[Reading-hall-of-fame] actions at IRA
Jerome C Harste
harste at indiana.edu
Wed Feb 11 19:44:26 GMT 2009
I talked with Alan and, like the rest of you, I'm very upset with how
this was handled. I'm hoping we hear something from the Board as
there are some good people serving who I would think are as concerned
with professional ethics as we are.
On Feb 11, 2009, at 10:42 AM, P. David Pearson wrote:
> Whatever prompted this, whatever might have happened, whatever the
> Board's purpose, whoever holds the high moral ground—the idea of
> honoring Alan's service seems just right. I just don't think it can
> be IRA. Hence my suggestion about an independent effort. And Jay is
> exactly right that John Manning, also a fellow RHF member, should be
> centrally involved.
>
> David
>
>
> On Feb 11, 2009, at 7:15 AM, Jay Samuels wrote:
>
> 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
> University of California, Berkeley
> Berkeley CA 94720-1670
> GSE Office: 510 643-6644
> LHS Office: 510 642-7753
> 5519 Research Office: 510 643-5004
> fax 510 643-8904
> speakerphone 510 643-6739
> email: ppearson at berkeley.edu
> other e-mail: pdavidpearsondean at gmail.com
> website: www.scienceandliteracy.org
> photos: http://gse.berkeley.edu/faculty/pdpearson/pictures/pdpportraits.html
> *******************
> Home: 851 Euclid Ave
> Berkeley, CA 94708 -1305
> Home #: 510 526 6986
> Cell: 510 543 6508
> ****************************************
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> P. David Pearson
> Professor and Dean
> Graduate School of Education
> 1501 Tolman Hall #1670
> University of California, Berkeley
> Berkeley CA 94720-1670
> GSE Office: 510 643-6644
> LHS Office: 510 642-7753
> 5519 Research Office: 510 643-5004
> fax 510 643-8904
> speakerphone 510 643-6739
> email: ppearson at berkeley.edu
> other e-mail: pdavidpearsondean at gmail.com
> website: www.scienceandliteracy.org
> photos: http://gse.berkeley.edu/faculty/pdpearson/pictures/pdpportraits.html
> *******************
> Home: 851 Euclid Ave
> Berkeley, CA 94708 -1305
> Home #: 510 526 6986
> Cell: 510 543 6508
> ****************************************
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> <ATT00001.txt>
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