If you expect me to launch into some inane babble about how much I love Dale Jenkins, and all the good he has done for St. John’s…you can stop reading right now.
 
I’ve read some of the garbage from the bleeding hearts written on this web page, and it just makes me sick.  It’s obvious to me that all Dr. Dale Jenkins has done in his 26 years of service at St. John’s is to foster an atmosphere that molds young minds into a bunch of eloquent, thoughtful and caring WIMPS!  I noticed the use of the words “care” and “community” used often in those letters.  Hey, Dr. Jenkins, the least you could have done is teach these kids how to use a thesaurus.
 
It’s clear that St. John’s has a new sheriff in town and things are going to be set straight.  I for one would welcome a school that encouraged the use of words like “indifferent” and “self” more often.  “Care” and “community”?  Please, spare me…  I want to shake the hand of that teacher that said: "This is the real world ... In Corporate America you get fired at 5PM, you're expected to leave by 8PM with your things...".  We do our children a disservice to imply that words such as “care” and “community” have any place in the real world.
 
ENRON?  WORLDCOM?  The only thing wrong in both those cases is that they got caught.  There is no right, and there is no wrong if you just close your eyes, and keep your mouth shut.  That’s exactly what’s wrong with the students at St. John’s.  Why can’t you all just look at the situation, shut up and do nothing?  What makes you kids think that if you see something that’s wrong, you should try and do something about it?  Well, Dr. Jenkins, thanks…..thanks for contributing to raise a generation of kids that care – heaven help them.
 
In all seriousness, I’ve known Dale Jenkins since 1978 (his first year).  Disco was in, St. John’s had no high school, and Dale was my 8th grade homeroom and science teacher.  I’ve know him as teacher, coach, pathetic tennis partner, and always, friend.  I work at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, in Washington, DC.  We try to save historic places for the future.  Dale, if I’ve never told you… Thank you, for making me one of those pathetic namby pamby St. John’s grads who care.
 
Tony Martinez