The Rhinebeck High School Democracy Petition

Author:
n/a
Send To:
Rhinebeck and Clinton residents

Sponsored By:
members of the Real Majority Project
More Info at:

Sign on to this petition and pass it along to all you know if you agree that I should still be allowed to occasionally speak to classes at Rhinebeck High School-- as I've been doing for the last six years (sorry folks; I was ready long ago to let this issue die, but local right wing have made it crystal-clear they are completely bent on keeping this alive in media-- thus this petition effort).

Note-- thanks much to Rhinebeck High School students Finn Shanahan, Nicole & Alyssa Cassarino, and Stella Iselin, and Rhinebeck Central School District taxpayers Danny Shanahan, Joel & Kate Kopp, Alyssa Kogon, Marcia Slatkin, Andrea Replansky, Nancy Lanni, Frances Sandiford, & Fred Nagel for already endorsing this effort-- along with many, many other students (some afraid now for publicly supporting this for fear of retribution from powerful people, as they've indicated to me).

Fact #1: Republican Town Supervisor Tom Traudt spoke at Rhinebeck High School a few weeks before I did this fall. In fact, the press release sent out Oct. 29th by Dutchess Republican Committee Chair Michael McCormack himself contained a letter from Traudt's niece Hannah stating exactly this (ignored by local media)-- specifically, Hannah Traudt's own letter stated that "just a few weeks ago my uncle, Town Supervisor Tom Traudt, came in to talk about his experiences working with Rhinebeck's people."

Fact #2: A Nov. 2nd letter from RCSD Superintendent Joseph Phelan himself confirmed that even Rhinebeck High School Principal Edwin Davenport informed the Poughkeepsie Journal Oct. 29th of earlier visit to Rhinebeck High School from Republican Town Supervisor Traudt in midst of fall political campaign (and visit before from Rhinebeck Assemblymember Kevin Cahill); newspapers have ignored this though.

Fact #3: Dutchess County Republican Committee Chair Michael McCormack himself sent out a press release to local media Oct. 29th citing specifically the names of Hannah Traudt, Nicholas Washburn (son of Republican Town Boardmember Bruce Washburn), and Marielle Byrum-- only three of fifty students I spoke to Oct. 23rd in two Rhinebeck High School classrooms-- the fact is that McCormack himself is the one who put those three names out there publicly.

Fact #4: My Oct. 23rd presentations in both classrooms were warmly received by the vast majority of students-- judging by appreciative applause and positive comments I received that day from the vast majority of the students there.

Fact #5: I have never-- ever-- recommended destruction of anyone's lawn signs-- all I told a student Oct. 23rd in one of those two classes at Rhinebeck High School was that I understood her frustration when Republican campaign signs were repeatedly placed on her own property without permission. Period.

Fact #6: I myself graduated from Rhinebeck High School in 1981 after elected as Student Body President-- and have spoken many times at Rhinebeck High School in different classes over the last six years as County Legislator for Rhinebeck and Clinton without incident.

Fact #7: The Oct. 31st Poughkeepsie Journal reported the following-- "Rhinebeck High School Principal Edwin Davenport said the school invites elected officials to speak to students about their jobs."

Curiously, it seems to have been deemed acceptable by many locally for the Republican Town Supervisor to come in this fall and speak with students at Rhinebeck High School-- but not acceptable for me to do the same (why?).

Three decades ago I learned in Social Studies classes at Rhinebeck High School itself from great teachers like Mark Famiglietti, Delano Landsverk, and John Hryshko about the importance of the First Amendment to our Constitution-- "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

I only hope the Rhinebeck Central School District today in 2009 still respects the Bill of Rights to our Constitution-- and that in the future candidates from both parties are afforded this opportunity to speak before students if one side is allowed into to speak at the high school during political campaign time-- and indeed I personally suggest and welcome the opportunity for an actual all-school assembly debate with both candidates for the county legislator race during school time-- just as I would have welcomed the opportunity to debate my opponent this fall in classroom(s) or bigger forums.

Joel Tyner
County Legislator (Rhinebeck/Clinton)
324 Browns Pond Road
Staatsburg, NY 12580
DutchessDemocracy.blogspot.com
joeltyner@earthlink.net
(845) 876-2488

39 Signatures

Alyssa Kogon
- Comments
- When politics takes over the education process the students suffer.
- Address; Zip Code
- 7 Stonehouse Road. Rhinebeck, NY 12572
Danny Shanahan
- Comments
- Self-serving right wing fact twisting should not affect our childrens' right to experience open political dialogue.
- Address; Zip Code
- 19 Livingston St. Rhinebeck NY 12572
Stephanie Bonk
- Comments
- several of my children have participated in classes that Mr. Tyner has spoke to and found the classes to be informative about the procedures of our goverment on a local end. All of my children have said that they appreciate when a speak gives up their time to come and talk to them and that they are able to ask questions instead of reading it from a book.
- Address; Zip Code
- 1062 Bulls Head Road Clinton Corners, NY 12514
Duane A. Watson
- Comments
- Students should have access to all points of view.
- Address; Zip Code
- 5 Somers Drive, Rhinebeck, NY 12572
Derek Gideon
- Comments
- I support free speech in my former high school (I graduated '08)
- Address; Zip Code
- 102 Miller Road, Rhinebeck, NY 12572
Jonah Rosenberg
- Comments
- While incorporating "campaignish" stuff may not have been the best move, those complaining are making this into a political play themselves and acting as though Joel committed some horrible crime, something he most definitely did not. If anything, people should feel privileged to be exposed to opinions different than their own.
- Address; Zip Code
- 12572
Matthew Verrilli
- Comments
- Let all candidates and elected officials speak equally and freely to our youth. Don't play petty politics with free speech.
- Address; Zip Code
- Rhinebeck, NY
Fred Nagel
- Comments
- Political ideas are rarely dangerous to young minds. The bigger danger is keeping them protected from a free and fair debate.
- Address; Zip Code
- 12572
Jane Curran
- Comments
- I object strongly to this unfair discrimination against Joel Tyner.
- Address; Zip Code
- 5E Village Green, Rhinebeck NY 12572
Kate and Joel Kopp
- Comments
- High school students should not be treated as babies. They have a right to listen to whomever comes to speak and make up their own minds. They are young adults and should have the same rights as we do, if we expect them to grow up and responsibly take part in our society. We strongly back the right of Joel Tyner to speak, as well as other points of view.
- Address; Zip Code
- 12572
Taylor Camp
- Comments
- glad to be a part of this !
- Address; Zip Code
- 730 Ackert Hook Road; 12572
Cynthia Carlaw
- Comments
- Why can't we all just get along????????
- Address; Zip Code
- 36 South St. Rhinebeck, NY 12572
Marti Nadel
- Comments
- full support!
- Address; Zip Code
- 57 Violet Place, Rhinebeck, New York, 12572
julia spiegel
- Comments
- please
- Address; Zip Code
- po box 246 Rhinecliff 12574
Suzanne Kelly
- Comments
- barring Joel is a dangerous attempt to silence open political discourse
- Address; Zip Code
- Rhinebeck, 12572
Dod Crane
- Comments
- Joel and all other candidates should be allowed to meet with interested high school students to dicsuss political issues
- Address; Zip Code
- 78 Livingston st, rhinebeck ny
Helen Mckibben
- Comments
- I support Joel Tyner
- Address; Zip Code
- 11 Seymour dr Rhinebeck ny 12572
Thomas L Holsapple
- Comments
- Another perfect example of why the party system in this country should be done away with, it should be about the people who are running and what they stand for and have done, and not what party they belong to.
- Address; Zip Code
- Rhinebeck, NY 12572
Jake Chapman
- Comments
- If Republican politicians are allowed to speak to classes at my school, then a Democratic politician should be allowed to as well (and vice versa). There is nothing wrong with trying to get high school students interested in local politics, regardless of political affiliation.
- Address; Zip Code
- 848 Willow Brook Road, Clinton Corners NY, 12514
Alyssa Knapp
- Comments
- There is nothing wrong with speaking to High School students! Let's not insult the intelligence of these young adults and let them learn to make well rounded decisions now!
- Address; Zip Code
- 12572
Alex Landa
- Comments
- Full support!
- Address; Zip Code
- 150 Rhinecliff Road, 12572
Olivia Fox
- Comments
- This whole debate is ridiculous.
- Address; Zip Code
- 287 Mill Road; 12572
Bill Nieves
- Comments
- Don't muzzle free speech, a basic tenet of American democracy.
- Address; Zip Code
- 19 Cedar Lane, Rhinebeck, NY 12572
Lowell Handler
- Comments
- Everyone has a right to a voice even liberal Dems
- Address; Zip Code
- 12574
stewart verrilli
- Comments
- I agree with Joel
- Address; Zip Code
- 387 hollow rd staatsburg ny 12580
Carl Parris
- Comments
- So students can vote when they turn 18 - but it is too dangerous to let them listen to elected officials talk about their jobs and the democratic process in their classrooms? The attempts to criticize this are anti-democratic.
- Address; Zip Code
- 308 Sepasco Lake Rd.
Diana Ayton-Shenker
- Comments
- support free speech!
- Address; Zip Code
- 498 Primrose Hill Rd, Rhinebeck, NY 12572
Andrea Replansky
- Comments
- It is difficult to understand this tempest. Rhinebeck Schools have an excellent reputation which has included the freedom to express one's opinion and the support of the school community for the students to become independent thinkers!
- Address; Zip Code
- 112 Knollwood Rd., 12572
Kevin Barratt
- Comments
- I thought the Rhinebeck School system was more open minded than to fall victim Right Wing ulterior motives. Our Students can think for themselves! The fact that they brought this scheme up just before the election is underhanded, but typical of the way Republicans get elected.
- Address; Zip Code
- 12580
Liza Donnelly
- Comments
- I support equal voices in our schools!
- Address; Zip Code
- 12572
Cecily Frazier
- Comments
- Students should be able to learn from local candidates and elected officials; I hope the school is not scared off by this tempest in a teapot. Democracy requires informed citizens to work well.
- Address; Zip Code
- 8 Sunset Road, Rhinbeck, NY 12572
K Carter
- Comments
- access to democracy involves access to free speech
- Address; Zip Code
- 12572
ed bergstraesser
- Comments
- Signed
- Address; Zip Code
- 124 sandalwood ln., rhinebeck, ny 12572
Finnegan Shanahan
- Comments
- We all wish Joel the very best as we try to combat this backhanded and unacceptable political strategy of our opponents. As a kid from Rhinebeck High School, representing our demographic, I am offended that our political educations are threatened in such a manner; it is insulting to our age group that we are not trusted enough to be exposed to partisan politics and biased opinions, but can be utilized to instigate needless and unethical political ploys.
- Address; Zip Code
- 12572
richard mchugh
- Comments
- free speech must never be denied!
- Address; Zip Code
- 154 chelsea rd.,wappingers falls;ny 12590
Joseph O'Haire
- Comments
- As a former student of rhinebeck high school i agree fully that students should be exposed to fair and balanced politics
- Address; Zip Code
- 12572
Dylan Vanek
- Comments
- I support Joel Tyner and free speech.
- Address; Zip Code
- 12 lamoree road, 12572.
Alice Wilbeck
- Comments
- With so many citizens failing to vote each year, it is important to get our youth interested in what is going on around us. Get them started by having local representatives come in to talk to them about how government works.
- Address; Zip Code
- 185 Slate Quarry Rd.
Anthony Henry Smith
- Comments
- Do it in memory of Melancton Smith to whom we owe the Bill of Rights
- Address; Zip Code
- 30 Adriance Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601