Letter to the Editor: School Board Election and Civil Discourse

To the Editor:

I will not be voting for Robert Cox for school board in the upcoming election on May 17.

Call me old-fashioned, but I believe in civil discourse. I believe that schools should educate our children to be sober citizens—people who take their civic responsibilities seriously and who speak to others thoughtfully, in words and tone that convey respect and that appeal to reason.

In looking over Mr. Cox's blog, Talk of the Sound, I do not read the words of the sober, thoughtful citizen I would want our children to become. Instead, I read the words of a man who is often angry and sometimes out of control.

There may be things to criticize in the New Rochelle public school system. My two daughters received a terrific education in the New Rochelle public schools, and our family has had many positive experiences with New Rochelle teachers and administrators.

Still, I'm sure there are shortcomings that all reasonable people, including Mr. Cox's opponents, would agree need to be addressed.

But what is the impact on our community to air grievances with a raised fist and a bullying tone?

In his campaign announcement, Mr. Cox says, "If you are satisfied with a system that allows criminals to work in our schools and come in direct contact with our children then, by all means, vote for my opponents."

What are the implications of this remarkable sentence? They are: (1) that our schools are rife with criminal employees; and (2) that Mr. Cox's opponents don't care. 

It's great rhetorical technique, but it's also dishonest and unfair.

In a blog posting, he accuses someone of "pissing all over the Freedom of Information Act and personally defecated [sic] on the U.S. Constitution of the United States."

A recent headline from his blog:  "Is There Anyone Left Who Does Not Agree That United Water of New Rochelle Sucks?"

If Mr. Cox's goal is to rile people up, then he is a great success. But if his goal is to be a school board member who initiates clear-minded discussions, then his language and tone are completely unsuitable. 

In fact, they poison any chance of clear-minded discourse.

I may or may not share Mr. Cox's upset with whatever incidents led to his anger. But I expect a school board member to role model—through language and behavior—a certain calm and respectful citizenship that Mr. Cox seems to lack.

Given his tone and language, I would gladly vote for Mr. Cox to sit in the back of a classroom and shoot spitballs, but I would not consider him a good candidate for working constructively with other adults to make decisions about the education of our children.

—Paul Gross, M.D., New Rochelle, NY

EDITOR'S NOTE: Do you have an opinion you want to express about the school board election? Send your Letter to the Editor to Michael.Woyton@Patch.com. Letters must be received by Sunday, May 15, to be considered for publication. Please include your name, address and daytime and evening phone numbers. Letters may be edited for style.

There are six candidates running for two five-year terms. The  candidates are Rachel Relkin, Naomi Brickel, Robert Cox, Peter O'Keeffe, and Dr. Salvador A. Fernandez.