Our readers speak: School committee owes an apology

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Contributed
3 January 2013

To The Editor:         

c373578_m

It is a sad state of affairs when five individuals behaving like narcissistic idiots presume to know what is best for the Madawaska School Department staff and children.  Keep in mind that the majority of the committee are swipers whose responsibilities at the mill are nothing more than sweeping the floors from the refuse off the machines.  It is irrefutably obvious that the committee resolves all issues pertaining to the school department while on the job at the mill before entering into session at the school board meetings.  Their over-inflated egos spill out into the entire community.  Perhaps some authority at the mill should monitor their activity and adjust their pay accordingly.

It is plain to see that the committee has targeted those individuals who represent the Madawaska Education Association in an attempt to rupture and dissolve the union.

As I travel the County, people come up to me and ask "What is going on in Madawaska?" As proud as I am of the exceptional job the teaching staff is doing, it embarrasses me to try and defend their position when the school committee has denigrated the staff's dedication to the kids and the town at large.

At the very least, the school committee owes the teachers, students and community a sincere apology for their misrepresentation of all parties involved.

Sincerely,

Cecile R. Martin

Madawaska

Comments

Swipers?

I don't believe Roger Thibodeau was a swiper. He's a retired mill offce person. As for an apology from he committee, you'll have to wait until hell freezes over to get one.
Submitted by Ron on 4 January 2013 - 12:34pm.

It's supposed to freeze over

It's supposed to freeze over tonight, still not gonna hold my breath.
Submitted by pundit on 4 January 2013 - 1:31pm.

swipers

If you have never done the job of swiper and by your comments you never have you should keep your ignorant comments to yourself Those people work hard at their job How would you like it if someone said all you do is sit at tim hortons and gossip about the towns news Have some respect
Submitted by kim on 4 January 2013 - 8:09pm.

Swipers

Could not have said it better myself *****
Submitted by TiredOfJudgemen... on 4 January 2013 - 10:52pm.

Swipers on the school committee???

Cecile Martin, I am very disgusted with the views that you share about some of our school committee members!! If they are mostly swipers as you state, why would you discredit their work as broom sweepers??? Do you know what swipers do at the mill??? I for one do know the jobs and responsibilities that these people do and the work environment that they work in. There are very few people in the mill that are willing to do this job day in and day out. Also, you say that the school committee is targeting the teachers to disrupt and dissolve the union???? HELLLLOOOOOO!!!!!!!! With what is going on, it looks like the school committee is trying to keep as many teachers employed as possible to minimize the impact on the students and their education. I believe that many people such as yourself need a lot of education (that the Madawaska teachers can't give you) to understand what is really going on in this school district!!! You were correct with your first 7 words of your statement ("It is a sad state of affairs") when you have to personally attack certain individuals with name calling and degrading!! I hope to see your name on the ballot when nominations come up in the spring!!!! In the meantime, I guess we'll just see you at Tim Horton's....
Submitted by retiree101 on 4 January 2013 - 11:38pm.

I understand the level of

I understand the level of frustration by Cecile Martin and the replies by others. But this type of retoric is counterproductive to solving our town's problems. Intellegent people make decisiions based on facts and information. I continue to support a forum that will inform citizens with facts, and allows discussions and debates crutial for a democratic style of town government. CHANNEL 16 is a technology that can achieve this goal. Please show support for transforming channel 16 into the method used for intellegent discussuions and debates crutial for a democratic town government.
Submitted by Richard Cayer on 5 January 2013 - 11:40am.

School Board

Maybe the swippers should do more swipping and less group meetings at the mill during swipping time! GO SWIP SOMETHTING!!
Submitted by madtownacadian on 5 January 2013 - 3:00pm.

Swipers

Cecile, just so you know I worked at the mill, and the swipers do not just clean up after the machines!! Without the swipers the mill would not run!! I really think you should get your info straight before you talk about something you know nothing about!! When the mill took a pay cut, for the benefit of the town its funny nobody complained about them then. Before you start degrading people take a look in the mirror!! And by the way, what do you do for a living!! Maybe you should take a day and follow a swiper!!
Submitted by renee on 6 January 2013 - 6:47pm.

To the unenlightened who started this.........

So, by reading all this I would like to say this to Cecile R. Martin. I appreciate your point of view. And we are all entitled to our opinions. However, in stating ones opinion in public, i would suggest a tad bit of knowladge. First of all, what I do at work is not visible from inside Tim Hortons. But those people that do know what us swipers do, and see us everyday, realize its importance to the mill. I work my tail off daily. I dont generaly entertain this bull because I really dont think its worth my time. But you leave me no other choice. Try your best at absorbing this. Your uncultivated. Do you know what that means or do you need to google that? I will help you. Your ignorant in the true meaning. I have a young family, I work an average of 48hrs a week. I leave that mill EVERYDAY soaked in sweat, grease, chemicals, water, dust, and anything else you can think of. I dont do it because its fun. I dont do it because it pays well. Heck, i dont even know WHY I choose to do it! Its about the worst job in the mill! But, one thing I do know, I was rasied to have values and a commitment to my family that I will support them. I have obligations just like every other working person in this town. And I intend on doing my part. What we dont need right now is people like you. If you have all the answers, if your the one that can solve the worlds problems from inside a coffee shop, why dont you take yourself right on over to the town office and apply for one of the positions that you really dont know so much about? I know why, because you cant. you can only complain and gripe and moan and groan about all the things that are wrong. Its easy to sit back and judge and point out everyone elses flaws. Pass your insecurities off on others. Here is a fact. The School Board members that I work with everyday and the Superintendent are in a tough position that not too many people are willing to be in. These people work extreamly hard for their little compensation. These people spend a great deal of their time trying to make informed decisions on whats best. I do know that this School Board has been working overtime on this school budget issue tying to do what they can with what they got. I for one appreciate what there attempting to do. Its not easy, the truth of the matter is we all had a choice in who took these positions. I dont recall seeing your name there on the ballot, but for some reason it appears you got the answers. I got an idea. Pack your stuff, grab a hot coffee, and head on out to another place in your fantasy land and enjoy the donut shops there. I'm surely glad my childrens education is not in the hands of a undereducated decision maker like yourself. Yours Truely! Chris Braley
Submitted by Chris Braley-Sw... on 8 January 2013 - 8:50pm.

know the facts

oh my....i hope that your article is a joke..i was told it was written by paul cyr and u put your name on it...shame on you....no one wants to send anyone home...those men r working very hard to keep the school running...i have small children in this school .... the economy is spiraling down hill fast....the cuts that are going to be made only to classes with low amount of kids in it...we r broke and cannot afford the wages and benefits that we had in the past...all the teachers were asked to stay with a 9 percent cut but they chose not to...now what...we have to send some home...this is the beginning...we may have to cut more in the future....there are only a little over 500 children left in this school...we have to down size....we are not immune here in northern maine....Lepage also is giving us less money....no one wants to pay more taxes....I too have friends that work at the mill....they work hard...if they wouldnt have agreed to the cut they got we would be a ghost town.....and also how would u like to pay taxes on something u dont have anymore....same goes with them...they have supported our town in the past and when they get back on their feet they will again....well maybe not with a letter like yours...I think i will boycott tim hortons...if others do too we will see your job go....hmmm please be nice and respect others...and mr cayer WOWL was not shut down..ask the super...i think the teacher shut it down...they have monies to pay all the classes til the end of june. Im not sure what happened to the channel.... by the way when there are meetings at twin rivers where do they get the coffee....hmmm they may have to go elsewhere....
Submitted by ccane1980 on 8 January 2013 - 9:41pm.

Swipers

This comment is for Cecile Martin and the rest of the people who believe what she said about the swipers at the Mill........I am the wife of a retired Swiper at the mill......and you Cecile Martin are an idiot and should be ashamed of youself for posting a comment like that when it is the furthest thing from the truth.....I am truly offended....I can only imagine how the Swipers feel after reading your comment....
Submitted by carolross on 9 January 2013 - 10:28pm.