An excerpt from a recent letter by the SWS Development Committee:

“Dear Alumni,

With the present uncertainty of world events and the need to promote the growth of healthy thinking and socially conscious human beings we ask that when you read this letter you consider not ‘Will I give?’ but rather ‘How much can I give this year?’. It is evident now more than ever that we must speak with our actions to support the good in the world. It is in times like these that we find ourselves asking the question “How can I help?”. Perhaps one answer is in front of us.”

To Whom It May Concern:

When I verified my address with S.M. via email, I did not think it was for “fundraising” purposes. I should not have been so naive. I would like to state for the record that I find it unbelievably crass, callous and distasteful to be asked for money because of “the need to promote the growth of healthy thinking” when I live in a city where 6,000 people were recently buried alive and I can still smell the odor of mass destruction on my way to work.

I concede that Waldorf schools foster certain critical thinking skills, but I fail to see what that has to do with terrorism or anything else that constitutes “the present uncertainty of world events.” I suggest that in the future, when thousands of people are slaughtered by terrorists, perhaps you could refrain from asking the alumni in that city for money. Especially as they may now be “ex-alumni”.

“Will I give?” Not to you.

“How much can I give this year?” Nothing, I’ve given my money and blood to the Red Cross.

Sincerely yours,

Cari Hauck
Class of 1993