LETTER TO EDITOR---July 19 1999

To the Editor,

I was very disheartened to see the record of Mrs Bowen's trouble with the administration traipsed out in great detail, along with a parental group calling for her dismissal. Considering what she said, and what the offending students did, it is remarkable that such a hullaballoo has been created. Teachers have a hard time nowadays maintaining some adult authority and perspective with parents who support their children instead of their children's teacher.

Fifty years ago the prevalent parental attitude of parents to their children was, "if you get in trouble in school, you will get in more trouble at home." In this way, children followed the rules and internalized controls. Nobody got shot. Parents and teachers knew better; that was the end of it.

Nowadays in child-centered homes, where children are over-indulged, the whole concept of authority and parents knowing better has gone down the drain. The present 'controversy' should be no controversy at all.

I wasn't there, but I know the kids were wrong and Mrs Bowen was right. She said they were driving recklessly. The kids denied it. Kids lie. Kids kid themselves. Teenagers are notoriously untrustworthy in owning up their rebellious and limit-testing behavior. It is well known that young men love to burn rubber, putting metal to the floor. Some kids even do gratuitous lawn jobs. Not all kids, of course, but we know it is done.

Who would I believe? Mrs Bowen or a bunch of kids in a 4x4? Mrs Bowen. They say you can't drive recklessly in a 4x4? Ridiculous! I don't think Mrs Bowen would have made it up. Why do I believe Mrs Bowen, rather than the kids? Mrs Bowen has paid her dues. She has worked hard, trained herself, got graduate degrees and been a marvelous music and drama teacher. The awards speak for themselves. She is probably the very best such teacher in the country. Her services have been invaluable. She has contributed to many students having successful careers in the entertainment industry.

Of course there are many students who don't make it, who don't have the stuff, who shy away from putting in the effort, and then cast aspersions on this demanding teacher with high standards. Sour grapes. And some of their parents beat the drum against the teacher, when their kids don't make the cut.

Why should I believe a bunch of kids? Why shouldn't I believe Mrs Bowen? I have seen performances of her students. The most recent one rivaled professional shows on Broadway in New York.

Did somebody say she sometimes used bad language? Did anybody wonder whether that is what she hears all day? Did anybody consider the dedication and skill involved in getting teenagers to cooperate in rehearsing for top-level performances? Would anybody object if Arturo Toscanini cursed at his symphony orchestra?

Toscanini paid his dues and earned the right by having been the greatest. Mrs Bowen in her way, in this time and place, is the greatest. She should always be excused for excesses of emotion or inappropriate language. It is too bad that a person's employment chart can be publicized out as 'news.' It is like a public humiliation. I wonder what the records of the kids would have revealed.

I think Mrs Bowen deserves a humble apology from anybody who saw fit to trash her reputation and her job. She is a creative genius and has the temperament to go with it. She is not a prima donna. Rather she is a dedicated creative artist, and deserves better than she has received at Grosse Pointe South.

Respectfully,

Victor Bloom MD