Teachers from NEA Dallas, PTA presidents and others spoke out quite loudly not to put 6th graders in middle schools. The issue of small 6th graders around 8th grade thugs was dismissed.

Apparently, the issue of 6th graders bullying 1st graders was the issue, as was overcrowding. Look at the board. They were mostly re-elected anyway. Why?

A seat on the school board is often seen as a stepping stone to higher political ambitions. It is also often a way to get cronies into a position to okay contracts or move private agendas.

Rarely do you have a school board member who actually, sincerely sees the world through the perspective of the classroom, the school and the neighborhood.

I do disagree about protests not working. They can, but they have to be done early, often, with focus and be results-oriented.

I actually challenge the Hill neighborhood to protest. Get out there and draw more press attention. Stack the speaker's list at the meetings. Sign petitions--a way to draw attention to unaware neighbors.

I know you and others work hard for Hill. Time to get a little more militant. (After all, that is how Ron Price, John Wiley Price and others got their start.)

[Ed Note: I'm not a big fan of big sign-carrying, screaming protests. It may be how Ron and John got their start, but they're not doing it now.

Some new administrators need to "learn the ropes" and quit being vendictive. Others need to work on getting better organized. You'll eventually see that.]