There’s a reason our schools enforce a zero-tolerance policy in regards to violence.
We want our children to learn in a safe, responsible environment. Parents and students sign papers at the beginning of each school year confirming they understand the consequences of committing violent acts and making threats against others on campus.
Perhaps those in charge of writing and enforcing the policies should be required to sign the papers as well, especially after the reckless e-mail sent by San Diego Unified School District trustee Sue Braun suggesting to several colleagues that two fellow board members should be shot.
After a particularly rancorous meeting last month of the district’s board of trustees, Braun felt compelled to fire off her disturbing missive, saying, “The only other idea I have is to shoot both of them,” Braun wrote in reference to John de Beck and Frances O’Neill Zimmerman. “I was thinking of a way to get them both with one bullet, but now think they are each too heavy for that to work.”
Not only did Braun suggest violent measures to curb her colleagues, she also took a jab at the trustees’ appearance. She is a classic schoolyard bully. If you can’t beat them up, at least belittle them and deflate their self-esteem.
Braun, who has been under fire since her e-mail was made public, relinquished her title as trustee president. Yet she arrogantly refuses to resign from the school board despite her irresponsible attitude toward two fellow human beings.
It is clear to us that Braun can no longer effectively legislate as a San Diego City Schools trustee. Despite the halfhearted backing from Superintendent Alan Bersin, we urge Braun to resign and would like to see someone appointed to fill the year left in her term.
We ask this in part because the district needs to get on with the business of educating our children, but also to show students, parents and administrators there is one set of rules when it comes to violence , or even the threat of violence , on our school campuses.
This isn’t a new rule. In fact, the district has enforced a zero-tolerance policy toward campus violence since 1993.
We hold our educators in the highest regard, and they are, in fact, role models to our children. We honor them with awards, we applaud them for the jobs they perform and appreciate the influence they pass along to our kids. People are entitled to make mistakes, but Braun’s egregious error in judgment cannot be tolerated.
Yes, we do understand the venomous relationship that exists on that school board, how most votes are 3-2, with de Beck and Zimmerman in the minority. We realize
Braun’s resignation would likely draw a 2-2 stalemate on virtually every issue that would come before the board. And while finding an appointee would become a highly politicized issue, it would at least allow the district to move along.
Nobody wins in this situation; not the opposition, not Bersin’s administration and certainly not Sue Braun. But with one click of the “send” button, Braun cemented her legacy as a school district trustee and at the same time brought the entire district to a screeching halt.
Stepping aside as president is no admission of guilt and provides little punishment. Braun’s resignation is the only way to acknowledge that when rules are broken, someone must be held responsible.
