By Patricia Morris
Today, my Webmaster, Lisa Frederick and I did an interview with Ken Benitez, and one of the subjects discussed was the role of the Hammond High School Principal's position, and the termination of Mr. Carmon Moore.
Although we were given information it is being said the NAACP and Pat Morris is responsible for this unfortunate act, it is not true. The local NAACP heard the news with all others.
As was explained in the interview, the NAACP had the opportunity of meeting with Mr. Moore on some student issues, and once the meetings concluded, the issues surrounding what was best for the student was done, and in addition, Mr. Moore is one of two principals who gave me their home telephone number (I did not know at the time his home number was listed) asking that if I/we had any other problems to contact them. A working relationship was formed, and am happy to say I never had to use his home number with any problems, but the idea that Moore said I/we could call his home with any problems was paramount, and showed this local NAACP president his concern for the welfare of the students at Hammond High was genuine.
Many things are now being said, and will continue to be said negatively about the release of Mr. Moore. Students, as well as parents are upset, as should be. We are upset this happened the way it did, especially in being blamed for this fiasco.
As the train of corrections is being realized and is turning into a different direction, it would appear some in the TPSS's administration and some on the school board look for many ways of negating what is painfully obvious of the real truth that is now surfacing, to include using former NAACP members to negate the organization. There are those who label me as president, and those members who fight with me as being trouble-makers, but as the truth continues to surface in what has been said by us since 2004 as being true, it should not take rocket science genius to know had persistence not happened, much that is accomplished now would not have come to full fruition.
Again, our monthly meetings are held every 4th Saturday in the month 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the African American Heritage Center. These meetings are open to the public, and if an executive session is called, visitors who attend will know at the meeting, and be asked to leave.
Finally, we wish Mr. Moore the best in his future endeavors, and agree with the students in saying, you have had a positive impact in the lives of many students, black and white. Although your claim in your letter to the editor in the Daily Star of your not being the "best principal" will find some of your students whose lives you touched disagree with you. If the scores are the reason, if discipline is the reason, then a survey should be done across this entire school system, beginning in the central office.
We ask that whenever you see a student, continue to encourage him/her to be the best they can be, and to not stop until their goals of becoming educated is reached.
We thank you, and as we continue to "Bridge the Gap" between both black and white communities, and continue to remove the wedge of lies placed between the black and white communities by some in the school system's administration and some board members about the NAACP, we will continue on this journey until all that is needed is accomplished. Doing so needs both communities coming together to do so for the sake of every child in this school system.