Letter: Justice for Miss Watts
Letter to the editor
[Editor’s note: this letter is published as it was submitted.]
I would like to add comments regarding Crystal Murall’s case, as not only a former classmate of his, but a fellow student of Miss Watts. I would like to point out certain things about this case and the recent articles that aren’t making sense to me.
The first one being “…veiled death threats via suggestions of school shootings.” I was contacted by GPD by something that I supposedly said that was untrue, regarding justifying mass shootings. There was a facebook comment by supporter of Murall, “Stan Rhonda Richardson” that verbatim quotes “And they wonder what makes young adult commit mass shooting. I’m sorry but I can understand what makes a young mind snap when a teacher bullies and encourages those in the class to do the same.” My VERBATIM rebuttal was “This does not excuse mass shootings. Killing innocent kids? You are absolutely disgusting. Imagine if YOUR child was murdered for No reason. You are mentally ill and DISGUSTING’ and after that I made an Instagram note that reads “Sum1 said school shootings is justified in thomas case..”. NOT once have I made a comment justifying school shootings, especially as an advocate for gun control and not locking phones up do to the escalating and worrisome numbers of school shootings happening in America.
My second note is Murall’s use of “ignorance, naivety, and maliciousness.” Let’s all be honest. She is using such large, significant words to paint the character of the girlfriend bad. Why are we not applauding the girlfriend for not wanting to support dictatorship? Murrall is clearly against the paper being handed to him with the dictator title but yet still upset because the girl does not support it. Children, high schoolers, sane ones, do not go around starting rumors to that extent. As the girlfriend, month long relationship or not, why would she say such things for no reason? Many people, including myself, have had experiences with him and his partial political ‘interests’. When I had him in spanish class, two years ago, geography and the russian language was his. I have no proof or have not heard him say anything anti-jew, probably because he was not the person I would be around most in that class. Others have stories of him having an obsession with Holocaust and Hitler. That is concerning. More concerning than a piece of paper.
My third point is, Crystal Murall’s use of lack of evidence. The “allowance of nazi-phile” comment to be exact; where is the proof Miss Watts allowed that? Same goes for, where is the proof that he did NOT say such things regarding anti-jew, Hitler, or dictatorship comments. We need to stop using feelings over facts. Why is no one suggesting going through his phone carrier to see his searches, watched videos, passed calls, notes, or texts? What if there is proof to support the claims towards him? Even if not, why was the correction between ‘diplomat’ and ‘dictator’ not made? If he truly wanted to be diplomat, why not speak out on that: to the students who picked the title of the award, to the teacher, or to the ex-girlfriend?
My fourth concern is, if Murall is so upset about the paper and “bullying” happening to her son, why, has she not come out and said anything about the leaking of the teacher’s address, the hateful statements of the teacher’s political party, etc. If she truly wants justice for her son all because of the paper and an unproven statement, why is she allowing hate to be spread upon others? What is her motives? Is she an advocate or not? Lots of people agree, this is a racially, politically, motivated affair.
My fifth concern is the “record of pro-Israeli and pro-Jew activism.” Is it now all of the sudden not true that one person cannot partake in both? Many people protest or have likes for Black people but still use the n-word, don’t fight against racism or police brutality. You can do and support both simultaneously. On top of that, being pro-Israel, considering what’s happening in Palestine is not a good look. Genocide is sad and no one should support it. Is it only okay if it does not happen to Americans? Feelings aside and back on topic, political views should not take place in high school classrooms. Imagine how many people may have felt unsafe or unease by comments that may have been made regarding holocaust, Hitler, or dictatorship? This whole case is turning much larger, hateful, and more political, thanks to Trump’s America, than need be.
I stand with Miss Watts because I know how the “awards” come about, as it is a student ran class event and because of her advocacy and great abilities as a teacher. I do not support the propoganda being allowed by Murall and the people who support only her side without knowing other factors and truths. If need be, i have video proof of how the elections go, when I was in her class. Murall is allowed to be upset, since we can both agree, being a dictator is wrong, but Miss Watts is genuinely kind-hearted, loves her job, and cares for students. Her license being revoked is just getting rid of one more teacher who made a great impact on students. She is not a bully but I guess because she has different beliefs in a Blue county, in a state full of Red counties, this situation is being misconstrued and people are just running with whatever.
Justice for Miss Watts and I hope miss Murall’s son is doing okay.
Tammie Lynn, Gainesville
The opinions expressed by letter or opinion writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AlachuaChronicle.com. Assertions of facts in letters are similarly the responsibility of the author. Letters may be submitted to info@alachuachronicle.com and are published at the discretion of the editor.
Tammie, with all due respect: Teachers are required to follow an ethical code that is enshrined in ACPS’ policies. Specifically, a teacher may “not intentionally expose a student to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement.”
It doesn’t say a teacher can do that if a student says offensive things, so even if your allegations against your fellow student are true, most of your letter is irrelevant to the question of whether Ms. Watts violated ACPS policy.
Also, you demand proof that certain things did not occur, but at the same time, you are spreading information after admitting you have no first-hand knowledge that it’s true: “Others have stories of him having an obsession with Holocaust and Hitler. That is concerning. More concerning than a piece of paper.”
It’s fine that you want to defend your teacher, but because you seem to be unable to focus on the only relevant question – whether she violated ACPS policies – your letter speaks more to your inability to, as you say, “stop using feelings over facts.”
Chronicle this….Feelings over facts? Isn’t that how a typical leftist makes their decisions?
So Hannah, can we assume then – given the lack of evidence you note – that we wait for an actual investigation before hanging Ms Watts. That’s not what those in highest office in charge of all this and Ms Watts fate are doing.
Please provide an example of “those in highest office” “hanging Ms. Watts”. The Attorney General and Education Commissioner have each released one letter, providing probable cause that rules and statutes were violated and launching an investigation. Nothing else has been said by state officials.
Hannah, maybe you’ve been in coma, but both those idiots have loudly demanded that Ms Watts lose her teaching license and I belive one has filed a formal complaint. The politicians love this, and with all the tribal knee jerk reactions, who can blame them.
You didn’t provide any links to any verbal statements from either the AG or the Comm of Education, much less “loud” statements. Each of them issued a letter, calling for an investigation. The loss of her teaching license is one possible outcome of that investigation, but both said that should only happen if the facts are established by the investigation.
Whew! That was a long one. Glad you got that off your chest.
Sorry, Tammy, but his ex-girlfriend isn’t super bright if she really thought he wanted to be the dictator of Afghanistan
You are asking for proof that Thomas did not say those things, but we are asking for proof from y’all that he actually did.
I commend you for supporting your teacher. She sounds like a very caring and dedicated teacher to the majority of y’all, but she, like all of us, doesn’t walk on water. Even award-winning teachers can mess up. In her case, it was with Thomas Marull
I’m still wondering what SBAC member decided it wasn’t worth further investigation.
If Certain people call Certain board members they demand an immediate investigation about what may be going on and why some kid is being suspended.
You Voted,
Well, like Former (fired) Sup Simon (gleefully) pointed out, allegedly it was only sent to Former Member Kay Abbitt, who passed the information along to Former Sup Andrew. It would be nice to know who gave Carlee this tidbit, but I digress.
Regardless, one would think members Certain and Rockwell would be mortified that Dr Marull’s allegations weren’t properly investigated when they were first brought to the district’s attention in 2023. After all, the buck stops with the board and not any one particular member
Anyone who has asked ACPS to do an email search knows they charge a lot of money and take a lot of time to do it – so it is unlikely that this information (Marull only emailed Abbitt) came from a citizen’s public records request.
It is much more likely that a school board member requested this search and then spread the result to activists. This may not be illegal, but it points to what we all know – the playing field is not level, and Certain people have access to more information than others and don’t hesitate to weaponize it.
Of course, you are correct that the talking point is dumb – emailing a school board member IS bringing it to the school board. There is no requirement to bring it to all five of them.
If we believe what practically every locally elected official would have us believe. They do say they represent everybody, regardless of the district…yeah right.
“Punt” would be more appropriate; unless they find a pawn to do their bidding – see new Superintendent.
Other than that, they’re pretty good at punting. Rezoning, faculty and other staff raises…
I’d be willing to bet they’ll be punting their Dept of Education’s order to perform training on 1st Amendment and Parental Rights as well.
Ms Carull has a well known record of histrionics and inflammatory presentations before the ACSB, whether her fault or not. That is not a valid reason for ignoring a parents complaint, but someone along the line may have taken it as yet another “sky is falling” complaint to be taken with a grain of salt.
Jazzman, for someone lecturing everyone else on this topic, you don’t have even the most basic grasp of the facts. There was no “well known record” two years ago, when this complaint was made. Dr. Marull began challenging books well after this incident.
Hannah,
“Alachua County school district removes book about transgender teen after parent complaint
WUFT | By Lauren Brensel
Published October 4, 2023 at 9:25 PM EDT”
Like I said, you are unaware of the most basic facts about this situation. The incident with Dr. Marull’s (not Carull’s) son happened in May 2023, before any books were challenged.
ACPS Parent, we don’t know what or how it happened. We have the word of Ms Carull – which may be proven accurate – an adult going after her son’s ex-girlfriend for ambiguous comments as if they were the Watergate tapes, may not be guided by pure reason and a sense of fairness and proportion. She seems OK with this 2 year old forgotten slight turning into a her son’s reason for national fame.
Everyone should STFU and the ACSB and state Dept of Education have a thorough behind doors investigation, and hopefully a dispassionate but clear judgement.
You know it’s gonna be special when you see this at the top:
[Editor’s note: this letter is published as it was submitted.]
Tammie:
I reviewed your many words. You have missed out on full understanding of nearly every single Amendment noted in our Bill of Rights. The same teacher that appears to have failed to behave honorably with Mrs. Marull’s son, seems to have done considerable injustice to you. You’ve received an indoctrination, not an education. Sadly, this isn’t surprising at all.
What’s in your kid’s library 🤔
WETHEPEOPLE2.US/INAPPROPRIATE-BOOKS-IN-SCHOOL
Best wishes,
Bruce
The basic issue is the teacher preached an anti-conservative stereotype and likely ignored history lessons on the much worse history of leftist dictatorships. That’s the gist of the matter.
Public skools and Dem culture are creating mentally ill children who grow up with PTSD from miseducation and bad culture. Thank goodness we have a free country and internet to mitigate that harm to so many young minds, souls and unhealthy bodies.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸MAGA
Tammy, I believe you wrote this letter with good intentions and that Ms. Watts is a well-liked teacher that you are trying to defend from being placed on leave unjustly. However, I think the target of your frustration should not be on Dr. Marull’s son. Let me explain.
I’ve known the Marulls for years. They’re academics who’ve lived all over the world. The mother has a PhD in psycho-linguistics and two master’s degrees focused on education. The daughter was valedictorian. The son—the one you went to school with—is two courses shy of an associate’s degree while still in high school.
He’s a history and geography nerd who comes from nerd stock. He speaks four languages, knows every country, capital, flag, and system of government. Your school’s ROTC team made nationals for the first time in part because of him, when he was only a freshman. He’s always wanted to be a diplomat as long as I’ve known him, and he’s probably seen more of the world than most adults.
The “dictator” award presented to him in Ms. Watts’s class should have been a non-issue. The class laughed, and nobody thought much about it. The boy was embarrassed but wanted to move on. His mom only raised it as one example in a broader complaint about the school board, and it was the Florida attorney general who pushed to put Ms. Watts on leave—not him, not his mother.
He never complained. Yet the protests didn’t target the AG, or even his mom. They targeted him. A child.
They called him a Hitler-lover, drew crude swastikas on signs that said “ban nazis not teachers” they called him racist, called him a white supremacist (he’s half-spanish for Christ’s sake), hosted a walkout at school with his name written on fliers, and blasted him on social media. And what did he do wrong? Not stop the attorney general? Not tell his mother when she asked how school went that day? Ms. Watts may not have bullied him, but what’s happened ever since is clear and outright bullying of a minor, and the adults especially should feel ashamed of this.
I should leave it there, but honestly, I don’t think GHS students are getting a good enough education to even know what they’re saying. This kid is being accused of antisemitism and loving Hitler by the same people who say they saw him always wearing pro-Israel shirts around school. Ms. Watt’s should have taught you that Hitler wanted to exterminate the Jews, not give them an independent state!
You guys are just throwing every slur you can at the kid hoping something sticks because at the heart of it, it’s a lot easier to go after a vulnerable seventeen-year-old than an attorney general. And I think that says a lot more about who the real bullies are in this case.
“Tammy, I believe you wrote this letter with good intentions and that Ms. Watts is a well-liked teacher that you are trying to defend from being placed on leave unjustly. However, I think the target of your frustration should not be on Dr. Marull’s son….”
Fair enough and a good beginning, and your defense of someone you know personally is worthwhile. However, to some of us on the outside, the attacks on the kids at GHS by adults, which you continue, but was begun by Ms Carull, is concerning and undermines the supposed principle of protecting the young from mob reaction motivated by tribal politics which Ms Carull claims to have been her cause. Tammie says “This whole case is turning much larger, hateful, and more political …” is accurate and points to the failure of what should have been the goal of the “adults in the room” if there were any. Ms Carull seems happy to fuel that fire – she welcomed her sons meeting the governor about this issue ( we all know what a peace maker he is!) – and the state politcians in charge are engaged in an orgy of outrage, the desired result of which is – to again quote Tammie – “just getting rid of one more teacher who made a great impact on students” and who “is genuinely kind-hearted, loves her job, and cares for students”.
At the end “friend”, the Tammie you 1st said had good intentions, is now part of a “you guys”, meaning one assumes GHS students who Ms Carull began attacking (and on an individual basis) but then you end on an unintended gem of wisdom – ” it’s a lot easier to go after a vulnerable seventeen-year-old than an attorney general. And I think that says a lot more about who the real bullies are in this case.”