Recently, comments by members of the BOE have been non-committal on what their final decision will be. Many members via comments on the Patch have stated that what the Tribunal will submit is only a recommendation. That being said, I emplore the BOE to do the right thing and reinstate Dr. Wolkind. For once, listen to what the people are saying. Clearly managing "Doc" has been trying for the administrators. But look at the outpouring of support from the people who pay his salary and who's lives he has affected.. Don't let the fact that some administrators may be "tired" of his act erase the fact the students and teachers alike support this man. Don't let his eccentricities erase 32 years of dedicated service. BOE- do the right thing and support the will of the people on this.

Excellent letter, Mr. Sauer! And, well said, Bob!

Truly terrific letter. This paragraph is especially key: "It is also sad that our education administrators never took the time to get to know him better, to take advantage of his unique abilities. They focused on the fact that he is 'different', and rather than rewarding and championing that difference, they chose to diminish the individual... to try and make him perform like everyone else. The key quality in a good administrator is to recognize individual talents, support them, encourage them, and thus get the best educational advantage for their students. Obviously, the Brookfield administration chose the low road... and the benefit for all students was not to be considered."

*Phenomenal* letter, Mr. Sauer!! This should be required reading for everyone making decisions affecting Brookfield's children. Nice work!!

It sounds like the Brookfield school system is more concerned with law suits then good teachers. A sad day really, when the administration should be standing behind the thing that makes the Brookfield education system stand out: their teachers. As an alum of the Brookfield school system I recognized that my education recieved from this system was outstanding compared to my peers. I feel that this is something that needs to be nurtured and protected, not destroyed. The termination of Dr. Wollkind is clearly a step in the wrong direction. My hat is off to Martin Sauer for sticking up for what he believes in and supporting an outstanding teacher. I just hope Brookfield chooses to listen.

For someone who's class is famously referred to as the "Marty Sauer Party Hour" I hardly think your comments are valid or important. It's a shame teachers in Brookfield hide behind the umbrella of seniority. It is never OK to demean a student or shame a person for your own amusement or thoughtless banter.
Doc belongs teaching college age adults, not minor children. Obviously there are no shortage of fine references from all his supporters.
I find interesting that Brookfield School System has no problem initiating an anti-bullying campaign on their students, but fail to hold their staff to the same standards. Doc, Take your FULL pension and move on to greener pastures.
The Children of Brookfield deserve better then verbal abuse!

Betty,

I hope you join the campaign by all students and parents to report any and all sarcasm/embarassement or ostricizing by a teacher/coach/administrator in detail to SarcasmAtBHS@gmail.com. Remember it is the CURRENT PRINCIPAL at Brookfield High School who testified, under oath, that never in his career has he seen or heard sarcasm of a student by a coach/teacher/administrator. Help clean up any further issues in Brookfield's schools by doing so, even if it's the Brookfield Board of Education members who lead by example.

Our son, Jay Bucci, MD wrote his letter to the BOE in support of this fine teacher. We would like to thank Doc for helping all of our children. The world needs more teachers like Doc. We need fewer administrators who fail to support good teachers and therefore promote mediocrity. Marty Sauer, your letter was a masterpiece. Arlene & Skip Bucci

I cannot agree more with all of the comments in your letter Mr.Sauer. Thank you for sharing - it's wonderful to know that Doc is also an inspiration to others in the profession.

Thank you for writing this letter, Mr. Sauer. Doc Wollkind is a rare educator. He inspires excellence and diligence in students who love math. And for those who are less inclined toward math, he gives them a reason to challenge themselves, instead of simply allowing them to fly under the radar. In his class, I saw him discipline with confidence but never with animosity. I hope that BHS retains one of its outstanding teachers, because of his rarity and impact.

Betty Bobcat, I couldn't disagree with you any more, and your insulting comments to Mr. Sauer are awfully rude.

Doc, we adore you. I was 100x more prepared for college calculus than anyone else in my classes, all thanks to you.

As a mother and resident, I fear that Brookfield will have difficulty attracting and retaining talented teachers like Doc after this debacle.

Mr. Sauer, thank you for your letter. Outstanding!

Catherine (Bucci) Klar

I have been reading and re-reading all of the letters and posts both here and on other sites regarding Doc Wollkind. I am a former student and although I do not always enjoy math nor do I understand it some of the time, I have to say my Senior year I needed one last Math class in order to graduate. I found myself in Doc's classroom lost and failing rapidly. I needed his class and just could not grasp what was happening. Doc helped me understand enough to pass this class so I could graduate with the rest of my class. Thank you Doc. On so many levels THANK YOU!

I am going to make a VERY general comment. I think that many children these days do not have a backbone so to speak. It was not that long ago that I was in High School. We did not run to the principal every time a rude, sarcastic or demeaning comment was flung our way. Students need to be held accountable for their own mistakes just the same as adults are held accountable for when a major deadline is not met at work.

All of Life's Rules apply. The only thing that changes here is your age!

I want to wish Doc the best of luck in what ever comes his way. He is a wonderful teacher and MANY, MANY students (lets see 30 yrs * 180 days * 5 classes a day * 25 students per class) were more than lucky to have been taught by him. I can only hope that Brookfield's Educational System does not fail its students.

Sadly this feels a lot like when Ms Crocco was terminated. A brilliant, passionate, tough educator misunderstood and discarded. Our children do not need to be coddled, it will not help them in the real world. They need strength and smarts. They need to be taught how to succeed not taught to penalize someone for being different. I never was lucky enough to have Doc but I knew many who did and while they all said he was tough, they also were happy to have him as a teacher. And they worked for their good grades.
You have to wonder about any parent who would complain about him. Are you giving your children what they really need in the world to get buy or teaching them to whine and look for handouts?
BOE, reinstate Doc.

I have nothing but support for Doc. It might seem strange that I say this when I failed his class. I was unwilling an uninterested in math and did not need the class to graduate. I made my own decision to let my grade slip and not focus on the work. Doc let me be. I can remember him getting angry with a classmate (I even see that he posted on here) because the work was half assed. The student refused to put honest effort into the work and had the nerve to talk back to Doc when his bs was called out. I remember thinking at the time that Doc was probably out of place, until I realized that this student was undermining everything Doc was.

Doc is an educator. He lets the students learn, and helps them when they ask for help. Isn't that what a teacher is?

Thank you for writing this letter Mr. Sauer, it was very well put. Doc had a passion not only for teaching but for learning as well. I found him inspiring and a great motivator to do my best. After all of the classes I've taken during undergrad and in grad school he is still the smartest, most motivational teacher I've ever had!

The entire Doc episode, indeed, has been sad and pathetic. One of the best teachers that Brookfield has ever seen, one who has inspired and has the support of thousands of students, one who has coached the Math League team to victories year after year, may have come to the end of his career by getting terminated . Is is this how Brookfield will rewards a great teacher?
This disgraceful move was initiated by a superintedent who, probably, doesn't understands what it means to inspire students. And he was supported by his cronies whose affidavits during the termination hearing were weak and stretching the truth.
Who wins? Certainly the superintendent who has been getting good raises thanks to the BOE, and the two who testified for him and were rewarded by getting promoted to principal and asst principal.
Who loses? Certainly Brookfield students, their parents and tax payers. You can be sure that this will affect how the other teachers will approach their duties, especially under the cloud of this episode, and the climate created by the newly promoted administrators.Readers, please contact BOE members and voice your concerns. It's time for the BOE to stop being the superintendent's cheering squad and do the right thing.