Love-Hate Mail
Letters from our readers.
Sorry state
Thank you Ms. Ulrich for beginning to expose the issue regarding seclusion and restraint of students with disabilities (“Physical Education,” Jan. 24). While my child has not been the subject of this practice, I have been involved in advocacy for students with disabilities for over 10 years—and actually helped start and chaired the DCE for the first five years. One of the additional questions we should be asking is why the state director of special-ed, Joseph Fisher, had never, ever addressed this issue, nor has the outgoing commissioner of education Lana Sievers. The fact is that there is virtually no leadership on special-ed issues at the state level unless and until they are forced to react. It seems it is always left up to the families and the disability agencies to address. We should wonder why there is no accountability at the state level or, for that matter, at the local board levels.JOANNE BREGMANjbregman@bellsouth.net (Nashville)
Not just Tennessee
Thank you for doing the story on “Physical Education” (Jan. 24). It was a powerful story that hit very close to home. We have the same thing going on in Florida schools and at least seven parents I know in Florida have had to pull their autistic kids out of school because of the overuse of restraint and seclusion. We have no laws, no guidelines, no tracking, no accountability and no parent notification. We have filed complaints with the school districts, FLDOE, OCR, DCF, police and the governor’s office with no help from any of them. It’s a no-win situation for us and for our children.PHYLLIS MUSUMECIcvm514@bellsouth.net (Boynton Beach, Fla.)
National concern
I read your very carefully thought-out feature, “Physical Education” in the Jan. 24 Scene. As a former Nashvillian and member of a family that had an autistic sibling who was fortunate enough to become an independent, productive adult, I am appalled at what happened to Jack Zimmerman, if true.
If these charges against this teacher are true, I am outraged. I know if it were my child who got abused or molested, I would be tempted—like any self-respecting parent—to take the law into my own hands against any adult of either gender who did this to my child. I would personally want to see that this teacher never had a chance to do this to anybody else’s autistic child. Having said that, I know it ‘s wrong to advocate vigilantism, but dammit, when I hear about a mentally disabled child being taken advantage of, it makes my blood boil!
Gov. Bredesen, by his callous indifference to this child-abuse issue, has disgraced the office of governor and has forfeited any respect that I might have otherwise had for him. Would Bredesen do this to his own child? All children, especially the disabled, have a right to expect a safe, nurturing environment in our public schools, free from bullying and sexual or physical abuse.WILLIAM R. DELZELLwmdel78@hotmail.com (Springfield, Mass.)
And party every decade
Kiss: a bad ’70s rock band (“Blonde Ambition,” Jan. 24)? ’80s, yes. But ’70s? No.ALEX SCHUHMANNa.schuhmann210@gmail.com (Nashville)
Blame the page count
I missed one of my favorite columns in the Jan. 24 edition of the Scene. Ask a Mexican is a great column, and I am hoping that you didn’t decide to stop publishing it. What gives? Not another snub against Mexicans, I hope.BILL HAINEStnoct@comcast.net (Bellevue)
Yellow fever
Your cover story about Megan Volz is the most horrible piece of journalism I have read in a while (“The Other Volz,” Jan. 17). Is there something I’m missing? Or is P.J. Tobia simply using the recent media attention of Megan’s brother as a way to get a cover story? This is a really sorry article for many reasons, but mostly because it is completely not newsworthy. It is gossipy and distasteful. Get a grip.RACHEL GRESHAMreb2dster@gmail.com (Kingston Springs)
Dude, it was in the subhed
Would someone please buy the Scene staff a dictionary so that they may learn what the word illegal is? P.J. Tobia’s story “The Other Volz” (Jan. 17) seems to have overlooked the not-so-small fact that both of the Diemarch brothers are illegally in the U.S. They both admitted as much, according to the story. How this got paralleled with Eric Volz’s railroading in Nicaragua is simply beyond both logic and reason. Is this what now passes for reporting in the Scene? I long for the days of John Bridges.BOB COLEbobsguns@comcast.net (Donelson)
Comparing reports
The Scene never touched the story of Eric Volz during his incarceration. It is deplorable to know that you were willing to exploit Eric and his family by smearing his sister’s name and situation through a tabloid-mentality news article (“The Other Volz,” Jan. 17). You are as bad as the horrific reporting that manipulated and endangered Eric in Nicaragua. Even as we speak, there is a great danger for Eric and his family. I hope and pray this is not the kiss of death for the people still fighting his case in Nicaragua. If something happens to Eric or Megan or his family, you are an accomplice and should be held accountable.MARNA MCKINNEYmarnamck@bellsouth.net (Nashville)
