Saturday, January 14, 2023

Making Local Alabama Jan. 25th Hoover meeting fair and balanced

The embedding of the above tweet cuts off information that the meeting is 6 to 8 pm on January 25th at the Hoover City Hall, 100 Municipal Drive, Hoover, AL 35216.

A preview of what Pat Ellis will have to say may be provided by a December 7, 2022 Alabama Unfiltered discussion with her entitled "Educated in Alabama", which can be found at https://1819news.com/podcast/educated-in-alabama-with-pat-ellis

What I think
I live in Mountain Brook. I have no school age children or grandchildren.

I have a great deal of interest in the nationwide contentiousness regarding Critical Race Theory, etc., and what is being taught or not being taught to school children. I have expressed this previously at  https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2022/08/what-are-your-concerns-about-mtn-brook.html.

A. General
My general view is as I set out in my below August 9, 2022 tweet.
B. Other critical problems
Other critical problems for our children and their schools are listed below. These need "all hands" addressing by parents, teachers, and school boards.

C. How widespread is genuine, informed concern about CRT, etc.
D. Handling this at local level
I think this can be handled by parents, teachers and school boards at the local level.
Making meeting fair and balanced
I don't think the January 25th meeting will be fair and balanced unless pressure is brought to bear on Pat Ellis both before and during the meeting. Before the meeting, interested parties who think Pat Ellis will not be fair and balanced in what she presents should make public expression of their beliefs, including contacting local news media to be present at the meeting and ask relevant questions of Pat Ellis. Attendees at the meeting should ask Pat Ellis pointed questions.

I will start by sending an email to Pat Ellis.

Email to Pat Ellis
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: alabamaeagle@charter.net, tabitha@eagleforum.org
Cc: janderson@starnesmedia.com, nembry@starnesmedia.com , rserven@al.com, tcrain@al.com, rgriesbach@al.com, stryens-fernandes@al.com, comments@abc3340.com, programming@abc3340.com, blong@hearst.com, wcromwell@cbs42.com, rmartin@cbs42.com, jason.mathews@gray.tv
Sent: Mon, Jan 16, 2023 6:56 pm
Subject: Pat Ellis 1/25 Hoover City Hall meeting about what is happening in Alabama schools
Dear Ms. Ellis,
I don't think you will be fair and balanced in the update about what is happening in Alabama schools that you will present at the Local Alabama meeting scheduled for January 25th at the Hoover City Hall.
Please see https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/01/making-local-alabama-jan-25th-hoover.html.
Thank you.
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook, AL
[Note: I received a delivery failure notice for alabamaeagle@charter.net, and I resent email to melody@alabamaeagle.org]

Email reply from Pat Ellis
From: Pat Ellis <ellispat60@gmail.com>
To: rdshatt@aol.com <rdshatt@aol.com>
Cc: alabamaeagle@charter.net <alabamaeagle@charter.net>; tabitha@eagleforum.org <tabitha@eagleforum.org>; Cc: janderson@starnesmedia.com <janderson@starnesmedia.com>; nembry@starnesmedia.com <nembry@starnesmedia.com>; rserven@al.com <rserven@al.com>; tcrain@al.com <tcrain@al.com>; rgriesbach@al.com <rgriesbach@al.com>; stryens-fernandes@al.com <stryens-fernandes@al.com>; comments@abc3340.com <comments@abc3340.com>; programming@abc3340.com <programming@abc3340.com>; blong@hearst.com <blong@hearst.com>; wcromwell@cbs42.com <wcromwell@cbs42.com>; rmartin@cbs42.com <rmartin@cbs42.com>; jason.mathews@gray.tv <jason.mathews@gray.tv>; Melody Ciamarra <melody@alabamaeagle.org>
Sent: Mon, Jan 16, 2023 11:10 pm
Subject: Local Alabama Meeting - Jan. 25
Dear Mr. Shattuck, with all due respect, I'm not quite sure what your problem is with me. I do not claim to address every problem in education today. I do address Critical Race Theory, Social Emotional Learning and Comprehensive Sex Education. I am a volunteer and am alerting parents of these issues so that they can make informed decisions. My information is well-researched and factual. I have been contacted by teachers and parents and I relate their experiences. I also show videos that explain the aforementioned issues.
You stated the following in your tweet: I wish to express that I think the CRT related political controversy regarding schools, teachers & parents is a wasteful distraction from critical other problems in public education that need great attention.
I agree with you there are issues that need great attention. I would like to suggest to you that you address those issues and put together a presentation. I am sure many organizations would be happy to hear from you.
You mentioned Alabama Unfiltered. If I misspoke during the program, I would be grateful if you would let me know exactly what I said that is incorrect.
Attached below is our research on Critical Race Theory. I think the parents of children made to feel they are racist and oppressors solely because of their skin color would disagree with your opinion on Critical Race Theory in Alabama, as would most black parents who do not want their children to think of themselves as victims.
I look forward to your reply.
With kind regards,
Pat Ellis
EAGLE FORUM OF ALABAMA
[Note by author of this blog: Referenced Critical Race Theory document that was sent to me has been copied and pasted at https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/01/pat-ellis-crt-research.html]

Further email to Pat Ellis
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: ellispat60@gmail.com <ellispat60@gmail.com>
Cc: tabitha@eagleforum.org, janderson@starnesmedia.com, nembry@starnesmedia.com , rserven@al.com, tcrain@al.com, rgriesbach@al.com, stryens-fernandes@al.com, comments@abc3340.com, programming@abc3340.com, blong@hearst.com, wcromwell@cbs42.com, rmartin@cbs42.com, jason.mathews@gray.tv, melody@alabamaeagle.org
Sent: Tue, Jan 17, 2023 7:41 am
Subject: Re: Local Alabama Meeting - Jan. 25
Thank you very much for replying, Ms. Ellis.
Let me respond this way:
First, you, on your own initiative, can, in your January 25th presentation, indicate that there are other critical problems in public education in Alabama that need great attention, that you do not think the changes in Alabama's schools you are seeking, and the time and resources needed to achieve those changes, will derogate from addressing such other critical problems (or perhaps that you think implementing the changes you desire will help in addressing the other problems), or that you believe that the problems for which you are seeking changes are sufficiently detrimental to our school children to warrant prioritizing those problems over the other critical problems and a lessening of attention to the other problems should be temporarily accepted in order to implement the changes you want.
Second, there are other persons much more informed and closer to the situation in Alabama schools who would be better to address the totality of both the changes you want and the other critical problems. I think it would be great if the journalists with the Alabama Education Lab who are copied on this email weighed in. The same goes for local TV reporters who cover education. Hearing from local school superintendents, school boards, teachers and parents would also be good. I will try to find interest on that front relative to the January 25th meeting.
Third, Alabama has a new United States senator, who has said education is a priority for her. I think Senator Britt should use her new found leadership standing in Alabama to call for an education summit to be held in Alabama, possibly on multiple days and in multiple locations, at which summit a variety of speakers would publicly speak on the problems confronting public education and schools and about what should be done to address those problems. If Senator Britt set up such an education summit, it would be reasonable for Eagle Forum of Alabama to be invited to participate.
I hope to continue my engagement with you on this.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck


Another email from Pat Ellis
From: Pat Ellis <ellispat60@gmail.com>To: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
Cc:tabitha@eagleforum.org, janderson@starnesmedia.com, nembry@starnesmedia.com , rserven@al.com, tcrain@al.com, rgriesbach@al.com, stryens-fernandes@al.com, comments@abc3340.com, programming@abc3340.com, blong@hearst.com, wcromwell@cbs42.com, rmartin@cbs42.com, jason.mathews@gray.tv, melody@alabamaeagle.org
Sent: Tue, Jan 17, 2023 10:19 pm
Subject: Re: Local Alabama Meeting - Jan. 25
Good evening, I generally have an hour to make my presentations. This is not enough time to cover all the ills in K-12. I highly recommend that you bring the issues that concern you into the public square. Also, Katie Britt has five AL offices. You may want to schedule an appointment at one of them and share your concerns with Senator Britt or her education LA.
Regards, Pat Ellis
PS - I think you'd be very surprised just how well informed I am on education issues.

Still another email back to Pat Ellis
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: ellispat60@gmail.com <ellispat60@gmail.com>
Cc: tabitha@eagleforum.org, janderson@starnesmedia.com, nembry@starnesmedia.com , rserven@al.com, tcrain@al.com, rgriesbach@al.com, stryens-fernandes@al.com, comments@abc3340.com, programming@abc3340.com, blong@hearst.com, wcromwell@cbs42.com, rmartin@cbs42.com, jason.mathews@gray.tv, melody@alabamaeagle.org
Sent: Wed, Jan 18, 2023 5:29 am
Subject: Re: Local Alabama Meeting - Jan. 25
Thank you, Ms. Ellis.
I think it would be useless for me to contact Senator Britt's office (as I consider it useless for me to contact, say, Rep. Gary Palmer's office, or Gov. Ivey's office or AG Marshall's office).
For more than a year, I have been contacting Alabama TV stations and other parties in Alabama who have more influence in public affairs than I (who has no influence), in order to try to get them to raise my concerns within their realms of influence and functionality.
I will continue in that mode here.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Email to Alabama chambers of commerce
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: dcole@bcatoday.org, ejerkins@birminghambusinessalliance.com, director@homewoodchamber.org, chamber@vestaviahills.org, rfigh@montgomerychamber.com, chamberinfo@shelbychamber.net, pelhamchamberofcommerce@gmail.com, sandra@leedsareachamber.com,nhewston@mobilechamber.com, jim@westalabamachamber.com
Cc: ellispat60@gmail.com, tabitha@eagleforum.org, janderson@starnesmedia.com, nembry@starnesmedia.com , rserven@al.com, tcrain@al.com, rgriesbach@al.com, stryens-fernandes@al.com, comments@abc3340.com, programming@abc3340.com, blong@hearst.com, wcromwell@cbs42.com, rmartin@cbs42.com, jason.mathews@gray.tv, melody@alabamaeagle.org
Sent: Wed, Jan 18, 2023 5:38 pm
Subject: Should Gov. Ivey & Sen. Britt hold an "education in Alabama" summit?
To Alabama chambers of commerce:
I think Governor Ivey and Senator Britt should hold a statewide "education in Alabama" summit.
What do you think?
Please read https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/01/making-local-alabama-jan-25th-hoover.html.
Thank you.

Email from Pat Ellis
From: Pat Ellis <ellispat60@gmail.com>
To: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
Sent: Wed, Jan 18, 2023 5:54 pm
Subject: Re: Should Gov. Ivey & Sen. Britt hold an "education in Alabama" summit?
I think the more attention given to education the better. As you may know, Alabama was trending upward until Common Core. The first order of business, in my opinion, would be to admit we have CC and that AL just changed the name.

No comments:

Post a Comment