Published Wednesday, February 21, 2007 in East Valley Opinions of the Arizona Republic as “Make school parent group’s theft a learning expeience.”
“The Queen turned crimson with fury, and, after glaring at her for a moment like a wild beast, began screaming, ‘Off with her head!’” –from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.One recent Friday a confidential letter sent to parents of children attending Tempe’s Ward Traditional Academy notified them that someone had stolen $30,000 from their Parent Organization. That person who now stands accused is finance chair, Shauna Caryl.In Wonderland the Queen of Hearts has only one way of settling difficulties, “Off with her head!” she exclaims. Alice, a young girl, decides that’s improper, but what will the Alices in Ward learn? How the school community responds will determine whether we can turn this tragedy into a learning experience with public accountability and restitution. Read the rest of this entry »