Update: I had our president read your responses and she was comforted by them. She has decided to stay on as president for the rest of the year. She has also decided not to go on a witch hunt in order to determine the author but to let it die a natural death. I think that this is the healthiest and sanest response.
This is by no means the end of the drama in our PTO. Our largest fundraiser, a tricky tray, is slated for mid March. The woman running it is a bonafide psycho (sorry to be politically incorrect, but if the shoe fits...).
Stay tuned, I'm sure I will be needing more advice in the near future.
Our subdivision received something simular. They simply quoted the letter in their newletter and inserted the correct information... it made the subdivision appear very upfront and honest and of course they have been,,, there is no merit in these letter and the person who wrote it must have felt very "small" reading it. Honesty is the best policy.
I knew I could count on you ladies...Thanks so much for all your different viewpoints.
Just to clarify, there were no threats of bodily harm in the letter, so bringing the authorities into it would not be an option.
There has been alot of drama in our PTO this year and this card was the straw that broke the camels back. I am going to copy this thread and send it off to her.
She has only told her friends about this and we have given her our support, opinions and advise, but truth be told, we are a bit self serving because we don't want her to resign. She may feel better hearing the opinions of people who don't have a vested interest.
A fool is nauseous, but a coward worse. --Dryden.
This type of behavior is cowardly and you mentioned that this person insulted her based on her physical stature? Our school district has a policy in place for students that prohibited conduct includes libel- A malicious defamation expressed to impeach a person's honesty, integrity, virtue or reputation and Profanity: Use of vile or indecent language. These are actually considered criminal. If our students are expected to behave in a certain manner, than so too are our parents. And since it happened as a result of service in the school, regardless of the lack of an actual threat, may still be considered criminal. If nothing else, it is a form of bullying and a poor example to our children. Your administration should be made aware.
I like Metzy's idea of reading it aloud but I too am that type of person who would publically denounce the actions of this individual.
At the end of the last school year, I recieved any anonymous "thank you" note, with some nasty comments about me written in it. I didn't say a word to anyone, didn't even bother. It takes a pathetic, pathetic person to expend that kind of energy on something so ridiculous. I wouldn't give it a second thought. Just thank goodness the next time you're praying that you're not the sad soul who felt obligated to write and actually send out such nonsense! Give the card's recepient lots of TLC and I promise that in a week, she'll be laughing about how ridiculous it is.
How awful! Definitely involve the police if the letter was threatening in any way. You need to let the horrid person who sent that correspondence know that such things are taken seriously. Let the principal know, and I think I woud also report it to the superintendent. For one thing, if you report it to the police they should also be informed. Also, if other parent group representatives receive similar cards the school administration should be aware of what has happened at your school.
