In Friday's letters, readers weigh in on the Toronto Blue Jays' leadership dynamics and the Toronto District School Board's handling of bullying and self-defence.
Who Really Runs the Blue Jays?
William Edworthy of Calgary writes that the true leader of the Blue Jays is not general manager Ross Atkins, president Mark Shapiro, or manager John Schneider, but rather star player Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Edworthy criticizes the team's management for allowing Guerrero to set a lax tone, noting that he saunters to first base, laughs off errors, and carries the Gatorade jug onto the field. "If the aforementioned Blue Jays leaders have dipped into parenthood, one can only assume that they are lousy at it. I just can’t imagine a five-year-old running my household, can you?" Edworthy asks.
TDSB and Self-Defence
Mark M. Tyrrell of Hamilton responds to Kevin Vuong's June 25 article "TDSB tolerates assault but not self-defence." Tyrrell argues that parents of bullied children should take two steps: enroll the child in a martial arts or self-defence program, and seek legal counsel. He asserts that school administrators often refuse to acknowledge bullying problems and may blame parents and victims, especially if the victim fights back. "School administrators fear the possibility of a successful lawsuit, which involves the possibility not only of negative media publicity, but also of being saddled with hefty damages and court costs," Tyrrell writes. He concludes that many changes are needed at the TDSB and that parents must demand better.
