Submitted by T. Lyons.
A narrative that is going around that my calling for Paul Wagemann’s resignation is retaliation for losing the race against him. Let me make it very clear I am so grateful that I didn’t win the race. See, it sounds weird to hear someone say that, but it’s true. When I decided to run for the Clover Park school board, I didn’t know much about the board. Still, I knew change was explicitly needed for black and brown students in the district, and I thought if I was on the board, I could push for the much-needed changes, and ultimately all students would benefit.
At first, after I lost, I was devasted and because my faith in God is strong, and I believe that He knows what’s best. I was able to let go. (My steps are ordered) After campaigning, the phone calls kept coming from students, parents, guardians, and yes, even staff and teachers. I learned that I was the voice for people who felt they couldn’t use theirs for whatever reason.
I realized that if I had won, I would be governed by four other people on the board who would have a large part in what I could and could not address or discuss. My role would have been limited.
To ignore the fact that “crack the whip” has a historical duality to the term is irresponsible and unethical as a board member. To ignore the historical context of a word that is rooted in slavery is also telling. The derogatory term “cracker” was used for slave masters and originated from “cracking the whip.” The term used in the 1600s for horses was also used for black people and people of color during slavery. Paul used the words for people, not horses, and as the data shows, not just any people, black and brown children.
See the problem with many of Paul’s supporters who have been attacking me and trying to intimidate me on social media. When you look at their Facebook pages, many of them have the same white supremacy ideology that one of the teachers was trying to teach in the classroom. This opinion is based on the disgusting comments they have made about immigrants, poor people, and people of color in general and tells why there is so much push back on the district seeking to create anti-racist policies and a culturally aware and sensitive environment. The Clover Park school district has a long history of proven racism, which was acknowledged in the December 21st special meeting.
One who is culturally sensitive and has cultural humility will understand that words have multiple meanings and mean different things. When it was brought to Paul’s attention, his comments were offensive on December 14th and the December 21st school board meeting, he could have been humble and apologized for his offense. If anything, he is aware of what his words meant to others and how he hurt people with his words. He showed no remorse; in fact, he tripled down and refused to apologize after many given opportunities and an example of how to apologize by the board president. Is that not problematic for you?
Some people get all up in arms when one says anything about doing something for black and brown children, many of who face many data-proven disparities in the education system and society. Eliminating disparities a particular group faces ensures there is not just equity and racial equity for one group of children, but it helps all children thrive instead of surviving.
The culture of racism is a powerful root in the Clover Park School district. Where else can a teacher feel comfortable showing films from a far-right group on immigration and then show another movie by the same group after being told that those films were offensive and not ok by their students, parents, and their leadership unless there is a culture that allows one to feel comfortable in doing so.
Cultural imperialism and privilege have blinded many people who cannot see the damage Paul’s words caused because it doesn’t directly affect them. Many people are unwilling to understand what those words mean to black, indigenous, and people of color who have historically been marginalized, oppressed, and enslaved. They will never feel how it feels to hear a school board member, in a power position, use words to marginalize and oppress people regardless of what the subject is.
The school board has been going through sensitivity training for well over a year, and none of it seems to resonate with Paul. His supporters need to realize we are not in the 1600’s we are 2020, where we recognize words have power. When we offend someone, it takes nothing away from you to sincerely apologize and seek to understand so that you are more aware and hopefully not make the same mistake twice.
Paul did not apologize, nor did he try to fix the damage his words caused. Even after identifying how his words came across by another school board member who also happens to be white. Paul replied that he knows what it means, and he meant what he said.
Me deciding to call for Paul’s resignation was not done without careful consideration. Paul has said many offensive and racist things in school board meetings before December 14th that I have addressed during the campaign and after.
The issue remains that there is a culture of racism in the Clover Park School district. If a board member refuses to be culturally sensitive, how can the school district require teachers and staff to be? After all, the district’s culture is created from the top down.
It is imperative that the culture of microaggressions, bias, and cultural imperialism is eradicated from the Clover Park School district so that all children feel seen, safe, and heard. We have to do what it takes to ensure we are protecting all children. Students should not leave schools carrying trauma created by teachers, staff, and board members who are unwilling to self-assess to gain cultural humility and do the work to dismantle racism regardless of who it is. Since I started this petition, Formers teachers of the district and families who had students in the district are all signing this petition. The Clover Park School District Board of Directors had a special meeting concerning Paul’s statement. They acknowledged a long-rooted history of racism by stating there is a long road ahead to get the district to be culturally competent to include diversity equity and inclusion.
Paul Wagemann refused to make a public apology after his peers shared how his words were hurtful, and he needed to understand the impact of his words. Paul tripled down and said he knows what the words mean, and he meant what he said. Paul, after a year’s worth of intensive sensitivity training, could not define what equity meant. The board stated there would be a policy for diversity equity and inclusion the entire board must sign; this is not accountability. Paul needs to be held accountable for his actions. Require the board to take a stand and send a clear message to the whole district that they believe in dismantling racism in the district, and racism is not tolerated in the Clover Park School district. It must start from the top down.
In closing, seek to understand. If you are anti-racist, you will realize that those in positions of power must be careful with what they say, and when someone tells them they are offended by their words, be humble and accountable. People who care about all people will immediately apologize and recognize that they made a mistake. For those who proclaim to be Christians, it is the Christian way. I am calling for the resignation of Paul Wagemann.
The views expressed in this article are the writer’s own.
Joseph Boyle says
Okay, so we are going to continue to make a mountain our of a molehill.
Crack the whip has no racical meaning; none, positive or negative for me. But in order to not offend anyone possessing an over active imagaination just looking for a poor-me fight, I will try to not crack the whip.
That should make the languaqge police in their attempt to violate our right to free speech happy. No more crack the whip.
Question: Is “giddyup” okay?
Joseph Boyle
DAVID ANDERSON says
One would think that it would be incumbent upon a former school board candidate having pursued a position on a board charged with the kind of intellectual, educational and academic thoroughness that that board would hope would be a standard set by their example for the students over whom they had oversight: to provide documentation – rather than generalizations – in their presentations.
Especially one who has charged a current school board member with “blatant bigotry and racism,” having called that school board member “an explicit racist” and “a considerable liability.”
In the interest then of intellectual honesty and not indolence, please provide documentation of the following.
You wrote, “Paul used the words for people, not horses, and as the data shows, not just any people, black and brown children.”
What data? Please provide.
“The Clover Park school district has a long history of proven racism.”
Instances? Please be specific by, for example, providing proof of your Public Disclosure Requests that show you did your due diligence in following up said charges and what specific actions were taken.
“Black and brown children, many of who (sic) face many data-proven disparities in the education system and society.”
Again, please provide your research that shows from the preceding statement how that is applicable in your following statement:
“The culture of racism is a powerful root in the Clover Park School district.”
“Paul has said many offensive and racist things in school board meetings before December 14th that I have addressed during the campaign and after.”
Please be specific.
“The issue remains that there is a culture of racism in the Clover Park School district.”
Evidence?
“It is imperative that the culture of microaggressions, bias, and cultural imperialism is eradicated from the Clover Park School district.”
Instances?
You are right in one regard T. Lyons. Words matter. Substantiate your words.
“Reading maketh a full man; and writing an axact (sic) man. And, therefore, if a man write little, he need have a present wit; and if he read little, he need have much cunning to seem to know what he doth not.” – Francis Bacon
Alison Gilmaney says
Excellent and thoughtful points made. Any serious charges such as made by the loser of her recent campaign should be substantiated. Stop this silliness
John Arbeeny says
Give it a rest. You’re the one who is wielding the unsupported epithet of “racism” as though it were a wrecking ball. Intimidation? You do it very well. Get over the importance of your “offense”, of alleged “microaggressions, bias, and cultural imperialism”, none of which should stifle debate, whether “hurtful” or not. What a bunch of groundless, leftist, woke, Marxist clap trap. Race is only important to racists and clearly race is important to you.
To quote Booker T. Washington: “There is another class of coloured people (My NOTE: actually any “color” will do….racists come in all colors) who make a business of keeping the troubles, the wrongs, and the hardships of the Negro race before the public. Having learned that they are able to make a living out of their troubles, they have grown into the settled habit of advertising their wrongs — partly because they want sympathy and partly because it pays. Some of these people do not want the Negro to lose his grievances, because they do not want to lose their jobs.”
Toni Aulerich Searles says
One sentence caught my eye, “ I knew change was explicitly needed for black and brown students in the district, and I thought if I was on the board, I could push for the much-needed changes, and ultimately all students would benefit.” One commercial on tv does the same thing, “people of color don’t have the advantage others do.” I am really tired of the woe is me attitude that some people have. I grew up in a nation where I was taught, God created us all as equals, we each have a different purpose in life. Please move on, you need not explain yourself. You lost for whatever your reasons are, go forward and quit blaming others with finger. I am a different ethnicity but carry on with life as all should do and not by the color of my skin. Personally I have more important things to do than worry about the color of my skin, I am human.
BTW, I was born after WW2 in Hawaii, to a Japanese mother and Caucasian father. I never experienced racism until I moved to Washington. My father told me that Hawaii is a bread basket of all nationalities, no one better than another.
I totally agree with John Arbeeny!
James Grimsey says
I have lived in the area most of my life. I used to think that we were progressive, intelligent, understanding, and had a certain amount of acceptance of all races. However, in the last several years I have seen the true feelings of ignorant people who think that there is nothing to be concerned about when it comes to race. I have been shown time and again that there are indeed many racist people in this area, many who I had called friend. It is a sad day when others cannot see a problem that needs to be corrected. I do have hope though, the next generation does not have time for the backwards mentality of those in power today.
Joseph Boyle says
Mr. Grimsey, I agree that we need to eradicate any racial bias that is present in our culture. In fact, lets crack the whip.
Focussing on “crack the whip” is way off target. Let’s place emphasis on real issues and real solutions. If there is racial bias in the paycheck, jobs, and where a minority buys a home, then we need to crack the whip.
Those 3 words are not what needs to be the focus for equality.
Joseph Boyle
Evelyn says
So I gather from Ms.Lyons comments, that Mr. Wagaman believes that only kids of color need to have the whip cracked over them.
Does this mean then, that the white children all are doing so well, that they don’t need a a whip cracked over them? I beg to differ that argument. I have trod this land for 93 years, and learned a few things…
One thing I have learned as a bashful white girl, is, if someone had cracked a whip over me while I attended Clover Park Schools, I would have done better. Because I would have known that someone cared if I did well or not. I wish someone had done that for me. Instead I did, what many kids are doing. Putting in their time, until they are done with it all. So I say, “crack the whip over all the kids, and then look for change”
DAVID ANDERSON says
“Questioned about his statement in a phone call, Wagemann said he was referencing the 10-to-11 percent of students in the district who do not graduate when he said, “we need to crack the whip” his intent being, he said, that the school board do all it could to help these youth get their diploma.”
Paul was not directing his “crack the whip” statement toward children. Not black children. Not brown children. Not white children. Not any children.
Pal was rather using the term in reference to his fellow board members that there was more the board itself could do, should do, must do in their already successful efforts to improve graduation success.
As my father used to say, “There’s nothing so good but what it can’t be better.”
So, let’s do better.
Though T. Lyons would like to claim Paul was disparaging children, it was in fact not what he said.
Please, let’s be accurate and – in T.Lyon’s case – substantive.
Joseph Boyle says
Right on, David. I could not agree with you more.
Joseph Boyle
Dave says
Amen! Great response. Thank you!!!
Regrettably, in the case of most people who throw unscrupulous, slanderous aspersions based on false, unsubstantiated claims of racism, they dont care about substantive comments, facts or reason. They have a baseless ideology rooted in the new fad- systemic racism. How sad that we arent addressing the real issues in our poorer communities. How sad we no longer care about facts, reason and real science.
Sandy says
Amen, Mr. Anderson, Evelyn and Mr. Boyle. Why should Mr. Wagemann apologize for a statement which has been misconstrued by Ms. Lyons? He used a colloquial phrase which does not have a racist meaning in the culture from which he, or a significant portion of people, operate. He did not direct the intent of “crack the whip” at students who are falling short of graduation; he directed it at the school board in an effort to express the need to work diligently to ensure academic competence for these students. It seems to me that Ms. Lyons has done Mr. Wagemann a grave injustice and owes him an apology.
Joseph Boyle says
Sandy,
I could not have said it better.
The critic tears into Mr. Wagemann in a highly unjust manner.
While Ms. Lyons is correct; we do need to make every effort to stamp out unjust racially predjudiced behavior, everywhere it might be found, stamping out 3 harmless words that originate in the horse and buggy days, is not on target or helpful.
Ms. Lyons and the other word police do owe an apolgy to Mr. Wagemann and our entire community for creating hate and deviciveness based on a false foundation.
Joseph Boyle
John Arbeeny says
If we had to worry about “offending” someone every time we opened our mouths (and there will always be someone who is “offended” regardless) then no one would open their mouths thus remaining silent. That is the object of the leftists: silence all who don’t agree with them (ie. “offend” them). 1984 in 2020.
J says
I think you are the racist Ms. Lyons and an idiot to boot.
Elizabeth Scott says
I think you don’t know what you’re talking about. Ms. Lyons acted as a responsible citizen and parent. Mr. Waggeman may have said something innocent of it’s implications to people of color, but once he was told how they received it, he should have apologized period. A good school board member does not refused to see other’s reality no matter what the dictionary says.
Karen says
Just say NO TO BULLIES! SAY NO TO MS. LYONS!
Definition of “crack the whip”Copied from dictionary:
“to act with authority to make someone work harder: I’m going to have to crack the whip to get these kids to study more before finals. (Definition of crack the whip from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
dictionary.cambridge.org › …
CRACK THE WHIP | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary
KHM says
I believe many of you are missing the point here. Paul is an elected official and serves the Clover Park School District students, staff and families. His comment was offensive to many, Ms. Lyons is not the only one to speak up on this matter. Only Paul knows what was intended by the comment he made. What we do know is that he offended a large population of the community he was elected to serve. Instead of recognizing that, he has chosen to defend the comment without recognizing the impact. Words matter. CPSD deserves better.
James Grimsey says
The consensus among language scholars is that the commonly used phrase came from the days of slaves and slave trading. The masters would ‘crack’ (snap the whip in such a way to make a cracking sound) their whips in order to intimidate and theoretically motivate their slaves to do as they were told.
www.justanswer.com/general/0r8rs-phrase-crack-whip-from.html
Words are like numbers.
Frances E. Blair says
I stumbled onto this article, and after reading the letter of Ms. Lyons and the responses, I feel compelled to add mine. As a long-time teacher in the south Puget Sound area, I have encountered a great variety of students, of many ethnicities, many backgrounds, many cultural expectations. I must back up Ms. Lyons’ explanation about “crack the whip”; the brutality of that expression, even if you are ignorant of its implications for descendants of slaves, has no place in education.
One of the very first of tenets of education is that threats do not work. Students will work hard if they feel their teachers care about them and their success. They will work hard if the curriculum is relevant to them. They will work hard if the material is presented in a way that matches their method of learning, which is why any teacher worth her/his salt will present information in more than one way. Perhaps in the military it is considered okay to bully your recruits into submission; I have seen several ex-military new teachers lose entire classes by that wrong-headed approach.
Many of the responses to Ms. Lyons’ letter are drowning in white superiority; the United States is a multi-cultural country, whether you like it or not, and just as non-white students need to learn cleaned-up white American history, whites need to learn about non-white American history. All of us will be the better for it.
Our country has suffered too long under systems of oppression; our schools are oppressive to a great many young people. We need to change that. Learning is essentially relational; teachers don’t need to be their students’ pals (and in fact, should not be!), but they/we must demonstrate that we care for each and every one of them as unique and wonderful human beings while nudging them as vigorously as we can towards fulfilling their potential.
School boards are responsible for setting policies for their schools; those policies must be based on the best research to ensure that their (mostly white) teachers learn about, respect, and nurture the diversity of their students. School board members should model what the teachers should be doing.
P.S. I am white.
Luke E. says
Frances, you should not be teaching anyone, anywhere.
Not only does crack the whip not have anything to do with slavery whatsoever, it also has nothing to do with race at all. A five minute search of the history of the idiom would have revealed this.
Teachers should not be nurturing diversity at all, as it is a nation destroying social plague, not a matter of education. Your job is to impart rote knowledge, something you are clearly incapable of doing if your inability to comprehend the easily verifiable history of a simple idiom is any indication.
Then again, name calling everyone who disagrees with you a ‘white supremacist’ and pretending to be white yourself does seem on par for this “discussion.”
Mary E Juarez says
The actual meaning
Behave in a domineering and demanding way toward one’s subordinates. For example, He’s been cracking the whip ever since he got his promotion. This expression, first recorded in 1647, alludes to drivers of horse-drawn wagons who snapped their whips hard, producing a loud cracking noise.
Y’all go too far and anything you’re trying to make right you’re only making it worse by going too far.
Les Walters says
T. Lyons, God asks that His followers speak the truth in love, overlook offenses, and act as the peacemakers on earth. But you are, instead, wasting your energies beating a dead horse. Having read your ‘letter’, I now see that the only place you are leading people toward is a place of mistrust, resentment, fear, suspicion and division. Such aims are deplorable aims which always divide and damage young children of every color and race. You need to stop playing with words, semantics, and the very psychological drive-mechanisms of young innocent children. You, and untold thousands like yourself, conjure up enormous divisions and racist phantoms. These phantoms you clothe in battle dress and you pit them against the (supposed) oppressed masses of coloreds and minority groups. Of course, if you plug your ears and refuse to listen to reason, then you do get to pretend that this systematic-racism is real and ongoing, and you also get to pretend that all white people wake up every morning, grab their coffee, rub their hands together and say “Now… how can I hurt the black man today?” This dangerous fiction, which you teach to young children and teens and young adults, is demonic, T. Lyons. You have no good reason to be demanding that one ‘must not’ be offended without an apology (especially if no offensive word or action was directed at you, personally). People love ‘jumping on the bandwagon’, if I may use the term — having found a bone of ‘possible’ contention, they ecstatically work themselves into a fervor over — ah haa ! .— a ‘racist’ statement (this confirms that all of our ‘oppressor’ B.S. is actually ‘true’). ‘Ah haa’ we can confirm the very junk we’ve been preaching is true – alive and well — right before our eyes. Now we see the ‘deeply-rooted’ racism. Here it is.
Neither man nor God is pleased with such ludicrous behavior and victimization doctrine, and teaching this demonic garbage to children is only going to handicap those children and cause them to suffer emotionally and psychologically and culturally. If people dare teach or promote anti-racist ideologies, they have every right to do so, but they will have to answer to God for harming and dividing children.
Elizabeth Scott says
Your wordy response makes little sense. To let someone know that what they have said is hurtful to a whole sector of their constituency is the responsible thing to do. And, when someone is told that what they have said hurts people, a responsible caring person would apologize and allow that while they didn’t intend harm they accept that the words used have been taken in a harmful way. It’s a simple thing to do. Except for excessive pride or racism I cannot understand why Paul Waggeman can not do this. Baffling. He should not be on the school board if he cannot even try to understand the students and their parents who comprise a large percentage of the student body.
Andrew Santom says
You people are idiots…According to Grammarist, “crack the whip” means “to push someone to work harder, to demand more work from someone or that someone work faster or longer” and makes no reference to slavery. Grammarist also said the phrase “describes the literal cracking of a whip over a horse’s head to startle him into obeying.”
Mary E Juarez says
Too far. Try Google
Behave in a domineering and demanding way toward one’s subordinates. For example, He’s been cracking the whip ever since he got his promotion. This expression, first recorded in 1647, alludes to drivers of horse-drawn wagons who snapped their whips hard, producing a loud cracking noise.
Why is everything racist these days? ?
Mary E Juarez says
Also might I add, the more you try to jump on a bandwagon and make something legitimate that isn’t, the more you make your I’ll assume admirable intentions (I mean I hope that’s not just attention-seeking) SOUND LIKE GARBAGE. Really you’re doing more harm than good.