Thanks for the update. What happened to your wife was beyond the pale. Someone should really lose their job for their treatment of her.

I’m glad that things are moving along and that she’s still teaching in some capacity. It’s a sad day when a teacher can’t even allow her students to discuss a book about inspired teenagers.

Connie and I have been in a struggle with the Perry Township School Board since January of this year (she was removed from the classroom last November, however).

When we began this struggle,we had no idea how it would resonate with the public. Media coverage began with an “above the fold” front page story on January 22, in the Indianapolis Star. Then all the local TV stations covered her removal from the classroom.

Erin Gruwell herself took the red-eye and testified in the second day of hearings. Each day of hearings lasted 6 hours each.

At the outset, we were pretty sure we would lose. The Board attorney, Jon Bailey, had made several disparaging comments before the hearings, including “she will never teach again,” “she has zero chance with this board,” etc.

But through all this we have felt we have touched a nerve with the public — not only locally — but internationally. Connie’s harsh suspension has been covered by CNN, Newsweek (Anna Quindlen), The Huffington Post, The L.A. Times, The Guardian (U.K. and The Telegraph (U.K.), to name a few. But what is most exciting, is the coverage that caring bloggers like yourself have done. I google “Connie Heermann” several times a day. I see blogs in different languages discussing Connie’s plight. News doesn’t die today like it did not so long ago: it lives on and gets redistributed by bloggers, etc., via the internet. It is a great mechanism for grassroots movement. It’s hard to cover up things anymore, isn’t that marvelous.

We are now working with the local teachers union to see if we can take our sentence to federal court. The union is now reviewing the case. Nothing much will happen until at least October.

Meanwhile Connie is teaching this fall at a local community college. She is being asked to speak on censorship at the Indianapolis Museam of Art in August.

When all this insanity began my sister said: “something better will become of this.” I consider that ironic. Those exact words were spoken by Erin Gruwell in Connie’s hearing.

Thanks again.I would enjoy corresponding with you more.

P.S. Recently Connie was covered by local WISH TV as she was going to California to receive more training from Erin Gruwell. The reporter also inteviews the new board president. Instead of commenting on Connie’s continued dedication to teacher by attending the workshop, the board president just complains about bad media coverage. I urge you to see it. It is so revealing: the board doesn’t seem to care how much a teacher is dedicated to teaching — just if they are in line with authority. It is a very sad situation in Perry Township right now.

http://www.wishtv.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?ClipID1=2708996&h1=Suspended%20teacher%20making%
Tom Heermann
Better known now as “Connie’s Husband”

10:24 PM

I am a HUGE literary advocate. Books, like movies of older genres can reflect a culture; a mindset…Ideas are propagated through books and minds can open and expand… Worlds are made and torn apart with the words in a book and can evoke emotion and spur to action! Dangerous things are books for the fearful and fear-based!

But we’re living in an “offensive” age my dear. “Everyone” is offendable and offended. Thoughts and being policed and attempts at controlling ideas are pervasive! This is George Orwells 1984 coming to pass.

And I prophecy that in the year 2048 – in America – censorship of books in High School will be a mainstay. Nothing will allowed but thought memes friendly toward everyone. That and big pharmas rapidly-increasing “happy pills” will surely make for one mind-numbing time.

I mean that literally: Numb.

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