Principal Disagrees With Prep Column

I am writing this letter in response to Chris Foster’s column in the Prep Extra on June 11. I have no idea of the motivation or purpose of Mr. Foster’s column regarding Mater Dei High School’s security staff. However, please let me set the record straight as to the real facts of this situation (since Mr. Foster never seems to let the facts get in the way of any story he writes).

For all major championship-type games, like those at the Pond or Anaheim Stadium, the CIF-Southern Section requires all participating schools to provide a supervision/security staff for that school’s rooting section. Since Mater Dei High School has such a large following at these types of games, we normally staff the event with 10-12 supervisors/security staff (including security officers, faculty and coaches). Under the outstanding direction of Patti Glaub, assistant principal, and John O’Shea, director of security, our adult supervisors at these events are well trained, prepared and organized.

As a matter of fact, we regularly receive commendations from Dean Crowley, Southern Section Commissioner, regarding excellent behavior and spirit of our MDHS students at CIF events, and the site venue management have also been complimentary of the work done by the Mater Dei supervision/security staff. In addition, your paper printed a very positive article back in the fall regarding our supervision/security staff at high school football games.

Therefore, I have no clue as to where Mr. Foster is coming from or going with in his sarcastic, innuendo-filled column of June 11. I’m sorry, silly me! Of course , I know why he wrote this column. Mr. Foster had gone over two months without harassing Mater Dei or Gary McKnight. Mr. Foster is obviously addicted to his hatred of our school and our basketball coach so he had to get his one last fix of Mater Dei bashing in before a long, dry summer. Now I understand!

PATRICK MURPHY

Principal, Mater Dei High School

Santa Ana