Lois Tinson, President
California Teachers Association
1705 Murchison Dr.
Burlingame, CA 94011-4178

Dear Ms. Tinson:

I just received the April 1998 edition of the California Educator and couldn't help but notice the reference to the "Statement of Mission, Goals, and Objectives" of the California Teachers Association which was used as a subtitle for the article on page 19 - "Blueprint for Educational Excellence." Specifically, I wish to emphasize two components of this reference; these include:

    "The California Teachers Association exists to
    protect and promote the well-being of its members" (and)
    to ensure that the human dignity and civil rights of all children and youth
    are protected."

An event is about to occur which will make an absolute mockery of this statement. As you may remember, I recently sent you a copy of a letter which I faxed to Delaine Eastin's office (April 1, 1998) concerning the fact that Lomitas Elementary School of the Victor Elementary School District has just received a nomination for the California Distinguished School Program. This must not be allowed to happen and I am writing to CTA again for assistance. There are many reasons (both professional and personal) that I am submitting this request.

On a professional level, it is important that CTA understand that I filed a complaint on behalf of the children of Lomitas School and the Victor Elementary District with the United States Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) back in May 1996. This complaint was filed on the grounds that the district was deliberately discriminating against the children based upon sex, race, and disability. I did this as a professional educator and NOT as a member of CTA - I had already witnessed so little support from Bill Ribblett's Office in Victorville, that I knew that the only possibility was to take on this task myself. To ignore the problem would have been nothing less than grossly immoral. As it turned out, my actions have now assisted the more than 7,000 children currently enrolled in the district and will continue to help future students. I have attached the complete set of materials which I have sent to OCR over the last two years. This should give you a clear understanding of the complaint and also demonstrate that the Victor Elementary School District submitted a "voluntary plan" to work with OCR. (They knew they were out of compliance with Federal Law even before my complaint.) Believe me, I have a lot more documentation that was not sent - these additional materials include all of the "gory details" of the horrible things happening at Lomitas Elementary School but were (I believe) too confidential for me to disclose without having some type of professional legal representation.

I apologize for the tremendous amount of material I have sent but I do feel it is necessary. I would like to note that I did provide Mr. Ribblett's Office with a copy of my original complaint back in July or August 1996 - I doubt anyone else from CTA has ever seen it.

One thing I would like to point out is that Victor Elementary School District has been monitored, by OCR, as a direct result of my complaint. While not going into all of the details at this time, I am willing to state that ********, ****** of Lomitas Elementary School deliberately lied to OCR while being monitored. Victor Elementary School District was supposed to reevaluate all students whose names had been submitted to the Student Study Team Process during the 1995-1996 school year. In the documents I have attached, it is claimed that there were only eleven students that required such reevaluation. That is absolutely absurd - I personally submitted more than that myself and am currently aware that these numbers remain significantly higher than that - even now.

While the racial segregation of students has apparently stopped (as a result of my complaint), I understand that the tracking of students, by ability, continues even today. Students are also still be placed in classes according to the whims of administrators. I will elaborate further, should it be required.

I would now like to discuss some of my personal reasons for writing. I have been an extremely active member of the educational community (and CTA) from the moment I was first hired as a teacher. As an educator, my goal has always been to "make a difference" and a positive one at that. In order for teachers to make a difference, we MUST be involved.

As a teacher for the Victor Elementary School District and as the Treasurer of the Victor Elementary Teachers Association, I observed first hand, over a period of many years, gross displays of "good-ole-boyism," unethical practices, and disgustingly immoral behavior on the part of administrators and many teachers. My complaint against Lomitas Elementary School and Victor Elementary School District was merely the proverbial "straw the broke the camel's back." The district was fully aware that children were not being provided with adequate and appropriate services. Victor Elementary School District also "controls" their teachers through their use of fear and only rewards those that willing submit to anything they are told to do.

What I would like is assistance from CTA to prevent Victor Elementary School from receiving recognition as a California Distinguished School.

Why am I asking for CTA's assistance now when I'm no longer employed by Victor Elementary School District? To put it simply - "a chain is only as strong as its weakest link" and, in Victorville, that chain is not only severed, but it is missing countless links that cannot be replaced - at least not until someone with the strength of CTA steps in and makes the needed changes. The Victor Elementary Teachers Association has been merely a puppet organization of the district's whims for years and will not step in. The teachers are either too weak, terrified, or simply dishonest to make the needed changes.

CTA leadership is nonexistent in Victorville. As already noted, CTA (through Bill Ribblett's Office) and Victor Elementary Teachers Association have been very well aware of the problems I have noted, as well as a lot more, but have deliberately ignored them for many years. I am also personally aware that many pieces of "confidential information" have been leaked to Victor Elementary School District administration by both current and former Victor Elementary Teachers Association board members. I was not surprised, in the least, when I learned that my April 1st letter to Delaine Eastin was announced at a staff meeting held at Lomitas Elementary School District two days ago. This is absolutely incredible as ONLY the California Department of Education, CTA, and OCR were aware of it. I have not discussed my letter with anyone else.

I contacted Delaine Eastin's office, again, after I had a conference with ******** on Tuesday. I was told that the California Department of Education doesn't plan on responding to my letter until April 23, 1998 - the SAME day that Lomitas Elementary School is supposed to be reviewed for the California Distinguished School Award.

Regardless, it is now time for CTA to take aggressive action to assist the children of Victorville. Knowing what I do today, I often ask myself if I would do this again - the answer is a resounding YES. Please don't allow Lomitas Elementary School to receive the designation as a California Distinguished School.

Thank you for your assistance.

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