Update: November 7, 2007
No one has contacted me. Be careful where you send your children to school. Do you know where your child is going to school?
Update: October 30, 2007
No one has responded from Thornton Fractional North High School about this story. Apparently, there is no integrity, honor or safety at this school for its students or visitors. Do you want your child attending this school? How many athletic colleges recruit from this school? Do they want their names known?
October 20, 2007
Thornton Fractional North High School
Mr. Dwayne Evans, Principal
755 Pulaski Road
Calumet City, Illinois 60409
Re: Girl’s Junior High School Basketball Tournament on 10.20.07
Mr. Evans:
On October 20, 2007 Thornton Fractional North High School (TFN) held a basketball tournament for Junior High School students in the area. Reportedly, TFN gives plagues for good sportsmanship and skills. Reportedly, if a player receives a plaque or recommendations from the coaches participating, they are given the right to play in the all-star game. Also, Mr. Fred Schuldes reports if a player receives a technical foul they are exempt from participating in the all-star game.
My daughter was in the tournament. My daughter plays for McKinley Junior High. The other player mentioned in this writing plays for Schrum Junior High and wears #40. I am not mentioning the names of the players here because they are minors.
McKinley Junior High’s Coach Ms. Walker-Harris informed my daughter she was voted to receive a plaque and play in the all-star game but was rejected from play because she received a technical foul. I asked my daughter how she got the technical foul. My daughter informed me she got a rebound, had control of the rebound in her hands, swung her arms around to clear herself out, and verbally told the opposing team player to get off of her.
My daughter told me she asked the referee who was close to her why she received a technical foul. My daughter reports the referee stated “I don’t know. The other referee called it.” My daughter states the other referee who called the technical foul was not close to her.
Ms. Walker-Harris informed Kristina and some of her teammates that #40 for Schrum Junior High committed a technical foul, and that, if they know that she was able to be on the all-star team to let her know. After hearing this, I requested to speak to the person in charge of the tournament. I was referred to Mr. Fred Schuldes, who is a Driver’s Education teacher with TFN.
Mr. Schuldes and a TFN female associate explained that my daughter received her technical foul because the referee said she cursed at the opposing player when she retrieved the rebound, and that for receiving the technical foul my daughter could not play in the all-star game. I informed Mr. Schuldes that I had information reporting #40 of Schrum Junior High School received a technical foul, and therefore should not be honored with a plaque and admission to be on the all-star team, as my daughter is exempt because she received a technical foul. Mr. Schuldes informed me #40 of Schrum Junior High School did receive a technical foul but she apologized to the referee. I informed Mr. Schuldes that #40 threw the basketball at the referee, hitting him in the stomach, and the referee gave her a technical foul. I also informed Mr. Schuldes a technical foul is a technical foul.
Mr. Schuldes informed me #40 apologized to the referee and the referee accepted her apology, and in addition to this Mr. Schuldes stated he knew #40’s parents and the child, and therefore, #40’s infraction is different than my daughter’s because my daughter did not apologize. I told Mr. Schuldes this was absurd.
I informed Mr. Schuldes I would write this letter to the principal of the school and put this letter on my website for public viewing because of his rudeness, biases and unprofessional behavior toward me. Mr. Schuldes’ body language told me he did not care about me putting this letter on the Internet.
As I discussed Mr. Schuldes’ biases in this matter, Mr. Schuldes became more irate and unprofessional to me. I asked for the principal’s name and the address of the school. Mr. Schuldes and his female associate refused to give me the principal’s name and address to the school. I informed them both I would get it off the Internet. I offered my business card to Mr. Schuldes attempting to inform him of who I was and requesting we talk later. Mr. Schuldes stated he did not need to know who I was, and walked away from me.
Before Mr. Schuldes walked away, and while Mr. Schuldes, his female associate, my wife and another adult parent of McKinley Junior High School were talking about this disparity, a few of the students or young black guys stood around listening to our conversation. I asked the young people to move away from us. I received resistance from the young people, who Mr. Schuldes reported worked for him. Mr. Schuldes and his female associate told me that if my wife and another parent of McKinley could stand and listen to our conversation, then the young people/adults or students who worked for them had the right to stand and listen too. I told Mr. Schuldes and his adult female associate that this is crazy.
When I said this is crazy, the TFN adult female associate of Mr. Schuldes took me aside stating if she and I moved away and talked alone we would not have the interference of my wife, the other parent and students/young adults who worked for them. My wife became upset with this statement. My wife asked the TFN female associate why she was comparing an adult parent’s conversation with the TFN children that worked for her.
While the female TFN associate, my wife and I talked further about the issue, Mr. Mychael Webb, Assistant Athletic Director and Math teacher at TFN, joined us. As we were making our final remarks to each other, my daughter approached us stating one of the black guys told her he was going to have my daughter beat up by his female cousin.
I asked my daughter to show me the guy who threatened her. My daughter pointed him out. Mr. Webb, the adult female associate of Mr. Schuldes and I saw who my daughter pointed too. I asked the guy if he wanted to go to jail. I told Mr. Webb and his female associate I would call the police if they are threatening my daughter. The TFN female associate of Mr. Schuldes informed me that she would take care of her own. Mr. Webb also told me he would handle his students about making threats to my daughter. Mr. Webb suggested I remove myself from the area to de-escalate the issue. I agreed. I left the area.
Finally, it is my belief Mr. Schuldes acted maliciously, indifferently and callously as he represented TFN and their basketball tournament regarding the issue of technical fouls and how he determines who plays in all-star games obtaining technical fouls. Mr. Schuldes demonstrated his indifferent treatment because he is allowing the child who received a technical foul to receive a plaque and play in the all-star game on Monday, October 22, 2007. Significantly, because Mr. Schuldes knows the parents of Schrum Junior High School’s basketball player #40, suggesting she is exempt from the normal practices and policies of TFN, to which my daughter finds herself guilty of and exempt from participating in the all-star game where she also received a technical foul. If technical fouls determine whether a person can participate in the all-star game, then I support the policy, but the policy must apply to all participants.
It did not matter to Mr. Schuldes that Schrum’s #40 purposely and maliciously threw a basketball at a referee. Also, with this new information I have from my daughter that the referee who supposedly told Mr. Schuldes that my daughter cursed an opposing team member was not even near my daughter when he called the technical foul. How could this referee hear my daughter curse if he was not near her. Mr. Schuldes did not investigate the issue. In fact, Mr. Schuldes told me that since the referee told him it happened, that was enough for him.
It is my contention that Mr. Schuldes and his female associate based their biased decision on the fact they have a personal relationship with the parents and player of Schrum Junior High School, which is player #40. I am wondering if others suffer the same fate as we do under the direction and operation of an event by Mr. Schuldes. Also, I need to know what the consequences were for those young individuals who threatened my daughter with bodily harm and invaded the privacy of adults talking.
Respectfully submitted,
Fred Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS
Social Policy Analyst
cc: Ms. Therese McLaughlin, Thornton Fractional North Athletic Director
Ms. Coleman, Principal McKinley Junior High School
Ms. Walker-Harris, McKinley Junior High School
Dr. Creg Williams, District 215 Superintendent of Schools
http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/
