Aaron J Hudson, PhD
119 Liberty Way
Freedomtown, NJ 43289
(732) 568-9821 Home
(732) 568-9822 Fax ajhudson@yahoo.com
September 5 th , 2005
Michael D. Richards, MD
Freedomtown School Board
93 United Circle
2 nd Floor
Freedomtown, NJ 43289
Dear Dr. Richards
With deep regrets, I hereby resign as Psychologist from Freedomtown Elementary School to take place at the conclusion of this school year. Due to the decision of the School Board to forbid talks and discussions with the students about the events of 9/11, I feel that all other options have been exhausted. I was hired at this school so the children could have someone to talk to if they needed an open ear. Now the Board has decided to lock all the feelings and emotions up inside these same students who have so many questions and who do not understand the capacity of what has happened to their country. I do not agree with the Board’s decision and can not continue to work in an environment that could possibly do more harm than good to our students.
Children are a lot smarter than adults give them credit. We can not treat them as if they do not have feelings towards what happens around them. They know when something is wrong. They can read us just like we read each other. “They sometimes read our silence on a subject as a message that it is not open for discussion.” (Lovre & Lucas ES-7) If we do not allow them to voice their feelings to us, how can we help them understand what has happened? We don’t want them having the wrong idea about what has happened. We are here to help these children. You are not allowing us to do our job by silencing us and them.
Outside of classes, especially now, our students are already being exposed to 9/11 all over again. All the media coverage on TV that constantly replays the attacks gives them a visual of what happened but not an understanding of why it happened. “Mental Health professionals who work with children and youth caution us about how deeply bothered children can become from watching events that were terrorizing for victims.” (Lovre & Lucas ES-7) If we do not do our part as

educators to help our students understand what they see outside of school, we are letting them down. Again, the Board’s decision is hindering us from fulfilling out duties.
We encourage our parents of the students to talk about these events at home. We tell them that
“they need to do much more listening than talking” (Lovre & Lucas ES-8) and to “resist the temptation to have instant answers that they hope will take away the pain and fear.” (Lovre &
Lucas ES-8) Who’s going to be there to listen to them during the day while they attend school?
You’re undoing what we preach the parents to do. We are sending our students mixed signals and this is not healthy for them at such young ages. The parents trust us to take care of their children when they are not in the care of there own home. I feel that by silencing discussions of 9/11 and by stifling the students’ feelings and emotions, we are adding more to the problem and not the solution of educating our youth.
Again, I deeply regret my decision to resign, but, I hope the Board understands and respects my point of view. I do wish that the School Board will reconsidered their decision in the future.
Sincerely,
Aaron J Hudson, PhD