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| Photo from Facebook |
Now I know why Timmy checked the blog SEVEN times today. Time for another letter for parents, Tim?
Update November 29, 2016 7:22 PM I understand that another email was sent out to parents today at 4:30 PM.
From: Dr. Timothy Steinhauer [mailto:noreply@mtlsd.net]
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2016 4:30 PM
To: Parents
Subject: Message to Parents
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2016 4:30 PM
To: Parents
Subject: Message to Parents
To All Members of the Mt. Lebanon School Community,
The Mt. Lebanon School District prides itself on being an inclusive and accepting school community. We value that our schools include students and families from many different backgrounds. Our faculty, staff and administration are dedicated to fostering learning for all students in a respectful and safe environment. We are aware and have responded to several incidents, in and around our schools, that are in conflict with these ideals.
Rest assured that the administration, fully supported by the Board of School Directors, has zero tolerance for this type of behavior. As is the standard of practice, the administration will immediately investigate any incident that is inappropriate, discriminatory, or intimidating in nature that occurs on school grounds. Any response will be educational, and as appropriate, disciplinary.
We appreciate your support in our efforts to advance inclusive schools where each and every child thrives. Please continue to notify your child’s teacher or principal if you are made aware of any issue that may create a non-inclusionary atmosphere. If you wish to discuss these issues further, please contact your school counselor, principal, or superintendent.
Everyone is welcomed and valued in the Mt. Lebanon School District.
Timothy J. Steinhauer, Ed.D. Lawrence M. Lebowitz
Superintendent of Schools President, Board of School Directors
Superintendent of Schools President, Board of School Directors
Apparently the picture was taken this morning by a mother.
ReplyDeleteThis is really sad. So a Mom saw that on the track and posted it on her Facebook page? I am no handwriting expert but that writing doesn't even look like it was done by a middle school kid necessarily. What a downer.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't matter who wrote it. The message is clear and racist.
ReplyDeleteB.
We value that our schools include students and families from many different backgrounds.
ReplyDelete-Timothy Steinhauer
We value that our schools include teachers from many different backgrounds.
- said by NOBODY
Southern Poverty Law Center tracks hate incidents/groups/etc throughout the nation. After reporting to police, you can report directly to them as well: https://www.splcenter.org/reporthate
ReplyDeleteThe Superintendent's letter was rather generic.
ReplyDeleteMTL is a carefully planned community, with the obvious intention of keeping diversity to a minimum.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you think the raising of taxes for yearly $100K killing of deer is not part of that plan, you are asleep at the wheel.
Jason, I was criticized for drawing parallels between hate in this community and zero tolerance for deer. The deer haters get really cranky.
ReplyDeleteObviously, the blame is to be placed on those who voted for Trump.
For those of you who do not recognize sarcasm, see above.
Elaine
Of course you were criticized, the truth it a threat.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to the waste of money on killing deer, I would also add the MTL Magazine to the list of expensive and unnecessary things that insidiously contribute to a lack of diversity in MTL.
I'd like to know what exactly the schools are going to do about the weekly hate crimes. The same day that a supposed kidnapper tried to lure a kid from the playground, all the elementary kids had an emergency stranger danger talk from their teachers. Of course, they weren't actually told what happened. My kid just thought the talk was a belated health class lesson until I provided the context.
ReplyDeleteSo now, what are the schools going to do about hate because what they are doing is not enough?!
1:19 PM, please cut Timmy some slack. He sent out a letter prior to the one I posted that began with "Now that the cold weather has arrived, I’d like to remind you about our emergency weather procedures. " It was 65 degrees outside. It must have taken him weeks to craft that letter.
ReplyDeleteThe email that went out was so vague, as if nothing is being done. Were the police notified? Is there another investigation?
I would like to remind Lebo Citizens reader about Mike Madison's post on Blog Lebo, back in 2009, when Timmy decided not to show President Obama's speech. Why Lebo Didn't Show President Obama's Speech
Don't tell me that this is because Trump was elected. Mt. Lebanon has always been filled with racists. I was in high school when Ali was touring the high school. We all know the end of that story! Don't forget Susan Morgans' offensive mtl Magazine article about grocery shopping.
to market, to market, to buy a...
Elaine
Yikes, I never saw that writing by Mayor Morgans before. I wish I hadn't seen it. Although it really does say something about MTL that this was highlighted in its flagship magazine...
ReplyDeleteI think it is worthwhile to read all the comments on Mike Madison's blog about Steinhauer's failure to show President Obama's speech. This one is striking:
ReplyDelete"Stirling Lathrop said...
am intrigued by the Mt. Lebanon School District's decision not to let its students see or hear President Obama's message to students about education. I am intrigued because the message was entirely positive and, by no stretch of the imagination, could it have caused any harm to the students seeing or hearing it. Therefore, if the message was positive and harmless, one is forced to conclude that it was not the message but the messenger who was the source of the School District's decision. Yet this is the President who was delivering the message. Does the School District fear him because he is a model of educational success? Because he is seen by some as liberal? Because he is black? Are those the fears that dictated the School District's decision? Whatever the specific fear, it is clear that fear, not rational thinking, drove the School District's thinking. And if this is true in this case, how much can one trust the School District to make rational decisions -- as opposed to fear based decisions -- on important future issues. This is something that all citizens of Mt. Lebanon need to consider seriously.
September 17, 2009 6:02 PM"
In my opinion, Trump's election and his choice of staff members (Steve Bannon), has paved the way for bigoted comments and graffiti---across the US. Perhaps Mt. Lebanon is predisposed to such racism and anti-Semitic slurs. I won't argue with that.
ReplyDeleteBut to leave Trump out of the equation is simply irrational.
Fair enough, 4:39 PM.
ReplyDeleteJason, here is the link to my post on Lebo Citizens regarding Susan's offensive article. Were you offended?
Elaine
In my opinion, some of her class and race-based writings were outlandish.
ReplyDeleteShe might claim the cloak of satire, but satire skewers the powerful, not the already-marginalized.
4:39...even though I respect but wholeheartedly disagree with your opinion regarding your feelings of Mr. Trump's staff member picks, to blame his staff picks for bigoted comments and graffiti across the US is absolutely absurd. What is your rationale for your thinking?
ReplyDeleteNick M.
4:39 PM, I am living the Affordable Care Act nightmare. It is not affordable. I had 18 plans to choose from. 15 of them were with UPMC. UPMC does not have St. Clair Hospital in their system. That left me three Highmark plans; $900/mo., $700/mo., or $400/mo. The premiums went up 25 % and the deductibles are high. For that reason, I voted for Trump even though I knew that the popular vote doesn't count. I am extremely sensitive when I hear how people generalize that Trump supporters are racists.
ReplyDeleteBut thank you for acknowledging that Mt. Lebanon may be predisposed such behavior.
Elaine
Elaine,
ReplyDeleteI do think that many Trump supporters are racists and homophobic and the whole list. Some of the rhetoric used in the campaign is simply despicable, and with the endless news coverage given to highlight the rhetoric, it is no wonder some of it has spread to the kids. If a child hears his/her parent voting trump, and connects that with the hateful rhetoric on TV, of course we have children chanting "build the wall." I will not accuse you of being racist for voting because of your opinions on health care, but why can't I accuse the Trump supporters for being islamophobic or racist who truly are? Just because you voted for Trump/Republicans for a legitimate reason, doesn't mean you can block out all of the racist and harmful rhetoric and try to pass it off on the deer.
Jason,
Your comment that implies that the deer tax is meant to keep minorities out, and anyone who doesn't agree with this is foolish, is somewhat laughable. I don't have a truly strong preference one way or the other on the deer, but lately I have found myself thinking that perhaps it is a waste of tax payer money. I find it somewhat saddening, however, that you can not seem to blame Trump and some supporters (NOT ALL of them- as I already agreed with Elaine that her vote was cast for a perfectly legitimate, non-racist reason) at all for the spreading of some hateful ideas, but you have no problem accusing those who disagree with you for doing so for some underlying racist reasons. Your comment that "the truth is a threat" is also somewhat sad. There is absolutely no evidence to show that the deer has anything to do with race relations. I am still baffled by that comment, honestly. Your argument is more "post-truth" (our word of the year, nonetheless). Your statements of truth are simplying appealing to the emotion of those who agree with you, looking to further cast the "deer-haters" as despicable people. Their motives, now, are apparently that of race... Got it, Jason.
As far as the last incident with the swastika, although I am in no way condoning the acts at all, the 6th grade mind is very immature and is not yet developed. I am quite certain that the student was probably making a joke to friends, and although a poor joke at that, it ended up going horrible wrong. Kids drawing things into mulch isn't new, and it's not a hate crime. Writing the N word on school property permanently, I feel, is much worse. Mt. Lebanon has an incredibly strong jewish community. The school receives time off for Jewish holidays, something that I assure you does not happen everywhere.
Thanks for reading my thoughts,
-X
Herr Steinhauer has a history of looking the other way. https://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2013/10/parent-offended-by-article-in-devils.html
ReplyDeleteTrump supporters ARE racists. Duh. Shame on you for voting for him. His chief of staff, 6:06, is Steve Bannon. Have you seen his web site? Maybe you should take a look. Brietbart.com
ReplyDeleteI can't believe someone is bringing up that Devil's Advocate article again. Lol. Did you want "Herr Steinhauer" to punish a girl over a joke in the student newspaper. That would send a great message to the students about their rights to speak out. Also, calling someone Herr isn't offensive. It just means "Mr." in german. Your association of the current German language and culture to the atrocities of the Nazi regime are pathetic.
ReplyDeleteBTW, anyone who places their health care in the hands of St. Clair Hospital needs to have his/her head examined. Go to a real hospital. Perhaps UPMC. You would need to cross a river, though, to get there.
ReplyDeleteLook, "I can assure you." You're back, huh? I never mentioned deer in my post, did I? Yet, "I can assure you," you posted some pretty hateful comments about me. You don't give up, do you?
ReplyDeleteSo are you writing to Timmy. "I can assure you"? Or are you still going to give me a lecture about not addressing him as Dr. Steinhauer? Calling him Timmy seems benign compared to how he handles bullies and racism. Don't you agree "I can assure you"?
Elaine
I wasn't assuring you of anything, Elaine. I was talking to Jason. Yeah, no lecture needed though. I still think it's rude you call him Timmy, too.
ReplyDelete-ICAY
6:38pm, if you think race and class are disconnected, you probably believe so because you benefit from that system.
ReplyDeleteThe fact is that MTL does a multitude of things to remain a closed-off community... inflated taxes is one of them ... Did you see the "celebration of diversity" article in The Almanac? 98% white in the picture. I guess diverse in terms of shade of white.
Elaine also made a good point about nearly all-white teachers in the MTL school system. If people of color do not see themselves represented in the leadership of a school, they internalize that this is a place not for them.
In Virginia Manor, they get mad when one of the more "acceptable" non-White groups -- Indian Americans -- want to paint their house a little more colorfully and out-of-tradition than in the past. Typical white-washing.
You did make one good point. You called it a "deer tax." That's exactly what it is, thanks for the language.
Why shouldn't there be mostly white teachers in a school district that is 98% white? Shouldnt the teachers of color be teaching in districts that are actually diverse..
ReplyDeleteOops!! My last comment was for 6:45, not 6:46. Sorry about that 6:46.
ReplyDeleteNick M.
Mt Lebanon is the perfect, holier than thou, whiter than white suburb to foster hate by continuing to be indifferent to cruelty often perpetuated within the schools and throughout the municipality. The sixth grade mind is old enough to recognize that drawing a swastika is absolutely wrong and hateful. The sixth grade minds that forming a club to hate jews is absolutely wrong and hateful. The seventh grade mind that chanted "build the wall" is old enough to know he was hateful and cruel. The person who wrote N-word aims to inspire fear, hate, and violence. Studies have demonstrated that hate speech precedes harassment, and/or co-occurs, and harassment precedes violence. Blow it off, 7:28, and you might regret that another Baumhammers, or worse, is among us.
ReplyDeleteAn earlier comment stated that UPMC does not have St. Clair in their network. St. Clair is in UPMC's network though it may depend on your particular UPMC insurance coverage. I have St. Clair in my UPMC insurance coverage for this year and next year. I buy my insurance directly from UPMC. For the Federal Marketplace, St. Clair is in UPMC's network for the UPMC Advantage - Premium Network (Bronze/Silver/Gold/Platinum) Plan. A complete list of insurance plans covered at St. Clair can be found at https://www.stclair.org/about/insurance-providers
ReplyDeleteThanks for the invaluable information about the ACA, 1:05.
ReplyDeleteI guess my response from last night to 7:31 will not be published because the person who runs this blog viewed it as anti-Trump. Censorship. It figures.
ReplyDeleteCensorship by government is unconstitutional. I am not government.
ReplyDeleteAs far as what you wrote, it was hateful and offensive. I chose not to approve it. Sorry. May I suggest that you start your own blog and rant all you want about your political views.
Elaine
1:05 PM on December 1, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I am paying more per month with UPMC, but make up for it when you cost it out. YAY!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteElaine