Registered: Oct 2003
Location: Oconee, Illinois
Posts: 344

I talked to cotter this morning and he told me that the reason was afraid that it would offend some in attendance, said that if they thought maybe we could changed it to raccoon hunters instead of coonhunters, in my opinion it would not have mattered. Yes we are handling it very up and up in a professional matter. we are going to contact the school board and going to voice our opinion in letters to the editor, I for one don't agree with his decision as many others don't also and hope we can change the narrow minded veiws of people that think along these lines, would hope that educated folks would not be this way. The one I really feel sorry for is the young man that was denied to be recognized in front of his peers as the other kids were

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Registered: Sep 2003
Location:
Posts: 385

jim,
keep up the good work, many kids deserve it... not all school districts and sup't.s will sacrifice rewarding student achievement in the name of political correctness...

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Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Independence, Kentucky
Posts: 1348

quote:

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Originally posted by Doug Robinson
Speaking of embarrassed, it makes me ashamed to read some of these posts...so far you folks have called this guy a moron, uneducated, stupid idiot, A-hole, dumbass, cretin, snot nosed rich dude, and stated you should get rid of his ass....and to write scathing letters!

Hopefully Jim you listen to someone like Jon Lock who seems to have the only reasonable approach.....no wonder coonhunters have some of the reputations they do based on this garbage that was written here. Nuff said, now do the right thing and try to change this mans point of view in a positive way, if that doesn't work then use the papers and media to express your side in an educated positive way.

---

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Registered: Sep 2003
Location: Illinois
Posts: 20

Hi all. This is Jon's wife and I just couldn't resist replying. Doug, Jon is not always right (lol), but he is right in this case. The only one deeply hurt in this was the scholarship recipient. To not be able to be honored in the public ceremony was just plain wrong. The support from our state representatives and fellow coonhunters has proved that what is correct isn't always "politically correct". I work in Human Resources, so the issues of politically correctness and diversity are always in the forefront.

I understand the difficulties school administrators deal with in this day and age. We have two boys, ages 16 years and 20 months. In the last 16 years the changes I have seen are frightening and I hate to think what our little one might have to endure. If the schools could teach good common sense and moral values, we'd all be better off.

The fact that the Illinois State Coonhunters have awarded 16 scholarships (from $1.00 scholarship raffle ticket sales) is absolutely AWESOME!!!!! Hold your heads high! In addition to the scholarships for deserving seniors, we also hold 3 youth events each year. By involving your youth, we are hoping to preserve the sport of coonhunting for future generations.

Write your letters but make them a have a positive effect! Thank you for all of your support!

Kathy Lock
A Coonhunter's wife & mom and proud of it!

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Registered: Sep 2003
Location: Illinois
Posts: 20

Oh, sorry...I forgot to mention Jim Temmens in the last post - GREAT JOB getting the word out! We're lucky to have you as our Vice President!

Kathy Lock
A Coonhunter's wife & mom and proud of it!

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Registered: Apr 2004
Location: central illinois
Posts: 69

as a director for the ill state coonhunters im saddened to know this is my district .... however i went to school at pontiac and i know that whenever i tried to be excused from class to go deer hunting when i was in high school they always had a fit and some teachers gave me unexcused for the days i was gone i know many people from the school district and in the school as a whole few in this area hunt as they is not much ground and i only know of 1 coonhunter in the area and he is a student at this school john and myself have been helping him start his first coon hound so we will be there when he is a senior also as im sure we will have him apply for a scholarship should he choose college there is not many hunters in this area and im sure they dont know that anyone even hunts coon around here its a farming community but the ffa chapter is one of the weakest in the state ( i know this because i moved to prairie central my sophomore you to further my ag education ) its sad to say but i also went to school with the principals son and i tell ya what his $%*^ didnt stink the kids dad was the super at the time so im not suprised to here this just saddened and i will be writing a letter to the editor i have already contacted the leader and they may run the story not sure yet Bill Bolen director dist. 2 Ill state coonhunters and proud to say it

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Registered: Apr 2004
Location: central illinois
Posts: 69

i forgot to add the school mascot is ...........................................you guessed it the indians isnt that racial???

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Registered: Dec 2003
Location: freeburg il
Posts: 218

I have been on the phone several times with Jon lately, heheh, this subject gets me fired up but nothing like Jon has been lol. For the record i too am on the Board of Directors for the Illinios State Coonhunters. I am also the son of an Assistant Superintendent of a large district in southern IL. When I call Mom about this she told me it was ridiculous but entirely up to the district discretion. Jon hold your head up high buddy you did it right and the boy will still get the money and he may remeber it better this way!

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Registered: Sep 2003
Location: Illinois
Posts: 20

You're right, Erick....tough lesson learned all around.

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Registered: Jul 2003
Location: PA
Posts: 2162

(1) I want to commend the association for offering these scholarship awards. Great job! Keep it up! I love to see coonhunters promoting education.

(2) Though I may disagree with the supt. decision, I understand that I'm doing it from 500 miles away. I don't have the same understanding of the local school district, and culture, that the school officials have.

(3) I wouldn't be quick to condemn the supt. Perhaps, he made a misguided judgement. Perhaps, he made a decision that averted a potentially bad situation.

(4) From my vantage point, it was a misguided decision. That's based on my understanding and the culture that I live in and grew up in. I fully understand that my vantage point may be inapplicable or worthless (possibly inflaming) in other areas and cultures of our country.

(5) It's possible the supt. made a good decision. Without having first-hand knowledge of the culture and pulse of the community, I'm unqualified to make a sound judgement about the wisdom and justification for the supt.'s decision.

(6) Of this, I am certain. The fact that the supt. had to even consider making a decision on this matter indicates a problem in racial attitudes. This can vary widely in different areas and localities of our country. If all was right and just, this wouldn't have even been an issue to be weighed and considered.

(7) We should not defend, nor condemn, decisions made based on local/cultural situations that we don't understand.

(8) Commendations to the Illinois Coonhunters Association for offering these scholarships. You are certainly doing a great service. Congratulations to all of the recipients of these awards!!!

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Registered: Feb 2004
Location: West Kill, NY
Posts: 2046

Glad some worthy kids are getting those scholarships. Maybe you can spare a few dollars from the scholarship fund to donate a copy or two of Where the Red Fern Grows to the school system's library, and write letters to the administrators involved suggesting that they read it? I believe there's another coonhunting book, Sounder, about a black kid and his hound?
Most school guidance programs offer literature about scholarships available and the organizations that offer them. Perhaps you can work through the school system to educate people about coonhunting as a sport, and take a few kids--boys and girls, white and black-- who might not know about it on a hunt. Maybe that adminsitrator too! LOL Nothing like a few hounds on the schoolgrounds to promote the sport : )

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Registered: Oct 2003
Location: Oconee, Illinois
Posts: 344

I want to thank everyone for the support so far, I have been getting calls and emails from many different folks offering to show support from other org such as Ill Federation of Hunting Dogs to a local labor union. I am working on drafting a letter to the school board and to the paper, wanted to get over the initial shock and cool down,just a few degrees LOL, before put anything to paper.

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Registered: Mar 2005
Location: Medina, Ny
Posts: 276

Educators What The HECK??????????? there should be laws that don't let A_holes like that in that position. and they wonder why are kids are the way they are !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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