Dear Rutland Herald,
This is only the second letter to the editor I have written in 50 years--and although I live in Connecticut, the story of the young hunter Jared Harrington demands that people speak out.
If the allegations made by Jared's parents are true, and I trust your paper checked its facts before publishing the article, then stiff disciplinary action should be taken against Jared's teacher, Ms Backus. Such action is required not because Ms Backus holds beliefs against hunting, but because she so outrageously abused the power and position she holds as a teacher of elementary school children. Any person, much less a teacher, that would single out a
10 year-old boy by 1) embarrassing him in front of the whole class (holding her hands over her ears while singing "la, la, la"), 2) intimidating him in an apparent bid to silence the boys' talk about spring turkey hunting (the decision by Ms. Backus to eliminate all free snack periods in the classroom, changing them to "working" snack time for the remainder of the school year), and 3) punishing Jared for the legitimate actions of his parents (Backus assigned 137 pages of homework to Jared after his parents went to the school board).
The teacher's particularly bizarre behavior in covering her ears while singing "la, la, la" in front of the class and in lying to Jared's parents that she "has no problem with hunting" raise substantial question about her fitness to be teaching young people.
The principal, if possible, makes this situation even worse by minimizing it, stating, "its not a huge issue" and that the abusive behavior of Ms Backus can be resolved through "a reasonable understanding."
How about this for reason and understanding? Ms Backus, the reason you are being disciplined is because of your unacceptable behavior in the classroom, in particular as it regards Jared Harrington. I'm sure you understand that if you repeat any behavior of this or similar nature, you will be fired.
I hope the principal, superintendent, and school board have the courage to take strong and appropriate action in this case. Although matters often have two sides, our schools should take the side of the innocent 10 year-olds in Ms Backus’ classroom.