I volunteered to be part of Challenge Day on Oct. 12 at Lower Lake High School. I had no idea what it involved or what it was about, but when asked if I would volunteer, I said yes. Before I went to the school, I heard that a negative letter had been written in the Record-Bee. It was 7 a.m. I hadn”t read it nor was I given the details just told that it was bad and it was about Lower Lake High School students. I couldn”t read the letter as I had to be at the high school on time.
Once there, I found out that Challenge Day meant spending the day with a big group of students participating in this unique program. It”s an experience that”s difficult to explain. You had to be there to understand the emotion and impact. Throughout the day I learned about what these kids and the other adult volunteers had been through in their lives, and what students face both in and out of school. They learned about me as well. These kids were strong participants and it was a powerful day!
After this emotional experience I read Darrell Watkins” letter in the Record-Bee (“They have no business holding high office,” Readers” Views, Oct. 12). Darrell Watkins, of Kelseyville, never seems to really know what is real yet our local papers seem to cherish printing his strange, delusional crap (per Webster”s dictionary: nonsense; junk; trash).
I now see this same letter of his printed in the Observer as well (Oct. 18). While it”s the editorial policy of the Record-Bee and Observer to not print letters about candidates, I”m told it”s at the editor”s discretion to print what they choose, regardless of the policy. When I asked Cynthia Parkhill “why” they would print it, she said “That”s what we do.” I am also told that both papers” policy is to print rebuttals of their choice.
The part of the letter that is most offensive is his description of Lower Lake High School students. He has no idea who our kids are, yet he labels and slanders them ALL. Since I know our kids I have to correct him. Like every school everywhere, we have all kinds of kids: kids who are productive, obedient, disciplined, responsible kids. We have our share of struggling students, brilliant students, average students, tough kids, respectful kids, scared kids, unruly kids and kind kids. Some kids have overcome incredible odds and horrible things. Our employees at Lower Lake High School work with all of them with dedication, passion and intensity to give them the opportunities they need to be successful.
Believe who you want, Darrell Watkins, write what you will about me, but don”t write lies about our children, our schools, and my fellow board members when you don”t know what you”re talking about as usual!
Anita Gordon
Clearlake
