I just emailed Scholastic about the GOP-u-drama

[kstewart33]

I called Scholastic and was referred to their email: [e-mail]. The woman, who was very receptive, said that Scholastic is reading every one of them.

Here's my email. Note: if you email them and have kids, mention that fact. Scholastic makes HUGE revenue from their annual Book Fair held at the schools across the country. Boycotting the fair would hurt them big time.

Scholastic:

I am the mother of 2 young girls who attend __________. I volunteer each year at the school's Scholastic Book Fair, held in April. I also am a part-time volunteer librarian assistant at the school library.

I understand that you are going to distribute the miniseries "The Path to 911" as EDUCATIONAL material to schools throughout the country. From what I have read (including comments from Bill Clinton, Madeleine Albright, and Sandy Berger, and some members of the 911 Commission), the miniseries contains several key scenes that are total fabrications and are completely untrue. I understand that this movie was written by a very social conservative who is a close friend of Rush Limbaugh (who he himself was provided with a copy of the movie when President Clinton was not).

Education is supposed to be truth, not onesided fabrications.

Is this what Scholastic stands for?

I hope you will reconsider your decision. The story of 911 is much too important to be fabricated and politicized. If this is your version of the truth, then Scholastic is not welcome in my house.



Sincerely,

[Nite Owl]

1. It also will be helpful to

mention that you called your Superintendent of Schools and teachers union in your area.
Even if you aren't a teacher you are a tax payer and can vote no on that next budget!

[woodsprite]

5. This is what I wrote (I hope you don't mind I used your's as a model)

I am the mother of 2 children (14 and 6) who attend schools and
daycare within ---- School District (----). Both of my children's
schools and their daycare regularly have Scholastic Book Fairs, as
well as bookclub offers. The first purchase period of the year ends
September 8th, but I will not be placing an order online or otherwise.
I also will not be attending the Scholastic book sale held the night
of Open House for either school.

Normally, I would purchase approximately $80-100 at each open
house/booksale and roughly $20 per child thru each mail/online offer
thru the year. I feel that I can no longer support Scholastic since
you are planning to distribute the miniseries "The Path to 911" as
educational material to schools all across the United States. It is
my understanding that the miniseries contains several key scenes that
are completely untrue and that it is a work of total fiction being
sold as history!

Education is about teaching fact and truths, not onesided fabrications
created to support the current administration's political agenda.

I hope that my letter, and many others that friends and acquaintences
will be writing, will cause you to reconsider your decision. The story of
911 is much too important to be fabricated and politicized. We owe the
families of the victims who lost their lives nothing less than the truth!
If this is your version of the truth, then Scholastic is not welcome in
my house or at my schools. The money that I would have spent on your
books is not going to waste. I will be adding it to a donation for our
Democratic candidate for Congress.

Sincerely,

[kstewart33]

15. Great letter! eom

[electprogdems]

2. Very good idea! I used to work at Scholastic

and I know for a fact they need volunteers to sell their products.

[TlalocW]

3. I sent my own email to Scholastic

I don't have kids, but I was able to word my email so that the meaning could be taken that either I do have kids and won't let them buy Scholastic or if I had kids, I wouldn't allow them to buy Scholastic. :)

I just want to see what response, if any, I'll get back.

TlalocW

[Robbien]

4. Is that Scholastic link working?

It is broken for me.

[Nite Owl]

9. It worked a half an

hour ago but I just clicked on it and it doesn't work now!
I got an automated reply back so far.

[trotsky]

6. Thank you for that.

I sent off a polite but firm letter. Let's hope they get inundated.

[TexasLawyer]

7. working link

[e-mail]


Good idea. I just sent Scholastic a similar e-mail.


Here's their "Contact Us" page:

http://www.scholastic.com/aboutscholastic/offices/index.htm

[TexasLawyer]

10. Here's what I sent them

I just read that Scholastic intends to distribute the miniseries "The Path to 911" as educational material to schools throughout the country. Many people in the position to know the truth (including Madeleine Albright, Richard Clark, Bill Clinton and some members of the 911 Commission), report that the miniseries contains several key scenes that are total fabrications and are not only untrue, they are the opposite of what happened.

I understand that this movie was conceived and written by highly partisan right-wing conservatives and it is clearly anti-Democratic Party propaganda intended to sway the upcoming mid-term elections.

I have faithfully volunteered to sell Scholastic products for years and years. I will not be a propaganda-monger, however. And I will not volunteer for propaganda-mongers. The day I see that movie on your shelves or see that Scholastic has had any part in distributing the crock-umentary is the day that I no longer have any part of Scholastic FOREVER. No volunteering and no buying. Oh, and I will happily and enthusiastically organize boycotts at each of the three schools my children attend in Houston, Texas.

Please reconsider. I don't think Scholastic really wants to squander decades of good will on this wretched piece of right-wing propaganda.


Sincerely,

[jwirr]

8. Done.

[Robbien]

11. A diary at dKos says Scholastic is worried you will contact school distric

Scholastic customers are the school districts and Scholastic needs the support of each and every school district. Scholastic sales reps are worried about school districts boycotting them.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/9/7/83625/00494

[woodsprite]

14. Just sent a carbon to the School District offices. n/t

[librarycard]

12. All those writing, please put the National Education Association on the CC

The NEA is one of the most powerful unions in the country.

[woodsprite]

16. And the PTA - they are the ones who run the sales in our school. n/t

[Bunny]

13. Here's mine:

Dear Mr. Robinson,

My children have used Scholastic materials for years and we have always been very satisfied with your products.

I understand you are planning to distribute study guides for The Path to 9/11. I want to let you know that I am appalled at your company's association with ABC/Disney in this alleged docudrama. This movie is nothing but propaganda designed to blame the Clinton Administration and the Democrats for the events of 9/11, and it's shameful that it is being aired so close to a major national election. It is a purely partisan effort to smear the character and actions of many good and honorable people who served our country with distinction.

This entertainment event purports to present a factual version of the years leading up to the attacks on September 11, 2001. In actuality, many elements of this show are factually incorrect, as reported by the principles involved in the events themselves. This "fudging" of the truth is freely admitted by the filmmakers, and in no way deserves to be treated as having any serious educational benefit.

I urge you to drop your partnership with ABC/Disney, and do what you can to salvage your heretofore sterling reputation. I am a resident of the xxxxx xxxx School District in Pennsylvania. I will be contacting them today to urge them to stop using your products immediately, unless you pull out of this shameful partnership.

Sincerely,

Bunny

[silverlib]

17. Here's mine to Scholastic and copied to school librian

Thanks so much - I hope you don't mind that I used yours and edited to find my own voice.
*****
I am the mother of two grown children and a seventeen year-old. I am also the grandmother of six, five in public schools. I have supported Scholastic Books for over thirty years.

I hope that Scholastic reconsiders its support and distribution of “The Path to 911” as educational material, even though I understand the lesson plans that Scholastic will distribute are considered by you to promote discussion and will not necessarily substantiate the inaccuracies in the film. Even ABC has now relented to stating this is not a documentary and no longer states it represents the findings of the 911 Commission. It was just revealed on MSNBC that an FBI agent who worked as a consultant to the film quit halfway through production of the mini-series because he believed the writers and producers were "making things up."

Please reconsider and do not distribute this film or any lesson plans associated with it. I would refer you to articles where just the distribution of his film alone has been biased, but I am sure you have read them. When only one political party’s elite members are allowed pre-access to the film, the bias is immediately verified. Our children deserve better.

It is important that our educational process not support any biased and inaccurate films such as this one. I hope that Scholastic stands for truth and not propaganda.

The story of 911 is much too important to be fabricated and politicized. If this is your version of the truth, then Scholastic will no longer have my support.