From The Superintendent, Readington Middle School
Monday, March 3, 2008
Dear Parents,
In the past seventy-two hours there has been a great deal of media attention focused
on an event that occurred on Thursday, February 28th during lunch at Readington
Middle School. Twenty-nine eighth graders paid for their lunch using pennies.
This delayed the lunch line for many students who had a difficult time finishing
their meal; moreover, the lunchroom workers were treated disrespectfully.
As a result, the children involved were given two days of after-school detention.
We accepted the pennies (legal tender) as payment for their lunches, and asked many
of the students to roll their pennies to speed the movement at the cashier’s line.
When the children were asked why they purchased their lunch with pennies, they informed
the administration that it was a prank. The media has reported that the event
was a protest. This perception was different from the way children initially
characterized the event. If we had knowledge of a protest, we would have reinforced
with the students the importance of not being disrespectful and would have begun
discussions about the issue.
We are concerned about the widespread focus and attention paid to this event.
The school community has been through a difficult period, and we need to move forward.
We contacted the parents of each child involved in the event. In our conversations,
we discussed how the incident has been blown out of proportion and how it has affected
our children and our school community. Given the unique nature of this situation,
we also discussed our willingness to work with families to determine the next steps
to take with their child. Parents had differing points of view which we sincerely
respected. Some parents informed us that they would like their child to serve
the detention while others differed and worked with administrators to plan experiences
to replace the detention. Still others have discussed the matter with their
child at home and decided the detention is not necessary. We were very pleased
that many of our students have already apologized to the lunchroom staff and clearly
recognize the difference between a prank and a protest.
We are very fortunate to have a school system with wonderful kids, engaged parents,
and dedicated staff, teachers, and administrators. The students’ smiles and
laughter brighten each and every day. When the news vans leave our town to
find another story, the staff of the Readington Township Public School System will
continue to do our very best to work with you and your children to make their learning
experience the best that it can be.
Sincerely,
Jorden Schiff, Superintendent
Catherine Hollinger, Principal, RMS
From The Inquiring Eye
Dear Superintendent Schiff:
Conflicting reports about the penny incident at
Readington Middle
School
leave many of us in the community with un-answered questions.
Why is it that you consider paying for lunch with pennies an act of disrespect towards
the cafeteria workers? Isn’t it part of their job descriptions to manage cash?
Why were students removed from classes to roll pennies? Why was one student’s money
confiscated and this student denied lunch?
Why were students told to retrieve cell phones from their lockers; who directed
administrators to take those phones and read student’s private correspondence?
Why, when Howard Price of Channel 7 news initiated an investigation, was he told
that students were not going to be punished as a result of this incident, when punishments
had already been handed out?
Certain information suggests that Principal Hollinger and Vice Principal Wilkinson
had prior
knowledge that students planned to pay for their lunches with pennies.
Why was this information withheld from cafeteria workers? Why was a strategy not
implemented which would manage and diffuse the situation? Were the Principal and
Vice Principal withholding this information so that they could ‘manage’ the situation
and its outcome in their own way? Could not the children with pennies be asked to
go to the back of the line, so that those who could pay for lunches with a more
convenient currency might eat first?
Rather than prepare for this contingency, did Principal Hollinger and Vice Principal
Wilkinson withhold this information from cafeteria workers so that they, as administrators
would have a stronger case against these kids?
Why was an atmosphere of fear and intimidation created amongst the student community
after the penny incident took place?
I understand that students were called into the office with The Principal and the
Vice Principal, and questioned individually. I
understand that these ‘interrogations’ are to resume today. If this is a group problem,
why is it not being dealt with
as a group problem?
You and your administrators continue to refer to this event as a ‘prank’. How did
you arrive at that term? Were adults (representing the children’s interest) present
when you interviewed the students? Is the word ‘prank’ a term you coerced the children
into using, fully aware of their limited vocabulary, in an effort to discredit theses
students before the media and their very own parents?
I have numerous reports of students being addresses by teachers in a rude and demeaning
manner.
I have several reports of what could easily be construed as sexual harassment.
I have reports of children being denied access to the bathroom and to the nurse.
If this matter was really ‘just a prank’ why are we in possession of exhaustive
lists of complaints, compiled by students?
Some of us in the Readington Middle School Community see these problems as only
the ‘tip’ of the iceberg. This school has a long standing history of segregating
students and using them as a disciplinary example for the rest of the student body.
It is my deep and profound concern that the events surrounding this penny incident
are just further indications that not only is this history repeating itself, but
that the administration is attempting to cover up the facts and place the blame
on a small group of individuals by implying that they perpetrated a ‘prank’.
While I think that we are all anxious to move on, we are even more anxious to learn
the truth.
I know that there is a major referendum in a week. In addition, this district has
a history of voting against proposed school budgets.
Distract the public’s attention with ‘catch phrases’ like ‘prank’, only leads to
questions and greater suspicions. By investigating and reporting
the truth in this matter, you
might leave members of the community less skeptical next time you try passing a
school budget.
Sincerely,
Jacqueline Rodzinski
http://www.theinquiringeye.com
Readington
Township
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datetime:
3/7/2008 12:00:00 AM
role:
Social Worker/ Teacher
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Thanks! From The Inquiring Eye