Defining Battle at Saddleback

As a Saddleback College teacher, I appreciated the balanced presentation in your Feb. 19 article. You stated that “faculty and the administration are locked in a civil war. . . . “

Actually, the faculty and administration get along and work together very well. We have a good administration at the college level.

It is only the district capstone of the administrative pyramid that is a problem.

The article raised the issue of Chancellor Larry Stevens’ military background as a possible reason for discontent. Military leadership techniques need not be a problem, as long as the leader recognizes the differences between recruits in a boot camp and seasoned junior officers with combat experience.

Robert E. Lee and George Washington truly inspired men to follow, while Capts. Bligh and Queeg had different approaches. The commander of a British frigate in the 18th Century had absolute authority. Today, however, discussion and disagreement are normal.

Our captain doesn’t seem to handle compromise well. Some leaders not only seek out confrontation but seem to feel a real need to have an enemy to oppose. Don Quixote also went on an unwarranted crusade, but he only damaged windmills, not entire institutions.

Part of any teacher’s job is to act as a judge of others. The faculty, with several administrators also voting, has overwhelmingly given the chancellor two votes of no confidence. The Tacoma College faculty previously gave him a similar vote.

Saddleback teachers offered to accept no pay increase this year if the board would buy out his contract. This was an expression of deep concern for the college that went far beyond money as an issue. The board rejected the offer.

The real issue is a fundamental difference in educational philosophies between Dr. Stevens and the overwhelming majority of the faculty.

You titled your article “Saddleback College: Teachers Waging War on Chancellor.” It should have read: “Chancellor Waging War on Teachers.”

WILLIAM E. HOLSTON

Mission Viejo