According to recently released public disclosure documents, Deb Hansen, President of the Clover Park Education Association (CPEA), solicited from association’s members their signatures on a template she provided that would be sent to the Clover Park School Board in advance of their January 11, 2021 meeting.
The letter – to which CPEA members could sign – called the “crack the whip” comment made by School Board Director Paul Wagemann during a December 14, 2020 school board meeting, “racist and absolutely unacceptable.”
The disclosure also revealed that 86 individuals signed Hansen’s template without change to Hansen’s suggested wording.
In referencing Wagemann’s “crack the whip” comment, Hansen wrote, “To our students and staff of color, it refers to times when white owners would whip enslaved Black people.”
Because the school board has “not taken any of our recommended actions” as requested by the CPEA board in an earlier letter, Hansen said “it’s critical that we show our strength and call on the (school) board to do something about Wagemann’s comment.”
Some individuals in receipt of Hansen’s missive were not content with simply calling for the school board “to do something.”
As to the emails obtained through public disclosure, some excerpts are as follows:
One person wrote: “I want him (Paul Wagemann) to be fired.”
Another individual wrote: “After viewing Paul’s reprehensible behavior, I believe he should be terminated effective immediately of any leadership positions. This person is beyond redemption.”
An elementary school teacher added: “Paul Wagemann is racist. We must all demand that Paul doesn’t just apologize but also that he steps down. Paul’s resignation is not enough. He needs to make (financial) restitution.”
In total, 21 individuals penned their personal opposition to Wagemann’s alleged racist comment.
Conversely, 25 individuals wrote in support of Wagemann, and some were critical of what they viewed as Hansen’s heavy-handedness.
As one person wrote: “The union’s strategy here bothers me deeply. I do not want this ‘gotcha’ mentality to become the way we operate in the CPSD. This creates an environment of fear, intimidation and irrationality that is exactly what we should be working against. Furthermore, the strategy of drumming up furor and then using this energy as the motive force for large-scale change is manipulation at it’s finest. It does not lead to wise decisions.”
From another who wrote to the school board: “It is a gross and unconscionable injustice for anyone to sling such slanderous and fallacious statements at the esteemed board member, Mr. Paul Wagemann or any innocent public figure, for imaginary claims of racism. We, the citizens of Lakewood, will not stand for such divisive and unscrupulous tactics of intersectional politics based on totally false and misleading character assassinations.”
And then the public disclosure revealed this bit of irony.
Paul Wagemann is not referenced once in the minutes of the December 21, 2020 special meeting.
According to the minutes, “President Shafer opened the meeting by stating the purpose of today’s meeting is to follow through on a comment made by one of the directors at the last meeting.”
All board directors present stated their views on what Wagemann had said in the meeting one week previous.
But in the minutes, Wagemann’s voice was not heard.
However ….
In an audio tape recording of that meeting, Wagemann did speak.
“Let’s go back to that meeting,” Wagemann said to his fellow school board directors referring to the night of December 14.
“We had been discussing Open Doors, No Dropouts,” Wagemann said. “It’s a wonderful program. We were also talking about ClearTech Education.”
Wagemann also extolled the benefits of union apprenticeships as a “tremendous learning experience. I had those opportunities,” Wagemann continued.
“Then we talked about graduation pathways. We’ve improved a lot. But we can do more. If 100 percent graduation is our goal, how do we get there? When I then said, ‘crack the whip,’” Wagemann said, “it was to say let’s get on with the program.”
But Wagemann’s comments about his use of those three words, and his explanation of the context in which he uttered them is not mentioned in the official school board minutes for the night of December 21, 2020.
Not. One. Word.
Why?
The views expressed in this article are the writer’s own.
Wagemann’s testimony defending and explaining his alleged racist comment was, as noted in the article, excluded from the school board minutes of December 21, 2020.
When Wagemann protested to the board in a follow up meeting the night of January 11 – stating then that his comments should be recorded in the December 21, 2020 meeting minutes even as the comments from other board directors were included in that December 21, 2020 meeting – Wagemann’s fellow board members voted against Wagemann thus excluding his testimony.
In other words, the public would not know what Wagemann had said unless (a) they had been listening in via Zoom that night of December 21, 2020, or (b) had the meeting not been independently recorded.
To further add to the irony – if not the insult – at 5:31 P.M. the night of December 21, 2020 CPSD Board President Marty Shafer called the meeting to order with these words as provided via public disclosure: “the purpose of today’s meeting is to follow through on a comment made by one of the directors at the last meeting. The Board operates out of a collective quorum or voice, which it calls one voice.”
“One voice” means preventing one of those voices from being heard?
Wagemann chastised his fellow board members the night of January 11, 2021 (also captured on audio record) in response to their dismissal of his protestations: “This takes away from the transparency of the board,” Wagemann said.
This story is devoid of the truth:
You say, “The disclosure also revealed that 86 individuals signed Hansen’s template without change to Hansen’s suggested wording.”
“Because the school board has not taken any of our recommended actions as requested by the CPEA board in an earlier letter, Hansen said it’s critical that we show our strength and call on the (school) board to do something about Wagemann’s comment.”
“In total, 21 individuals penned their personal opposition to Wagemann’s alleged racist comment.”
“Conversely, 25 individuals wrote in support of Wagemann, and some were critical of what they viewed as Hansen’s heavy-handedness.”
You failed to mention that the adults (teachers) who signed the letter did so because they chose to. Those who disagreed decided not to sign the letter and even wrote letters in opposition to the CPEA’s letter.
Wagemann was given a chance to apologize for offending community members, yet he couldn’t step outside himself to see the error in his verbiage because how dare they say something to a white man? Your articles contain so many coded messages (microaggressions) a blind man can read between the lines.
The reality Dave Anderson, is that well over 200+ people disagree with you; they found Paul’s comments racist also. They wrote letters, made phone calls, and signed petitions. Community members, the majority of the school board, and teachers/union members all responded pretty much simultaneously with the same response. Paul’s comments were racist. Dave, if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it’s a racist, and your willful ignorance won’t change that.
You have been writing your little articles for some time, and it is clear you are a cultural imperialist who thinks that your culture reigns supreme. Yet, a school board member who governs for a diverse population must think with all people in mind, not just his community of white folks.
You want people to think Wagemann is such a good guy, such a strong Christian man, yet he won’t even apologize for his off-color comment. That leaves people with a horrid visual of cracking a whip on children. Are you ok with this? You hardly seem to me like a good judge of moral character. Oh, wait, spare the rod spoil the child?
Paul voted no on a policy that protects LGBTQ students from being bullied in the district just because he disagrees with how they choose to identify. Don’t they deserve protection?
Wow! He sounds like a winner to me.
The students deserve someone who is genuinely trying to make the district better for every student and not just the white ones. Oh, and if you are wondering, I am a white woman who is tired of your one-sided biased articles that have the discourse of a donkey. How dare you think you have the right to tell someone how to be offended. The reality is that more than the few you like to mention all thought the same thing; they all sent in a letter and even requested that Wagemann resign because they don’t trust him and don’t feel he is concerned with all students who attend the district. Who are you to think that your opinion matters more than 200+ people?
Dave Anderson change is coming whether you like it or not.
Susan, for my benefit and perhaps for others, could you provide examples of the microaggressions you noted in Mr. Anderson’s letter?
Do your research. No one owes you an explanation. That’s what is wrong with you. You think you are so privileged that someone owes you something because you asked. You are too lazy to educate yourself, so you run around sharing misinformation. It no one’s job to educate you. If you can’t figure out what is so obviously in front of you, you are part of the problem.
Marty,
Susan’s reply below is unfortunate. I, too, would like an example of the micro aggressions that’s she’s referring to. By refusing to provide them, it’s safe to say, they either don’t exist, or only exist in her mind. Cancel culture is obviously here, as is perpetual victimhood and those who always look for ways to be offended instead of ways to rise above and show grace. This is a slippery slope, and to allow the reprimand of someone for a “perceived” slight is setting all of you up for failure. You will continually be scrutinized….until it’s your turn. Paul clarified his comments To immediately state that it’s a racist comment is ignorant. Whips were commonly used on horses “to get them moving” and the phrase has been used commonly over the years to imply such. A whip was also used on Jesus. Should all Christians be offended and demand his resignation for the reminder of our Lord’s suffering and murder? No. We have the wisdom and discernment to see the true intention behind the words. If Paul’s conduct over the years is compatible with an upstanding citizen who’s best interest always defers to the child, let his life‘s work speak for itself. Do not let mob mentality and cancel culture begin to rule our school system. We can all perceive injustice in someone’s words. It’s wisdom and grace that allows us to see the true intention behind them. Bravery is required here, I hope the school board follows through in dismissing the claims against Mr. Wagemann.
Don’t expect an explanation. Leftists are only good for throwing hand grenades in the form of unsubstantiated inflammatory charges designed to roil emotions rather than raise reasoning. It’s what they do. Guilty until proven innocent all based upon the “seriousness” of the charge. This is their new basis for judicial review as was seen with the last 3 Supreme Court Justices: why not with a local school board member you disagree with?
Marty – If I’m “reading between the lines” correctly Susan’s actual response to you is – “I have no examples of ‘coded messages (microaggressions) so if I call you stupid, privileged, entitled, lazy and part of the problem maybe you will stop asking me questions I can’t answer”.
Furthermore, I would point out that as a visually impaired person I am deeply, deeply offended by her comment in her original piece that “a blind man can read between the lines” She obviously is totally insensitive to all people with disabilities and I demand an apology of behalf of all persons with disabilities for such an offensive remark. In addition, she is an obvious sexist for if she wasn’t she would have had her sentence read “a blind PERSON can…..” I am deeply, deeply offended by that remark also. So, I expect that an apology for both of these culturally insensitive remarks will be forthcoming shortly from Susan. Or will it just be another example of “the pot calling the kettle….” oops, we can’t go there either can we?
Oh, John…the leftists? This is not a left or right issue. This is a right and wrong issue. No one cares about the political mess you are trying to make it out to be. This is about the impact of one’s words and the lack of humility, empathy, and doing what’s humane when we harm someone. If the intent is not to harm someone who is offended, you apologize, and if you care about who you offend as you all claim he does, then you try to understand what caused the offense that is the right thing to do. Stick to Paul’s comment and the context of his comment. Stick to the facts save your logical fallacies for some other time.
Marty – If I am “reading between the lines” correctly her answer to your question is “I don’t have any examples but if I call you privileged, stupid, lazy and uneducated I am hoping you will go away and stop asking me questions I can’t answer: If, as she states ,”It (sic) no one’s job to educate you” why do we have a school district. I thought that was their job.
And as a visually impaired person I am deeply, deeply offended by her earlier reference to “a blind man can read between the lines”. She obviously is totally insensitive to the issues faced by people with disabilities. I demand an apology on behalf of everyone with disabilities. In addition, I am also deeply, deeply offended by her reference to ” a blind man”. She obviously is sexist. Otherwise she would have made refence to “a blind PERSON”. On behalf of everyone, male and female, I demand an apology for her culturally insensitive remarks. Should no apology be forthcoming I guess it would just be another example of “the pot calling the kettle….” oops, guess we can’t go there either, can we?
Interesting that you feel it’s ok to indicate that obvious (unsophisticated) micro aggressions are so simplistic that a “blind man could see them”. One could argue that the use of outdated colloquialisms while placing unwanted attention on a marginalized group is offensive. Maybe you should try to make your points with the use of accurate descriptive language without bringing other people down. Consider the true meaning of well-used phrases before including them in public discourse.
CPSB and the district itself is in lock step with the leftist, woke, cancel culture, limit free speech, character assassination, virtue signaling, identity politics that is sweeping the nation and as it turns out, Lakewood’s schools. None of these people or educational “professionals” who support this rubbish should be allowed into a classroom with children. They are so devoid of values and principles that any “wind” that blows, in this case “progressive-ism” (actually regressive-ism), will point them in that direction……….until it swings to another direction in the future. When you believe in nothing you can be made to believe in anything. Nature, and the human mind, abhors a vacuum.
The aforementioned comments speak volumes to an issue that obviously has become a problem.. The problem with problems is there’s never room for finding Solutions. The term ” crack the whip ” left’s me know who didn’t go to a Catholic School in my generation. If that’s a slavery term I’ve not been able to verify that which has the potential to spill out into the Community at large. More venomous plan to pollute the minds of innocent children, is reprehensible. My personal opinion concerning the word racist. I realized that they only racism I’ve seen is what I have experienced in my life. Because of events over the past few year where violence, has been used as weapon in angering people just because misery love company pretence Black Lives Matter. We played that card it’s no longer in the deck. My granddaughters are Native American, Portuguese and White Mutt. Many of my friends have children, grandchildren that are not light white mutts but are a swirl of colors. I’m not one to hold on or back on an issue, the only racism I’ve encountered has been perpetrated by black people. That has given me insight that black people don’t like white people, generally that has been my experience. I’ve witnessed white people tip toeing in fear of offending people of color.. I’m not a racist. The shenanigans going on within the internal structure of an entire School District’s board members and beyond. Requires very devious, malicious planning and that is a very serious Problem. Very permanent Solutions. We all have opinions and can agree to respectfully disagree on Solutions that involve the reason for a School board. Students deserve, emotional healthy board members 100% ?By Broadcasting one individuals miss understanding of a term that may be old fashioned but in no uncertainty would the general populist of people believe it to mean slaves being whipped. …
P.S. I’m writing this on my cell that doesn’t let me ? the full screen so I apologize for any grammatical errors..
This is just rediculous. So, now anyone can take offense of anything any one says and cause so much turmoil.
I agree 100%. On any given day anyone an find something to be offended about. This has gone well beyond ridiculous. There will never be equality when people choose to pigeonhole themselves by race, religion, or sexual orientation. That only widens the gap.
Geez, calm down Susan. One would have thought that you’d welcome the opportunity to help others understand what they may subconsciously say or write that is viewed as a microaggression. Please excuse my inappropriateness for asking.
Oh stop Marty you are no victim. I have seen your comments on the other posts regarding this situation. Your passive aggressive approach may work for others but not for me. Like previously started it is not my job to explain or educate you. So make less assumptions and do your own work google is full of resources. Happy reading
Yes, that’s how offense works. But when over 200 people take offense to what you have said or done it might be time to reassess. The articles Dan writes are to make it seem as though only certain people responded when that is not the case a host of diverse people responded after hearing Wagemanns comments and response. The cowardly move has been to make the focus about the people of color who wrote letters and responded so much so that the readers and some of the posters have been sending the information to alt right groups nationally. With the focus of the stories being on the people of color and not the issue Why do you think that is? They are cowards who throw stones and hide their hands.
And so it goes on and on and on and on. Why don’t we all just get over it, and try to go on and make our lives better. As better we can make it, when a subject is chewed to death. Oh but of course, those who want Paul Wagemann gone, will keep on chewing, until they get want they want.. They always do..
This whole thing is absolutely ridiculous. As far as I have ever known to “crack the whip” was the way a mule skinner got his team of mules or oxen to move forward.
Move on people! If you are so offended by Mr. Waageman’s comment and have the time and money to spend on his comment, “crack the whip” than you are the problem. The school board needs more “seasoned” people on their board when it’s the children’s future at stake. Today’s leaders will not know what it was like to be educated by real teachers who cared about the students they taught, Mr. Waageman does. I come from his same generation and believe the people of today do not have the tenacity to be strong and work hard but instead want everything handed to them and when it’s not completed the way they want they continue to whine. The longer the whining goes on it soon becomes political and much money and time is spent. The students today are getting an education not like we received when we were told to “crack the whip!” Personally I have better things to do what to chastise a man who wants the best for today’s students, something they are not getting. I would rather spend time doing positive and not negative things or, seeing the glass half full and not half empty like you complainers do. This world full already with negatives, change to make it positive! I back you Paul, all the way, “crack the whip!”
Yes, so seasoned and so concerned that the proficiency rates are reasonable? Do your research. So again, in all your supremacy, because it does not concern your culture, everyone else should get over it. Understood. Hey everybody, Toni says to get over it. Problem solved. Thanks, Toni, for speaking up. Signed angry white woman
I think you have the anger problem
Yes, Susan, more people than Toni says to get over it. Proficiency rates are not reasonable, so why not put your whining and complaining into an area that will MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Such as: volunteer at school, send in extra supplies, help with after school work, mentor a child, etc.
I’ve read all of your comments and you have not offered ONE reasonable solution. I’ve only read word salad – intelligent words that are completely devoid of meaning due to the incessant complaining and virtue signaling. Mr. Wegmann has dedicated his life to children and can talk circles around you as to what will work within the school system, what alternatives there may be, current challenges, and how to work to over come them. What have you done?
You cannot judge a person by the few words (Albeit clearly misinterpreted) that come from their mouth. If that were the case, we would all be doomed – yourself included. All I hear from you is “racist”. That seems to be the buzzword of the year. Get out of here with that nonsense. We are behind you Paul!
People are ultra sensitive. When I think of crack the whip it reminds me of a horse pulling a sleigh on a snowy night. Heck there is even a Christmas song with a whip crack and a horse makes a neigh sound. Does everything have to center around racism?
Ohmigosh, all those years we kids played “Crack the Whip” on the school grounds, we were playing a racist game and didn’t know it. Oh well, it’s never too late to be enlightened.
Me thinks Susan complains to much. The tone and substance of Susan’s comments, and my wife’s experiences teaching for almost 40 years, only confirms my observations educating kids is no longer the main goal our education system.
My great grandfather was a “bull whacker ” (Drover) and drove large bulls who pulled wagons of supplies on the trail from Kansas to Texas through the territory of Oklahoma–helping to make America build. To make the bulls keep moving he “cracked the whip” over them as encouragement– not to WHIP them. The snap keep them moving. I am insulted that they take a term like he used to appear racist. I would say who ever says it is racist, needs to see what other words were said over 100 years ago, that are still used to day and not racist. Example Skinned–means removing the hide from a dead animal, not a racist threat. Enough of trying to apply standards and words from 100 years ago to your agenda. I say get a life!
Susan: “Oh, John…the leftists? This is not a left or right issue. This is a right and wrong issue.” Indeed it is a political issue too when emotions trump reason. It is an impossibility to couch, massage, edit, homogenize your thoughts and comments to eliminate the possibility that someone some where for some reason is going to take offense. Your offense has no bearing on the issues. It’s just a dodge to shut someone up who disagrees with you. That is an issue of “right”……as stated in our Constitution as freedom of speech and “wrong” in denying others that right. Get over yourself and your alleged “offense”. It’s nothing more than an attempt to control in others what you haven’t learned to control in yourself. BTW: you still haven’t answered the question “…..could you provide examples of the microaggressions you noted in Mr. Anderson’s letter?”…..probably because you can’t. Yet another way of avoiding an open and logical debate of the issues.
I am troubled by the way our superintendent and school board members are focusing on bullying another elected school board member instead of focusing on real world issues our kids are experiencing. Not only are they bullying him, somehow the teacher’s union have become involved in doing the same. This is a huge waste of taxpayer money. Who is in charge here? Where are the grownups in the room who can settle this small issue? It sounds like the superintendent and school board are a bunch of students who can’t seem to get past a few words that were taken out of context. If a recess teacher can tell students to use “Kelso’s Choices” to work it out, someone here who gets paid a lot more could. Grow up! Put things in perspective and focus on the real world issues at hand. Stop with the ego trip. My kids go here, and I expect better from the people in charge of their future. Sometimes you just need to agree to disagree and move on.
Thank you, David Anderson, for your factual, thorough account regarding Paul Wagemann and the Clover Park School Board meetings of December 11and 14, 2020, and January 11, 2021. How can minutes of a meeting be approved when glaring omissions are evident? Such practices lead community members to loose faith in the even-handedness and competency of the board. In addition, your coverage of the letter and responses to it, which was sent to Clover Park Education Association members by the organization’s president, Deb Hansen, was most valuable in keeping the community informed of the union’s activities.
Much of what has been written here about an alleged “racist remark” is simply screed. The simplest research should have shown the expression “crack the whip” was first recorded in 1647 and had to do with English carriage drivers urging on their teams. It had nothing to do with American slavery, although American slaves were surely beaten. To take offense at the use of the term in a wholly different context, in 21st Century Lakewood, is not only silly, it smacks of a kind of fashionable reverse racism itself. Racism is too deep and divisive a force in American society for us all not to come together to combat it.
Very well said!
Why? Because Paul is a white male. His attackers are female “people of color” who have been indoctrinated into feeling they are victims and racism is everywhere. Facts and context do not matter when their ends justify their means. They will lie and slander Paul until “white guilt” overcomes rational thought and he’s pressured to step down by President Shafer and other tax payer funded CPSD Equality and diversity employees. Cancel culture has come to the CPSD. The bullying of Paul must stop and those participating held accountable.