Friday, August 08, 2014

Reader: I know heroes and C. J. Huff, you are no hero

I published a response from a reader to last night's post about Joplin R-8 Superintendent C. J. Huff's scheduling of four fall semester speaking engagements during the work week and thought it would also serve well as a post of its own:

I am so sick of this jerk promoting himself as The One who pulled Joplin out of the depths of despair following the May, 2011 tornado. He acts as if we all sat around on our thumbs waiting for him to show up and tell us how to proceed.

Well, here is a news flash for you Mr. Huff. After checking on each other immediately after the tornado, my neighbors and I then went to help our neighbors in the area South of Parr Hill Park and helped pull people out of the rubble. Some of those people were alive, others barely clinging to life, and some already perished. There were body parts and bodies that were barely recognizable as human. We didn't need you to tell us what to do. How many people did you pull from the debris that night in May?

In the days, weeks, and months following the tornado we managed to pull ourselves together with the help of our neighbors, volunteers, and others who weren't there to promote themselves. We ate at and got essential supplies from some of the church tents set up in various locations. Never once did I see you there or driving around handing out bottles of water to those of us digging through the mess of what was once our home.

Kudos to you for finding suitable temporary facilities to hold school the following year. That was a huge accomplishment and also what you were supposed to do be doing. You had plenty of people helping you and I have serious doubts that you did much of the legwork.

I've heard your "I Saved Joplin" speech and find it and you to be disingenuous at best. So go on your little tour, take all the credit for anything good that happened in Joplin after the tornado, and be paid to tell your self-promoting story while we stay here and work to pay the outrageous price tag you've left for us.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amen!!

Anonymous said...

Does he have to give up his district salary when he gets paid someplace else? Teachers do. Since he's on a 12 month contract, any week day that he gets paid from someplace else, he should be docked. Teachers also can't make things and sell them since if they do, it becomes school property.
So not right.

Anonymous said...

A hero would not place students and staff in harm's way so as to have a media event. Cabinets falling off of walls, door jambs falling off, mold growing in floors, water seeping in under doors, ceilings collapsing when it rains or snows, are just the beginning of the list of problems that have presented themselves at the new grade schools and at East. And he will try to make history repeat itself at the new high school. He does not care if someone gets hurt. He cares about the media circus he can create. He is a despicable, shallow, delusional little man who needs to be stopped before anyone else gets hurt. If only we had a board with a backbone.

Anonymous said...

This reader's comments almost made me cry. Brought it all back. That CJ Huff has exploited the situation to promote himself tells us all what a petty, vain, mean little man he really is.

Anonymous said...

I like how he always makes a point about how poor Joplin is, but the only people who have enjoyed a significant increase in income since he came to town is well, CJ and his immediate staff of bullies. The rest of us have slipped farther and farther behind.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Huff and Stuff. SHAME ON YOU........
SHANE ON YOU....... Do you think blowing your story will make everyone turn there head to hour Bull Shit.


Huff and Stuff. PLEASE GO AWAY.............