September 29, 2008

Dear NAACP President, Reverend, Dr. Barber II:

I am writing to you as early as possible to request your presence at the Robeson County Board meetings to be held in November. One is being scheduled for Monday, November 10, 2008 at 3:30PM for board members, the superintendent and his cabinet. The second will be held on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 , at 6PM , which will be open to the public.

I know that as President of the NC chapter of the NAACP, you are aware of the abuse occurring in this state’s public schools. To my delight, recently, three schools have banned teachers and administrators from the risky business of paddling. Risky, that is, to the well-being of children, and also to the possibility of district wide lawsuits, as parents become more aware of their rights and of the potential harm this practice causes their children.

Children, in the Public Schools of Robeson County are at risk of being oppressed and brutalized daily and need your help and support. I am not asking you to send the local NAACP leader. He has not been responsive to the many requests made to him by concerned citizens advocating for the rights and safety of the children in his district. I am not asking that you send a representative to take your place. I am asking that you be present and represent the children of this county, not as NAACP President but as a man of justice for the cause of children’s rights. The importance of “advancing the needs of children” is, no doubt, an obvious concern of yours, given your multiple titles. The NAACP was founded to bring about relief to the oppressed. Presently, black boys and black girls are beaten the most within the same system that once-upon-a-time allowed the brutal beatings of our ancestors. Will you stop for a moment and schedule these meetings in your calendar?

Please let me know which meeting you will attend. Also, please review my calendar on my website (which will be updated regularly), by clicking on my photograph. I hope you will be able to attend several of the planned events that you will find there.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Paula Flowe, Director,
The Hitting Stops Here!

thehittingstopshere.com