Education News
Chess trip back on after cancellation
Monday, December 03, 2007 6:08 PM
Principal had change of heart
THE BRONX — Students hoping to compete in a national chess championship were forced to cancel the trip.
The principal had called off the trip, but then there was an apparent change of heart. The figure at the center of the controversy, the coach, will not be joining them.
Education reporter Art McFarland has more.
It was announced Monday that the kids at P.S. 70 in the Bronx will be going on Thursday to a national chess competition in Texas. The decision follows a day of controversy, based on the fact that school administrators have a problem with the full-time chess coach.
The fact that they will be going to the competition is certainly good news to the children. Because these chess club members are at the top of their game.
“I am feeling sad because we worked really hard to get there this year,” one chess club member said.
Members of the chess club were looking forward with confidence to this week’s regional chess competition.
Teacher and chess club coordinator Jonathan Alejandro is at the center of the controversy.
“The Bronx Bombers outwork any team in America,” he said.
Parents received a letter last month confirming the chess trip, only to be followed last week by another letter announcing its cancellation.
Alejandro believes that his activities as the teacher’s union leader of the school led to the cancellation.
“I think that there are clashes that happen, and somehow it’s being transferred into this arena,” he said. “And I don’t like how the children are being sacrificed in this whole process.”
Here is the full story.
Great news! Thanks for fighting for them! You’re our Robinhood!
Excellent News! I will have to follow
their progress in the tourney.
Michigan Chess Dad
I’m glad that the kids will be able to go.
But I disturbed by this incident. The principal originally said that she wasn’t letting them go because she was concerned about the safety of the kids. Now we find out the coach is not going and the kids can go. I really doubt that the coach was going to endanger the kids. And it’s a pretty good smear campaign to say that the coach is under investigation. If you’re not going to disclose why he’s under investigation, why even tell the media that he is under investigation unless your true intent is to smear a guy probably just because he’s active in the teachers’ union.
Do not believe that this problem is over yet. The trip is still on hold, many parents will not send their kids without the coordinator.
The poster above is 100% correct
The charges are made up and are merely retaliation for his hard work to support both his teachers and chess team.
Yeah, good job Susan for putting pressure on this principal.
Fire that principal! Send her packing!