Jane Fulton <jfulton@ontarioreads.ca>
January 4, 2011
12:00 p.m. (4 hours ago)
Hi, Hina:
Thanks so much for letting us know the nature of recent events. I saw the news and couldn’t believe it myself. I mentioned this at your performance review, but perhaps it needs mentioning again: All daily reports need to focus on the details of attendance, outreach actions on our behalf, and activities done with the kids. I know it is tempting to make the notes section personal. If this seems like a challenge, we can discuss over coffee sometime soon. My door is always open. Just let me know when.
As well, I want to caution you that community members are always in need, and it can be hard to draw a line with them. Try to keep personal lives out of the picture. Remember, your focus is family literacy, not social work. I know there are grey areas, and I appreciate the emotions that you lovingly put into the centre. But if we don’t draw the line, our hearts can be hurt a million times over, and we start to do things such as booking off mental health days. If you need some skill-building to support you, we can chat anytime.
I have received your request to take Monday off, and I propose that we discuss some strategies for you rather than you taking time from the all-important work you do in the community. I will be making my rounds to visit the centres in the east district regions, so I can drop by the centre this Monday, perhaps around 11:00 a.m.
Take care!
Jane Fulton, MSW
Supervisor, Ontario Reads Program
Reading is a way for me to expand my mind, open my eyes, and fill up my heart.
—Oprah Winfrey
January 4, 2011
2:00 p.m. (2 hours ago)
To Jane Fulton <jfulton@ontarioreads.ca>
Jane,
Thanks for your feedback.
To be honest with you, I am appalled by your email. One of the children in our centres has died in a house fire. I think there must be people in this community who perhaps only brushed shoulders with the Mitkowski family once or twice who are shedding more tears than you.
This is a tragic loss. And I am deeply saddened by it. I have a right to feel those feelings and to take a mental health day. And no, I will not discuss these feelings with you over coffee during my free time.
In future, I will reserve my notes for logistical, statistical, cold-hearted information for your funding and development officer, but today is a different day, and I hope you understand.
Laura was not a news item to me, Jane. She was a child. And we failed her. We all failed her. And you are failing her again by asking me to feel nothing.
Sincerely,
Hina Hassani, Facilitator
Ontario Reads Program, Rouge Hill Public School
Ryan Hoffman <rhoffman@ontteachersuniondistrict10.ca>
January 6 2011 8:35 a.m. (2 hours ago)
Hina Hassani,
Thank you for your call to our union and for your email message. I apologize for not getting back to you yesterday, as my family and I had just returned from our trip to New Orleans.
As your union representative, I have reviewed the series of messages between you and your supervisor, Jane Fulton, and there is definitely cause for concern. We do have a pretty strong case re: Islamaphobic comments about your hijab and re: breaking contract rules by expecting you to do outreach beyond your work week and not granting you a mental health day following the death of one of the centre’s children.
Can you give me a shout at the office? I have a district union meeting at 3 p.m., but it should be done in an hour. We can talk in detail and perhaps set up a meeting with your management to talk about recourse.
In the meantime, please draft me a basic timeline of your interactions with Ms. Fulton. I would like further details about her criticism of your attendance at the child’s funeral. Please know that attending the funeral of one of your students is not, by any means, crossing a line. In fact, I am certain that management did not follow protocol re: trauma to its staff, which would include a student death.
Anyway, please give me a call this afternoon, and we can chat more.
Ryan Hoffman, District 10 Representative United Teacher’s Union of Ontario