Dear Editor:
As a parent of 2 children educated by the Hoboken Public School system (1993 to present) I was pleased, at first, to see the invitation to the first Superintendents Forum which was posted on the school web-site: http://www.hoboken.k12.nj.us/. That was, until I read the posting more closely. You don’t have to read between the lines to see that IF Mr. Carter’s gesture to extend a warm invitation is meant to include¬¬¬¬¬¬e PARENTS/GUARDIANS then it is woefully insincere. Primarily, most working parents as well as other interested members of the community will be unable to attend because the forum is scheduled from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Also, the community is not served best by holding the forum at Connors. Certainly it should be held at the High School which is closer to the central part of town and much more easily accessible to the greater population. Furthermore, Mr. Carter indicates that this is to be a forum in which he trusts that you will come prepared with many items on your mind and then offers a list of suggestions which couldn’t possibly be deciphered by the average parent such as, New Jersey Statutes and Code (18A and 6/6A) and Federal Funds (Title I. IDEA, etc,). Gee, nope. Those items weren’t on my mind. Finally, that being said, concerning Mr. Carter’s bullet, Student Dress Code – Uniforms – Parent/Adult Surveys will be available.
I am worried that I will not have a chance to voice my extreme opposition to the adoption of a uniform policy since I will not be able to attend the forum and I couldn’t find a survey which I could complete on the web-site.
Reviewing the above it’s clear to me that Mr. Carter intends to lecture to the attendants instead of holding an open discussion with our community. It also makes me question Mr. Carter’s true intention in providing this forum that most parents cannot attend and that he has other motives which may concern the Board beginning its search for a permanent superintendent. I want the members of the School Board as well as other interested members of the community to make note of Mr. Carter’s obtuse gesture.
Name withheld