sex slaves. By dressing our young ladies in a burka you have in essence dressed them as sex slaves. Would you dare dress your black students in farm clothes and chains and have them carry around a bag of cotton? Heck no, you would not! That would be ridiculous! So why on earth do you find it appropiate to dress a young lady in the clothes of slavery?

I hope you can see my point of view on this. I love educators and I still believe that American schools can be the best in the world. But I also believe you should stick to the solid foundations of education and stop being used to promote any political wind that blows across your campus that particular day.

I wish you well.

[Rummyfan]

Not to mention that Mr Velastro needs some basic writing instruction.....

[Bullish]

Would you dare dress your black students in farm clothes and chains and have them carry around a bag of cotton?

Shhhhh.... don't give them any ideas or the next thing you know....

[raybbr]

The teacher is a veteran teacher and she is Jewish.

A veteran Jewish teacher? Probably one of the most liberal, self-hating white people on the planet.

[spirited irish]

Dear Mr. Valastro,

It is a fact that the man whose hands are habitually begrimed with garden soil actually possesses the real-world knowledge required to grow vegetables and not the guy in the pin-stripe suit whose manicured hands push a pencil in an office.

With respect to the issue under discussion, you are the pencil pusher in the pin-stripe suit, hence your woefully ignorant, pompous remarks.

As a teacher it is your responsibility to be factually informed, but you obviously are not. You can however, become truly informed about Islam by taking yourself and your family-—including your girls-— to Egypt or even a more moderate country such as Turkey and live for one year off of the local economy in a local village.

One year of real-world experience in a Muslim village will not only deflate your ‘pomposity’ but will teach you the real meaning of words like hate and intolerance.