[Reading-hall-of-fame] actions at IRA

Wed Feb 11 15:15:33 GMT 2009

I  like Pearson's suggestion that we honor and celebrate Alan's many years
of service to our profession when the convention is held in Minneapolis, the
city in which Alan got his degree.  I also think that John Manning, who was
Alan's doctoral Advisor  should be there.  Alan and John Manning have kept
close ties these many years. Jay Samuels

From: reading-hall-of-fame-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
[mailto:reading-hall-of-fame-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk] On Behalf Of P.
David Pearson
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 9:34 PM
To: Jay Samuels
Cc: reading-hall-of-fame at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
Subject: Re: [Reading-hall-of-fame] actions at IRA

RHF colleagues,

I cannot pretend to fathom all of the reasons why this seemingly arbitrary
act might have occurred.  I can only hope that members of the IRA board and
executive committee, including those who are members of the RHF, will find a
way to take the cover off these highly secretive deliberations.  

Knowing Alan as well as I do (he was my TA when he was in grad school at
Minnesota) and knowing his ethical and moral standards as I do, I'd have to
have a lot of evidence to convince me that he did something so
professionally, morally, or ethically irresponsible that it merits this sort
of dismissal. Alas, I can't pretend to know what I don't know.  So these
secretive deliberations, no doubt promoted by legal counsel with a vested
interest in continuing the intrigue, prevent us all from drawing our own
independent inferences about the situation.  

But I do know this.  Alan is our colleague.  Alan has given much of his
professional career to IRA.  Alan has overseen its rise to an unprecedented
position in the community of professional organizations. If nothing else, we
need to mark, and to celebrate, his contributions to the field and to the
organization. To that end, I plan to be a part of an IRA-independent event
in Minneapolis  to celebrate his contributions to the field.  I'll have more
to say on that when I have a sense of what is possible where and when.  I
hope that you will join me in funding just such an event, in part to let the
board of directors of IRA know that we think that regardless of what Alan
might have done (still a mystery), he deserves our respect and
acknowledgment for his contributions.  I also would like them to know, and
yes this includes my friends on the board and in the Hall of Fame, that what
they did was unconscionable, depriving, as their actions did, Alan of the
right to go out on his own terms.  I am sure hundreds of IRA stalwarts will
join us in just such a counter-organizational celebration.  It is important,
indeed essential, that not one dime of IRA money be spent on such an event.
And I hope that no Board Member would dare to attend.

I also hope that other things will happen. For example, it would be
important for someone, particularly state level folks, to introduce
resolutions of censure directed at the Board and the Executive Committee at
the Delegates Assembly in Minneapolis--not so much for the particularly
decision, but for the secretive processes they used in making it--and for
hiding behind the cloak of lawyerly privilege.  

Also, I don't know what Board procedures permit, but I also hope that if
members can address the board in their meeting in Phoenix,  some of you will
address the Board and demand an open and transparent explanation of the
decision making process and rationale.

Finally, I hope that someone is directing some attention to the
psychological and professional well-being of the staff at IRA.  This must be
a blow for them.

Normally, I would say that i am sorry that RHF members who are also members
of the Board and Executive Committee have had to suffer my wrath, but I
cannot muster such an apology.  This is just too outrageous--in process and
substance.

With uncompromising ire.

David

On Feb 10, 2009, at 8:12 AM, Jay Samuels wrote:

I just sent an email about the situation Hoffman described and am quite
angry about the insensitivity of what has happened. Why am I angry?  Alan
had announced that he would retire in two  years. I have no idea how many
years he has served IRA, but I know it was many years.  Given that Alan was
about to retire, to do this to him in this way shows a complete lack of
sensitivity. If this action came from the Board of Directors I think they
deserve criticism for their behavior. Jay samuels

-----Original Message-----
From: reading-hall-of-fame-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
[mailto:reading-hall-of-fame-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk] On Behalf Of
jim hoffman
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 7:14 AM
To: reading-hall-of-fame at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
Subject: [Reading-hall-of-fame] actions at IRA

I write to you as colleagues and friends of IRA. I write in a state 
of sadness, anger and confusion. It has been reported to me, through 
several "unofficial" sources that Alan Farstrup has been fired as 
Executive Director of IRA. I have no details and attempts to get 
confirmation of this action have been met with silence. I cannot 
think of anyone who has given more to IRA than Alan and the thought 
of his dismissal in anticipation of his retirement is 
incomprehensible. . . . wrong, unfair, and on and on.  I cannot 
imagine the range of emotions Alan and his family are going through 
right now.  I am hoping that we, as members of the Hall of Fame, can 
start an open conversation about what is going on and the ways in 
which we can support Alan and IRA through difficult times. We are 
headed into a conference in just two weeks, with members of the 
organization not informed of this action. My inclination, honestly, 
is to protest this action by not attending the conference -- but I'm 
not sure what such an action taken by me or by  many would 
accomplish.  Can anyone shed light on the events that have unfolded 
and continue to unfold? What can we do individually or collectively 
to address the situation?

jim
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P. David Pearson

Professor and Dean

Graduate School of Education

1501 Tolman Hall #1670

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