Story of Army Kids Harassment Hits National Level

http://www.wabi.tv/story.asp?3436

Story Posted: Monday, March 03, 2003 at 7:53:56 AM

Story of Army Kids Harassment Hits National Level
THE STORY HAS BEEN PICKED UP BY SUCH NATIONAL MEDIA AS THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, THE NEW YORK TIMES AND C-N-N - NOT TO MENTION NATIONAL RADIO TALK SHOWS LIKE HOWIE CARR AND RUSH LIMBAUGH.

AND THE STORY CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR TOPIC IN NATIONAL NEWS AND OPINION PROGRAMS EVEN AS WE SPEAK.

MULTITUDES OF EMAILS THAT HAVE BEEN SENT TO TV5 BY CITIZENS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AMERICANS WHO ARE CONCERNED AFTER SEEING OUR REPORTS THAT THE CHILDREN OF DEPLOYING TROOPS ARE GETTING A HARD TIME FROM CERTAIN TEACHERS WITH ANTI-WAR VIEWS. THE NATIONAL GUARD HAS ANSWERED QUESTIONS FROM ABOUT TWO DOZEN MAJOR MEDIA OUTLETS. HUNDREDS OF POSTS FROM AROUND THE NATION HAVE TURNED UP ON INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS. SO HOW DOES THE MAINE ARMY GUARD FEEL ABOUT THE AVALANCHE OF RESPONSES?

MAJOR ANDREW GIBSON, A NATIONAL GUARD CHAPLAIN SAYS, "I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING HERE IS THAT WE KNOW THAT THE TROOPS ARE SUPPORTED. WE KNOW THAT THE SOLDIERS THAT ARE GOING AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES AND WHO ARE GOING TO BE SEPARATED FROM FAMILIES ARE GOING TO BE SUPPORTED WHILE THEY'RE AWAY. AND I THINK THE OUTPOURING FROM THE ENTIRE COUNTRY REFLECTS THE KIND OF LOVE AND CARING THAT THE PEOPLE DO HAVE FOR THEIR SOLDIERS."

MOST OF THE EMAILS THAT TV5 HAS RECEIVED FROM AROUND THE NATION ARE HIGHLY CRITICAL OF MAINE'S EDUCATION SYSTEM. THAT'S NOT A VIEW THAT IS NECESSARILY ENDORSED BY THE NATIONAL GUARD. THEY POINT OUT ONCE AGAIN THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF TEACHERS HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE AND TACTFUL WHEN DEALING WITH ARMY KIDS.

GIBSON RESPONDS, "MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE RESPONDED HAVE BEEN TEACHERS. AND IN FACT, WE DID KIND OF A LITTLE STRAW POLL OURSELVES. WE THINK THAT MAYBE TEACHERS ARE THE NUMBER ONE GROUP THAT ARE REPRESENTED IN THE NATIONAL GUARD. WE KNOW OF SEVERAL TEACHERS WHO'VE BEEN DEPLOYED AND ARE GOING OVERSEAS. SO OF COURSE, WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT ALL TEACHERS ARE LIKE THIS SO THAT THIS IS EVEN ENDEMIC TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME INCIDENTS AND THOSE INCIDENTS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED."

THE GUARD SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN THREE MORE REPORTS OF HARASSMENT THAT HAVE SURFACED SINCE THE STORY FIRST AIRED. THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL TO 15, FROM 15 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE.

THE NATIONAL GUARD IS WALKING A TIGHT ROPE ON THIS ISSUE.

THEY DON'T WANT TO CASTIGATE THE ENTIRE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR THE COMPLAINTS THEY'RE HEARING FROM ARMY PARENTS.

BUT THEY ALSO DON'T WANT THE PROBLEM TO BE SWEPT UNDER THE RUG.