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Lori Mueller, director of Baraboo Wisconsin School
Lori M. Mueller, a long-time educator, is the director of the Baraboo Wisconsin School District. It is the last stage of the district train, with the exception of the school council, which has the power to replace it.
Veterans Weekend, a photo of dozens of white boys at Barbaroo High School using a hi Heil Hitler ignited international outrage. Mueller called for an investigation into the photo and, in a letter to the parents, said: "If the gesture is what it seems to be, the district will pursue all available and appropriate actions, including legal, to resolve the problem."
There was a widespread condemnation of the boys' actions on the photo, but also for the photographer and former teacher and local educator Peter Gust who encouraged the pose, which would have been a goodbye, and Mueller.
"You can be reassured knowing that Baraboo is hardly a special case. I guess it's more the mode. The good news is that it gives you the opportunity to play a leading role in solving this problem and to deal with it in a transparent way, "said one commentator who said it was a problem. a former resident.
It was 10 days ago.
Here's what you need to know:
1. Mueller will not punish students who quote their first amendment, the right to freedom of speech
Mueller said the district will not punish dozens of white teenagers who carried out a Nazi salute. The reason? Not knowing "the intentions of their hearts" and the protections of freedom of expression, these are likely to live in the event that their hearts are those of white supremacists, as some have read.
"Ok, I understand the first amendment, but we now know that there is a fairly widespread racist ideology in the school district and the community of Baraboo WI. Shameful."
Mueller launched an investigation after the photo became viral and attracted international attention. In a letter to parents on Thanksgiving night, she reportedly said, "The district is not in a position to punish students because they are protected by the First Amendment."
2. Mueller's messages to the community and parents have been widely criticized
Hours after Heavy first written on the picture, Mueller posted the first of what would be several letters to the parents.
Mueller wrote that the district was aware of the photo but stated that, even though the "gesture (was) extremely inappropriate," the photo "was not taken to the school grounds nor was it at an event sponsored by the school.
People immediately responded to this idea, as a prom high school grad is a school event.
She continued, "The school district is studying this situation and collaborating with parents, staff and local authorities. If the gesture is what it seems to be, the district will pursue all available and appropriate actions, including legal ones, to resolve the problem. "
Mueller's decision not to punish because it ignores what is in the "heart" of students seems to defeat its original purpose in his investigation, said some on Twitter.
This first statement can be downloaded by clicking here.
Later that day, she sent another letter. The main goal was to inform parents that they did not have to talk to the media.
She said the district was investigating "talking to the students and families involved to determine how and why this photo was taken," she wrote that while she can not stop people from talking to the media, she reminded them that they were not obliged to do it.
The letter continues:
"Throughout the day, the local, state and national media paid a lot of attention to this incident. Because of this attention, the Baraboo School District has decided to place Baraboo High School in Administrative Change, in conjunction with the Baraboo Police Department, which means that you will do as usual with detailed notes. on people allowed to go out of school. . Please note that if you and your student have the right to speak to reporters, you also have the right to refuse these requests. We want to make sure that our parents, our students and our staff do not feel compelled to comment publicly if they do not wish to do so. "
3. Mueller closed the district's Facebook page after the fleeing photo became viral to avoid comments. She has not made any statements on social media since
A few hours after the image became viral, hundreds of comments were published on Facebook publications from schools. Instead of allowing people to comment, Baraboo has removed his Facebook and Instagram pages. His Twitter is still active
Commentators on Facebook immediately pointed out that the photo was taken at the school graduation party and wondered who a high school graduation ball was not a high school event, as the chief's letter indicated. from Mueller School to parents. Previously listed here, comments have disappeared since the Baraboo School District removed its Facebook and Instagram accounts.
But the comments on the Twitter page of the school are not lacking.
Facebook comments Heavy In previous versions of this story, the most beloved was the idea of allowing young white men to become "shooters", suggesting that school culture accepts racist behavior and white supremacy or that teachers need to do a better job. As a teacher, and given the stories shared by other students who have been victims or witnesses of racism and racist intimidation, some allege that they reveal a type of discrimination tolerated or rejected.
4. Mueller is a long-time Baraboo educator who was hired to lead the district in 2015.
Director of Education and Program since 2001 until hired in 2015, Mueller holds a Bachelor's degree in French from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and a Master's degree in Educational Administration from the University. from Wisconsin-Madison. In 2017, she received her doctorate in education from Edgewood College. Her thesis was entitled "Evaluation Applications by Teachers of Evaluative Feedback".
When she applied for the position of Superintendent, it was reported that she shared her "pride for the recent achievements of Baraboo Schools. District knowledge, stakeholder relations and a network of professionals from the state-wide educational community are some of the elements discussed in Mueller's letter.
"As an educational leader, I am committed to doing my best to ensure fairness and excellence to every student," she said. "I believe that all individuals have the potential to learn and that education is the gateway to future aspirations. Students and residents of the Baraboo community deserve this commitment, and Baraboo is the cornerstone of my heart. "
5. Mueller was not the choice of the teachers union to manage the schools
Mueller was the only candidate for the school district leadership position as the school board decided not to recruit outside the district. It did not suit some people.
One school board member felt the district should hire an outside consultant to create a pool of candidates. And the Baraboo Education Association, feeling excluded from the process, said the council needed to "cast a wider net".
A report from the time indicated that the BEA was concerned about the school board's decision to focus its research internally, claiming: "As steward of an organization of several millions of dollars a year, looking for the best candidate among a large number of people Outside the district, many members of the community and this organization feel that it is indispensable.
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