Traverse City Record-Eagle

Your Views

December 21, 2011

Letters to the Editor: 12/21/2011

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IB not new to E.R.

In response to the Record-Eagle editorial of Dec. 9, "District right to expand Montessori, other offerings," I would like to note that while the International Baccalaureate may be "something new" for Traverse City, Cherryland Middle School in Elk Rapids, with over 90 percent of its teachers IB trained, has been implementing the IB curriculum framework for the past three years.

And both of its elementary buildings are already embedding some of the IB principles in school-wide assemblies and classroom activities.

Anyone interested in gaining more insight into IB before the meeting about plans for Bertha Vos is invited to come visit any of these schools in Elk Rapids: Lakeland or Mill Creek Elementary or Cherryland Middle School.

Sarah Pierson

Williamsburg

The writer is IB Coordinator, Cherryland Middle School, Elk Rapids.

Email reflects poorly

As a Friend of the Traverse City Film Festival, I was saddened to read the email from Michael Moore regarding the cancellation of the 2012 Comedy Fest. In a condescending and snarky tone, he laid the blame for this at the feet of Porterhouse Productions for deciding to continue holding his Winter Brew & Music Festival the same weekend in Old Town.

His email implies that Porterhouse Productions is the big, bad for-profit thwarting the efforts of the nonprofit Comedy Fest.

I doubt there are many (any?) familiar with Porterhouse that could agree with Moore's characterization. Porterhouse is as much a part of this community as the Film Festival. They are active participants in our community and truly interested in enriching the cultural and social fabric of our region. I've met Sam Porter on numerous occasions, and he has always struck me as a problem-solver and a thoughtful person with big ideas about how to offer more opportunities to connect artists, citizens, community groups and businesses.

Moore's email reflects poorly on the Film Festival and its many wonderful volunteers and supporters. Moore comes off like a bully. It's terribly disappointing to see the defender of the bullied become the bully.

Elizabeth Dell

Traverse City

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