« A Letter From James Flanagan, Principal of Saint Saviour's School | Main | Proposed Tuition Increases May Be Issue in Non-renewal of Flanagan's Contract »
Thursday, June 18, 2009
130 Participate in Protest at Saint Saviours
Here is an email from one of the Saint Saviour parents, who has been protesting the decision by Fr. Murphy not to renew the contract of the school's principal James Flanagan.
"Despite the fact that our line actually extended beyond a city block, the protest was peaceful, well organized and hopefully did not cause to much inconvenience to our neighbors who were walking along 8th Avenue. Many stopped and asked questions about out the unfortunate situation at Saint Saviour's and we were able to provide them with information and our handout detailing why we are protesting.
"Deputy Inspector Argenziano of the 78th Precinct again joined us to observe the protest. With the exception of checking on the cars that were parked in front of the Church, the police officers and the deputy inspector had a relatively quiet evening at the protest as we only marched and carried our signs while ensuring that we did not completely block the sidewalk.
"After marching for about an hour, we all gathered and said a few prayers for our school and our Parish. We then sang together. Mr. Flanagan attended the end of the rally and thanked us all for our dedication and support. I find it ironic that he is thanking us for our dedication and support when it is his dedication and support of our children and our school that has caused us to take action on his behalf.
"Knowing the difficulties he has been forced to go through as a result of Father Murphy's decision, it brought immense pride and a new found spirit to all of us to see a smile on his face. He is a truly admirable man and the sincerity of his appreciation of the support he is receiving, especially from the children from the school, is evident.
"Having spoken with him, I know he was very upset that the school year was ending on Friday, June 19, 2009, this matter has not been resolved and, while he remains confident, he is uncertain as to whether he will be able to return to Saint Saviour's in September.
"Friday will definitely be a very emotional day for Mr. Flanagan, his faculty, the children and us parents. Not to sound like I am whining but, it didn't have to be this way and the fact that our own Pastor is causing so much pain and anguish to the children and his Parish is unfathomable."
June 18, 2009 in Religion | Permalink
Comments
Former parent....I assume your children were still at the School when the School had to pay for the replacement of the old and leaking roof which the Parish refused to pay for despite the fact that the Parish owns the Building and is responsible for all capital improvements. Hope that answers your inquiry. Nice try though.
Posted by: John | Jul 4, 2009 7:45:12 AM
Former parent....perhaps it went for the new roof that the Parish refused to pay for despite its ownership of the Building and its responsibility for all capital improvements...good try though
Posted by: john | Jul 2, 2009 4:09:23 PM
Exit question for Mr. Flanagan: whatever happend to the funds raised for the roof-top school yard???
Posted by: former parent | Jul 2, 2009 2:00:32 PM
Dear Concerned Alumni
You are sadly mistaken when you say that the children wave signs as people come out of mass. I have been to every mass and not one child waved a protest sign in anyones face. We are also alumni who are proud to send our children to St. Saviour. Do your children attend the school? Both of my children do and they proudly held up their signs not shoving them in anybodies face. They are proud of the school and of Mr. Flanagan. We have been very respectful to everyone, we have our hadouts and we carry our signs peacefully just ask the Community Affairs people who are with us for every protest thanks to Father Murphy.
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy | Jun 30, 2009 6:03:57 PM
Having st. saviour children wave protest signs at parishioners as they leave mass? That is not the school I went to. Sounds like Brooklyn Friends or Packer parents tactics to me.
Posted by: concerned alumni | Jun 29, 2009 1:44:36 PM
Former parent, or am I correct in saying Bernadette. I am sorry that your children's time at Saint Saviour's was so terrible. Most of the people I know share in my wonderful experiences at the School. Have you now re-registered your children for Saint Saviour's for September since you are apparently so pleased with Father Murphy's decision ?
Posted by: John | Jun 22, 2009 11:15:50 PM
Dear Former Parent, I guess having a fax machine at the school would have really resolved a lot of your problems at St. Saviour's!!?? I don't think anyone is saying that St. Saviour's Elementary is perfect, or that Mr. Flanagan is perfect. Parents merely want to highlight an injustice being committed and a lack of due process.
I reject your characterization of Mr. Flanagan as "hand-picking" parents and if you were enrolled at the school, I guess he hand-picked you. Curiously, cronyism is one of the major complaints that parents and parishioners have about Father Murphy and how he chooses who gets hired and fired. He prefers the company of employees from his former parish rather than those with a history at St. Saviour.
Posted by: Current Parent of 3 at St. Sav | Jun 22, 2009 7:05:48 PM
Parental involvement is vital to our kids’ education, and I am pleased to see such caring about schooling! The common denominator in all our efforts to teach our kids is always parental care and involvement. As soon as I learned of the recent situation at St. Saviour, I knew it was important to support those involved. In that spirit, I have spoken to some members of the St. Saviour community and am enthusiastic about my collaboration with parents. Education is so very important, and working together to maintain a successful institution like St. Saviour is fundamental to our efforts to provide superior instruction for our children.
- NYS Senator Eric Adams (D-20)
Posted by: NYS Senator Eric Adams | Jun 22, 2009 4:19:58 PM
I applaud Father Murphy's decision to not renew Mr. Flanagan's contract. Mr.Flanagan has been running a dictatorship for quite some time & its time for a change. I transferred my child a few years a go & I haven't regretted it one bit. Times of having relatives of teachers sit on school& tuition boards should come to an end together with Mr. Flanagan's decision not to have a fax machine in the school as it would just provide an avenue of communication for parents (other than the ones that have been hand-picked by him)and the mission statement of once you leave here, you may never come back. Does that sound Christian-like to you?
Sounds like Father Murphy realizes its time for a change and that could only happen if Mr. Flanagan is removed from his position.
Wishing Father Murphy good wishes and prayers.
Posted by: former parent | Jun 21, 2009 8:23:42 PM
It is hard to believe that in the middle of a crisis that is dividing his parish Fr. Murphy took off for a 2 week vacation.
Posted by: debbie | Jun 18, 2009 11:39:26 AM
As a parent of 2 children in St. Saviour I applaud everyone who has stood up for Mr. Flanagan. I try to teach my children to do the right thing, and Mr. Flangan has consistently given our children a positive example of someone who does the right thing, even when it is not the easy thing to do. I hope my children can follow the example he sets by his actions and his concern for the greater good. He deserves at least one more year after all he has given to our families and our community!
I am appalled Fr. Murphy has never given even one reason for his firing.
Posted by: nick | Jun 17, 2009 11:03:36 PM
