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"Who
is Sheila Underdown?".
Not sure if this email is a HOAX, as her name is curiously
strange. Sheila Underdown? Sheila is a term used to describe
'woman' in Australia ... and Underdown, when reversed reads
Down Under ... either a very clever prank or a very odd
name. Either way in an effort to show our true graces, I
present to you my one and only negative email so far!
Read it and and see my answer to her (if she even exists)
in gray.
Subject:
wheres dale??
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2004 10:34 AM
From: Sheila Underdown <sabet979@hotmail.com>
To: <kendo@kazkin.com>
I am shocked at the ignorance of the 'SJS Community'. Since
when does an organization take a vote or survey on a particular
employee? I beg to differ with your opinion that the 'retirement'
of Dr. J is going to affect St. John's as a respectable
institution --- there is no one person that makes SJS a
respectable institution and anyone who feels that way is
disillusioned and arrogant. We need to remove our personal
feelings and be objective. I am shocked that Dr. J is using
his 'powerful influence' in the community to cause a grand
raucous instead of support for the school that he supposedly
helped build and holds dear.
In the last few years the school has consistently lowered
its standards --- such as being lax on the dress code and
discipline, lowering the grading scale, lockers being broken
in to, teachers not being evaluated, blatant favoritism,
etc. Has anyone questioned why so many of our students are
going to private tutors? Has anyone compared what St. John's
has to offer compared to other comparable schools in the
US? Even compared to other schools on island, St. Johns
does not offer much more to justify the high tuition that
parents are being charged. The teaching strategies are not
constantly being honed to ensure the students are getting
the best. St. Johns has consistently been losing its edge
academically and it's time for a revival. I give my full
confidence to Dr. Nelson and the new Board Members. I don't
know any details of Dr. J's dismissal/retirement, however
based on my own observations and educational experience
---- IT'S TIME!!!!!
A Supportive Parent
Dear
Sheila:
Thank you for assuming my arrogance. Now with that over
with I move on towards your other points.
1) I did not credit Dr. Jenkins with the entire success
of SJS, but rather I make the argument that he should be
paid his fair share of thanks and appreciation, which this
BOT and HEADMASTER has not.
2) Further, you seem to contradict yourself in your email,
as you say in one verse that no one person makes SJS a respectable
institution ... But in the same breath you associate your
views of failures at the school towards one person, in this
case I assume you mean Dr. Jenkins.
3) Despite your personal experiences, I have in my hands
the entire senior class of 2004, supporting Dr. Jenkins.
And add to that, over a hundred alumni members who are voicing
their outrage at the way the school has treated a man they
KNOW helped them.
4) Your last commentary of SJS consistently losing its edge
academically ... Please provide proof of this. The last
I saw, NO OTHER SCHOOL on this island can claim to be in
the top 10% of college preparatory schools in the nation.
If you can name just one school that can make this claim
located in this island home of mine, please by all means
do so.
5) And finally, it is obvious you are either not reading
and comprehending my article correctly, or maybe I have
not written them simple enough for you to understand. Either
way let me correct your false assumptions that Dr. Jenkins
is using his POWERFUL INFLUENCE ... Rather he has not asked
any one of us for help or pity. Rather this display of outrage
and disappointment comes from those of us who are appreciative
of what this man has done for the school. In fact let me
tell you that when Dr. Shieh considered taking back his
donation of $50,000.00 worth of sport equipment to the school,
Dale told him to not do that on his account, and think of
the children. That is Dale's character.
So in short, he has not asked for help or to create havoc
... So please stop this accusation and assumption immediately.
You state that you don't know ANY of the details of Dr.
J's dismissal/retirement, but you're comfortable with the
decision ... That's fine ... That's your opinion ... But
in essence what you are saying is that what's more important
is the end result rather than the means in which it is done
... And that is something I disagree with you on.
Whether or not the school made a right decision, only time
will tell. But the school makes a crucial mistake of treating
not just Dale, but his wife Kedel who taught pre-k, a tremendous
disservice when after so many years of dedication not so
much as a handshake or a tribute goodbye?
Asking them to 'retire' on the eve of New Years ... Please
Sheila, I ask you ... what are we teaching our youth?I ask
you not to be an opponent of the school or Dr. Jenkins,
but rather acknowledge the man's work and respect him for
it. This is why I have asked the SJS Community to find out
all the details and gather all the facts ... You may find
out something you never thought possible from a school grounded
in Christian values ... I am highly critical because I know
more than you regarding the politics surrounding this decision
... You may find yourself just as angry if you knew more
... Whatever you decide. It is your choice. We don't need
to be adversaries ... My battles are not with the parents
... It is in the end, a call for answers. That's all.
Regards,
Kaz
Endo
SJS Alumni President
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