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Here at Denville Medical, our commitment is to you and your health. We are committed to improving your quality of life by effective treatment and therapy, catered specifically to your needs. Unlike some of our competition, we take a team approach to your treatment plan working together as a unit to provide the best possible care for our patients.
It's easy to start your healing journey at Denville Medical. It all starts when you contact our office to make an appointment. From there, we set you on a course to recovery through a three-step process:
Meet the Doctor: During your initial doctor consultation, we will talk at length about what challenges you're currently facing. From there, we will speak about your goals and what you want to accomplish together. The first conversation with your doctor is crucial and lays the groundwork for a life-changing experience at Denville Medical.
Craft a Customized Treatment Plan for Your Recovery: Some medical and rehabilitation centers in New Jersey apply the same treatments to all patients, regardless of their needs and goals. At Denville Medical, we don't subscribe to the "one size fits all" model. Instead, we rely on our seasoned team of doctors and physical therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists and specialists to find the right solution to your unique situation.
Start Feeling the Relief: Our hard work and commitment to recovery will pay off through our personalized work together. With the help of our skilled doctors and chiropractors, you can finally start living the life you want to live - all on your own terms.
At Denville Medical & Sports Rehabilitation Center, we are proud to provide holistic and wellness care that changes lives. Whether your body needs Chiropractor, physical therapy, acupuncture, or needs to see a specialist, we can help.
Here are just a few of the customized therapy services we offer to help our patients live with passion and confidence:
At Denville Medical, your licensed physical therapist's goal is to maximize your body's structure and increase its overall function for long-term health. To accomplish this, our physical therapists combine traditional and innovative techniques focused on increasing muscle strength and improving the body's range of motion. Our goal is to discover the root cause of your pain or mobility problems. That way, we can address the true reason why you need physical therapy, and work towards achieving long-lasting relief.
Of course, we understand that every patient is different. Your doctor can provide expert care in an encouraging environment by creating a customized treatment plan for you using modern, evidence-based research.
Chiropractor is a common service offered at Denville Medical, often combined with our physical therapy, sports medicine, and acupuncture treatments. When delivering a whole wellness and body approach, chiropractic treatments generally focus on the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Our chiropractor's primary focus is to aid in adjusting your body's proper structure by improving nerve function and removing imbalances.
Our goal is to work together as a team to get you maximum medical improvement. To determine which chiropractic techniques and treatments are suitable for you, our chiropractors will conduct an initial evaluation to dig deep into your medical history, previous treatments, diagnostic tests, and current conditions. During your first consultation, be sure to ask any questions you may have. Once we agree on your customized chiropractic program, we will begin treatment as soon as possible.
Our patients typically feel relief during their initial visit. Although a reduction in pain is not an indication that the condition is gone, relief is the first step. As the chiropractor adjusts and manipulates your spine and joints, many feel a sense of relief as circulation is restored. A number of our patients admit to experiencing an increased range of motion after their first visit and increased function as they continue their care.
A single migraine can ruin your entire day. Migraines stem from irregular muscle contractions in the neck and head area. Anything from loud music to a bright computer screen can trigger these painful headaches. Fortunately, your chiropractor may be able to help provide an escape from the pain without surgery or drugs. Migraine symptoms include:
After speaking with your Doctor of Chiropractic, he or she may recommend treatments like trigger point therapy, which is a neuromuscular massage. Trigger point therapy boosts blood flow and releases pressure from compressed nerves in your body.
Whether you work in an office 40 hours a week or have to lift heavy items in a warehouse, neck pain is common across all people and professions. Neck pain is debilitating and can be caused by a range of issues like poor posture, work injuries, and harmful sleeping positions. These issues often strain your neck muscles. If you notice any of these symptoms, it could be time to consult with a chiropractor:
Chiropractor helps by relieving nerve and disc pressure. These nerves and discs are located between your vertebrae. After identifying the underlying cause of your pain, your chiropractor may use a combination of treatments to provide relief.
Have you been suffering from sharp pain that shoots down your back to your lower legs? If so, you might have sciatica. Your sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body. Sciatic pain begins when your sciatic nerve is pinched or trapped, or you have underlying conditions like spinal stenosis or a herniated disc. Symptoms of Sciatica often include:
Proper Chiropractor can relieve your pain in a gentle, natural way. Since your pain is unique, your treatment plan should be too. Therapies include ultrasounds to reduce swelling, cold therapies to minimize inflammation, and adjustments to restore your vertebrae's alignment.
Joint pain from conditions like Arthritis can strip the joy out of simple activities that we enjoy every day. Fortunately, if you're looking for a non-invasive way to ease joint pain, your chiropractor may be able to help. Great Chiropractor will maximize the functionality of your joints with techniques like ultrasounds, cold laser therapies, and joint manipulation. Usually caused by various forms of Arthritis, age, and injuries, symptoms of joint pain include:
If joint pain affects your daily life, contact a licensed chiropractor to begin treatment ASAP. Your chiropractor will develop a customized plan around your pain to address the root cause of your discomfort.
Our hips serve many functions, from bearing weight to running. Since they're engaged in just about every way we move, hip problems can have serious consequences. Like neck pain, hip pain is very common â so much so that more than 58% of Americans are living with it, according to the CDC. Hip problems are usually caused by injuries or osteoarthritis, though normal wear and tear over time is also a contributing factor. If you notice any of these symptoms, an appointment with a chiropractor may be in order:
Since any joint in the body can be misaligned, like your hip joint, working with a chiropractor could be best for long-term relief. Any joint in the body can be out of alignment, including the hip joint, and it can cause severe pain, discomfort, and limited range of motion. Treatments in your personalized plan may include chiropractic adjustments, stretching, and exercise therapy.
Your spine comprises a litany of moving parts that must work together for healthy mobility. Spinal discs are just one of these parts, which act as cushions between your vertebrae. When you have a herniated disc, the bones in your spine grind against each other, causing intense pain. Also called a slipped disc, this back problem is very common and can be caused by wear and tear with age or traumatic events like car accidents. Keep an eye out for the following symptoms of a herniated disc:
After your chiropractor evaluates your spine for overall functionality, they will develop a personalized treatment plan for ongoing care. Common treatments for herniated discs include spinal manipulation techniques like flexion-distraction and therapeutic exercises.
Spinal Decompression Therapy is designed to relieve nerve compression in the spine. This gentle stretch helps relieve pressure and realign the spine in order to reduce those unbearable symptoms. In addition, once the spine is properly aligned, blood flow will increase, reducing swelling and inflammation of the problem area. This then allows the body to be more mobile, or, as a provider will say, increases your range of motion, for easier movement and functionality of the body.
Methods of Spinal Decompression Therapy include:
Keep in mind, Spinal Decompression Therapy is not for everyone. Diagnostic tests, such as an x-ray, MRI or Ct-scan are required for a proper and full examination.
At Denville Medical, we aim to serve you with long-lasting quality of life through personalized chiropractic treatments in New Jersey. The path to a pain-free life begins with a customized treatment plan tailored to your body and needs. We start with your first evaluation, where our experts dig deep into your medical history, current condition, your overall health goals and perform diagnostic tests. From there, we'll create your plan and help you hit your milestones every step of the way until your quality of life is improved.
If you're sick and tired of living with painful limitations, we're here to help you break free. No surgery. No addictive medicine. Only comprehensive Chiropractor, crafted with health and happiness in mind.
Answer : While some chiropractors rely on outdated techniques to treat patients, our team uses a combination of tried-and-true methods and modern strategies, including:
Answer : During your first visit with our physical therapist, we will complete a series of tests and screenings to establish a baseline for your care. You can expect to complete stability screenings, strength tests, and computerized range of motion tests. These tests ensure your doctor understands how your muscles are functioning. Once complete, your therapist will create a custom treatment plan for your physical therapy, so we can move forward with your care. During your time at Denville Medical, you should expect adjustments to your treatment plan as you make progress.
Answer : We get this question a lot, and we can certainly understand why. Unfortunately, we cannot provide you with an exact answer because every patient has different needs relating to their injuries and issues. Your level of stability and functionality depends on your condition, your goals, and your motivation to heal. For acute pain, patients typically experience relief in 2-3 weeks. Patients with forms of chronic pain usually feel optimal results after their first full course of therapy (4-6 weeks). Since our goal is to achieve maximum medical improvement, our doctors continuously monitor your progress and adjust treatment accordingly.
If we could offer you one piece of advice, it would be not to settle for mediocre medical treatment and therapeutic options. If you're looking for a team of doctors and therapists who work together and take an interdisciplinary approach to healing, Denville Medical & Sports Rehabilitation is here for you. Contact our office today to learn more about how we can help you achieve your chiropractic goals and live your life, pain-free.
973-627-7888Patch is asking candidates for their views on issues in the West Morris Regional District. Here are candidate Natasha Chandler's answers: |Updated Thu, Oct 26, 2023 at 6:11 pm ETCHESTER, NJ — Election Day is nearing, and Chester voters will soon head to the polls to cast their votes for a seat on the regional high school board.Patch sent questionnaires to all candidates, seeking their responses. Here is the response from candidate Natasha Chandler.Editor's Note: Patch emailed all candidates at the ...
|Updated Thu, Oct 26, 2023 at 6:11 pm ET
CHESTER, NJ — Election Day is nearing, and Chester voters will soon head to the polls to cast their votes for a seat on the regional high school board.
Patch sent questionnaires to all candidates, seeking their responses. Here is the response from candidate Natasha Chandler.
Editor's Note: Patch emailed all candidates at the email addresses listed for their campaigns in the clerk's office. The responses will be revealed between now and the general election on November 7. These comments will be published with just minor stylistic changes. Candidates who wish to participate but did not receive an invitation should email [email protected].
Name: Natasha Chandler
Age: 52
Town of residence: Chester Township for 22 years!
Position sought: Chester Township representative for the West Morris Regional High School Board of Education
Family: My husband (Pete) and I have been married for 22 years and we have three daughters, who all went to Chester Schools since kindergarten. Victoria graduated from Mendham, where she played softball and is now a sophomore at Michigan State. Emilia graduated from the Mendham IB program and is a freshman at SMU Cox Business School in Dallas, Texas. Our youngest, Lily, is a junior at Mendham, where she is actively involved and plays field hockey and softball. They have all had a great education and experience at West Morris Mendham High School.
Education: I have two graduate degrees with a Masters in Social-Organizational Psychology from Columbia University and an MBA and B.S. in Marketing from Monmouth University, where I am currently on the Board of the Business School, leading the faculty curriculum advancement committee.
Occupation: Senior Partner at Korn Ferry (Human Capital Advisory) leading the North American Industrial and Energy Sector. I advise executives of top companies on how to build and evolve top-performing organizations through people.
Previous or current elected appointed office: West Morris Regional Board of Education (since 2020) and chair of the Personnel Committee and member of the Education and Referendum Committee. I have also been actively involved on the budget and finance committees.
Why are you seeking to run for school board?
I want to ensure West Morris Regional High School District remains a top district and to do this, my focus is on student engagement, teacher effectiveness, and parent involvement. Student engagement should be at the center of everything we do to ensure our students thrive in a positive learning environment that fosters their interests and curiosity and uncovers their fullest potential.
Teacher effectiveness is the key to unlocking student potential and as Chair of the Personnel committee, I am confident that we hire, develop, and support our teachers so they can be great. PARENT INVOLVEMENT to help as advocates and partner with the school in social and educational development and to be involved in key decisions affecting their children is also important.
What, in your opinion, is the most pressing issue in the school district?
Frankly, I have been disturbed about the political and state regulatory overreach impacting our district and students. Since I have been on the board since 2020, I have been committed to following state laws while also ensuring we represent the needs of all students in the communities where we live.
There have been lots of heated board meetings across New Jersey with parents voicing strong concerns about NJ laws and their impact on districts on topics like: COVID Mask mandates, Curriculum, gender identity, parent rights, and what is appropriate reading material for high school students.
In all cases, my approach is to listen to all points of view and then make a decision based on what I think is in the best interest of students (and families in my district). Being that most of our students are children (under 18 years old), in most cases, I still have a bias that the school must consider the parents and inform and involve them in matters impacting their child.
What sets you apart from the other candidates?
EXPERIENCE. I am a proven leader who has been successful in improving the West Morris Regional High School District. I have a good reputation and strong relationships with board members, administration, and the superintendent. Having served on all the board committees, I understand the issues and policies and where we need to focus to continue to evolve and remain a top district. ADVOCACY: I show up and speak up for families in Chester and deeply understand education and what skills are needed for students to be successful in the "real world." I am approachable and have parents reach out to discuss topics they are concerned about – and I listen and support them. COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP: I am very active in Chester and have been the VP of the PTO, a Girl Scout Leader, a Co-founder of the Chester Baroque Orchestra and a volunteer and donor to countless organizations. I am also a member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church.
What special qualifications do you bring to help meet the challenge?
Proven Leadership focused on District Excellence
What else would you like to share about yourself or your campaign?
Thank you very much for reading this and for considering me. If you would like more information or to speak with me, please go to my facebook page "Natasha Chandler for WMMHS BOE"
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October is almost over, which can only mean one thing: it's time to get spooky in Mendham and Chester. MENDHAM/CHESTER, NJ — October is almost over, which can only mean one thing: Halloween is coming.In Mendham and Chester, there are a variety of ways to celebrate and prepare for the impending holiday.In Chester, partake in some spooky fun during Saturday's Flashlight Nights in the Maze at Stony Hill Farms. Located at 15 North Road, Stony Hill Farms is home to a giant 10-acre corn maze.Every Saturday, from...
MENDHAM/CHESTER, NJ — October is almost over, which can only mean one thing: Halloween is coming.
In Mendham and Chester, there are a variety of ways to celebrate and prepare for the impending holiday.
In Chester, partake in some spooky fun during Saturday's Flashlight Nights in the Maze at Stony Hill Farms. Located at 15 North Road, Stony Hill Farms is home to a giant 10-acre corn maze.
Every Saturday, from 6 to 8 p.m., guests are invited to try to navigate their way out of the giant corn maze in the dark. Attendees can bring their own flashlight or purchase one at the farm and enjoy the unique maze experience.
"Enjoy hot cider and fresh donuts after you find the exit path at our concession stand," officials said.
Also planned for Saturday is Chester's Halloween Parade, which is set to start at 10 a.m. and will circle around the pond at Chubb Park.
Children aged 10 and under are invited to join the Chester Lions for this year's not-so-scary Halloween Parade, according to officials. Following the parade, all children, including ghosts and goblins, will be given treats and goody bags beneath the new park pavilion.
Click here to register.
Starting on Sunday, beginning at 4 p.m., Mendham Township Recreation will be hosting an afternoon and evening of all kinds of spooky fun, perfect for the whole family.
At 4 p.m., the township Halloween costume contest will take place at Ralston Playground. The playground, located at 320 Mendham Road, will be the gathering spot for children, teens, adults and seniors to don their best costume attire.
Prizes will be awarded for the best group costume, best pair, funniest, scariest, most unique and best overall costumes, officials said.
After being postponed last weekend due to rain, it's now time to lace up those hiking boots for some scary good fun on the trails as Mendham's Halloween Haunted Hike returns to the township.
The Halloween adventure also begins at the Ralston Playground, near the soccer and baseball fields, and by Wysong Park at 326 Mendham Road West. There will be two separate “Haunted Hikes” that night, with check-in at Ralston Park and a suggested $5.00 donation per hiker to enter.
From 6 to 7 p.m., there will be the “less scary” version of the hike, which is perfect for kids. Those in the fourth grade or younger are required to have an adult walk with them.
From 7 to 8 p.m., there will be the “super scary” hike, which is suitable for all ages, with characters popping out to create a heart-jumping time along the trail.
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MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Signs of fall are everywhere, from cooler nights and turning leaves, to pumpkin spice lattes and other products, and a sea of orange pumpkins in front of the grocery store.But maybe you want the real deal — an actual pumpkin — in your home this season. Whether you’re planning to bake a pie, carve a jack-o’-lantern or just add some festive flair...
MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Signs of fall are everywhere, from cooler nights and turning leaves, to pumpkin spice lattes and other products, and a sea of orange pumpkins in front of the grocery store.
But maybe you want the real deal — an actual pumpkin — in your home this season. Whether you’re planning to bake a pie, carve a jack-o’-lantern or just add some festive flair to your porch, there are plenty of places to pick up a pumpkin nearby.
Alstede Farms, Chester
This farm offers pick-your-own apples, pumpkins, potatoes, and more. Apple season starts in August and runs through the end of October; pumpkins start mid-September and wrap up around Halloween. There's also cider mill tours, a giant corn maze, and other family-friendly fall activities. Visit their website: www.alstedefarms.com
Parks Farm, Chester
Pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, and enjoy free hayrides. They also offer fresh cider donuts, winter squash, and decorations. Visit their website: www.parksfarmsllc.com
Riamede Farm, Chester
They offer pick-your-own apples and pumpkins at this farm. When you're done picking, they offer free hayrides. Apple picking is underway, but they suggest you call before visiting for a variety report. Visit their website: www.riamede.com
Stony Hill Farm Market, Chester
In addition to pumpkins and apples, you can also pick-your-own strawberries at this farm. There's a corn maze, rope maze, and tile maze, plus gemstone mining. Visit their website:www.stonyhillgardens.com
Middle Valley Farms, Mendham
Enjoy pick-your-own pumpkins and gourds, a corn maze, hayrides and more at this Mendham farm. Visit their website: www.middlevalleyfarms.com
Hacklebarney Farm Cider Mill, Chester
Right in historic, Downtown Chester, you can pick-your-own pumpkins and apples at this farm, and enjoy their cider donuts. There's also a corn maze for the adventurous. They're open Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Their hours usually shift in December, and they close before Christmas. Visit their website: www.njcidermill.com
Bader Farm, Pine Brook
Starting in September, you can pick your own pumpkins, apples, broccoli and more at this family farm. If you miss the fall fun, they also offer Christmas trees and poinsettias after Thanksgiving. Visit their website: www.baderfarm.com
Conklin Farm U-Pick, Montville
In addition to pick-your-own pumpkins, the farm offers hayrides (both haunted and not), a snack stand with warm homemade donuts, and a field of sunflowers. Visit their website: www.conklinupick.com
Donaldson Farm, Hackettstown
Activities include 9-acre corn maze, pick your own pumpkins, apples, Indian corn and raspberries, hay rides, corn cannon, duck races, farm animals and pony rides. The season kicks off Sept. 26. See their website: donaldsonfarms.net.
Ort Farms, Long Valley
Known for their large corn maze, you can pick your own pumpkins at this Long Valley favorite. There's also hayrides, an apple cannon, and monster truck and pony rides. They are open for the season now. Visit their website: www.ortfarms.com
Sussex County Strawberry Farm, Andover
Sussex County Strawberry Farm opens its gates for Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins the first week in October. The farm features pumpkins grown on location, hayrides every weekend in October, fresh local apples, corn stalks, Indian corn, gourds, mums, fresh local cider, carving supplies. For more details, visit the farm website.
Wightman Farms, Morristown
Hayride, pick your own pumpkins (from hayride field), giant corn maze, Mazeland Mazes, apple picking, tote bag, picnic play area (corn pit and pedal tractors), donuts and pumpkin slingshot. See the website for tickets.
Did we forget your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
And if your pumpkin is destined for a starring role on Halloween night, here’s our guide to carving a perfect jack-o’-lantern. Warren Nash on YouTube also shows a step-by-step process to make the perfect carve.
Materials
Pumpkin carving kits will go a long way in getting what you need. They typically include saws, a scooper, a drill and multiple patterns.
If you're looking for the items individually around the house, here's what you could use:
Steps
MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Labor Day signifies the unofficial end of summer for many, so it's no surprise that people want to make the most of this long weekend before vacations end and school resumes.From carnivals to parades, here's everything that is going on in Morris County over this Labor Day weekend.The Mendham Pastime Club Annual Labor Day Carnival: The annual carnival is scheduled to return on Sept. 1 at Mendham Borough Park. Running through Labor Day, rides, games, food, prizes and fireworks are...
MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Labor Day signifies the unofficial end of summer for many, so it's no surprise that people want to make the most of this long weekend before vacations end and school resumes.
From carnivals to parades, here's everything that is going on in Morris County over this Labor Day weekend.
The Mendham Pastime Club Annual Labor Day Carnival:
The annual carnival is scheduled to return on Sept. 1 at Mendham Borough Park. Running through Labor Day, rides, games, food, prizes and fireworks are all part of the planned fun.
The carnival is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings from 6 to 10 p.m. The Mendham Borough parade, which begins at 10 a.m. on Monday, is another important part of the weekend's celebrations.
After that, at 11 a.m., the final day of the carnival begins, and it ends abruptly at 10:30 p.m., just after a nightcap of fireworks.
The parade theme this year is Mendham Heroes, and the grand marshals are two local WWII veterans, Pietro "Pete" Cillo and William Fleming. One of the biggest draws of the four-day celebration is the 50/50 raffle, which culminates in a drawing on Labor Day evening.
Tickets are $5, and the prize pool has grown to over $50,000 in recent years. Last year’s winner won $35,515, making him the largest prize winner in the club's history.
This year's entertainment lineup features Carnaby Street Band, a New Jersey-based band that specializes in 60s music showcasing the British Invasion. They will perform at the Borough Park "Andrew Fletcher" Gazebo after the parade at 11 a.m.
Boonton Fire Department Labor Day Weekend Carnival and Parade:
The Boonton Fire Department is hosting its Labor Day Weekend Carnival at Boonton High School, which began on Thursday, Aug. 31 and runs through Sept. 3.
The carnival is open from 6 p.m. to midnight on Thursday and Friday, and from 3 p.m. to midnight on Saturday and Sunday.
Three more days of carnival excitement await with exhilarating rides for people of all ages, loads of great food, carnival games and prizes, live entertainment every night, a Super 50/50 lottery, fireworks and much more.
The parade is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 2. The Boonton Fire Department has had an inspection and parade on Labor Day Weekend for the past 86 years.
The parade will begin in West Boonton and travel along Main Street to Grant Street, Old Boonton Road, and finally to Boonton High School. The procession assembly location will be accessed via Morris Avenue at the intersection with Rockaway Street.
On Sunday, Sept. 3, fireworks will commence at 10 p.m., followed by a 50/50 lottery drawing at 10:30 p.m. A family seating area will be available, so bring your blankets and snuggle up for the show.
MENDHAM, NJ — Election Day is nearing, and Mendham voters will soon head to the polls to cast their votes for a seat on the regional high school board.Patch sent questionnaires to all candidates, seeking their responses. Here is the response from candidate Christina Lee.Editor's Note: Patch emailed all candidates at the email addresses listed for their campaigns in the clerk's office. The responses will be revealed between now and the general election on November 7. These comments will be published with just minor...
MENDHAM, NJ — Election Day is nearing, and Mendham voters will soon head to the polls to cast their votes for a seat on the regional high school board.
Patch sent questionnaires to all candidates, seeking their responses. Here is the response from candidate Christina Lee.
Editor's Note: Patch emailed all candidates at the email addresses listed for their campaigns in the clerk's office. The responses will be revealed between now and the general election on November 7. These comments will be published with just minor stylistic changes. Candidates who wish to participate but did not receive an invitation should email [email protected].
Name: Christina Lee
Age: 49
Town of Residence: Mendham Township since 2008
Position Sought: Mendham Township representative for the West Morris Regional High School Board of Education
Family: My husband, Randy and I have been married for 16 years. We have a daughter who is attending WMRHS as a freshman and a son who is in 7th grade at MTMS.
Education: Worcester State University, BS/Health Education
Occupation: I work for a healthcare performance improvement company. I help hospitals identifysavings opportunities and recommend products & solutions to support their goals.
Why are you seeking a run for school board?
As a parent with children in the school system, I have a vested interest in the quality of their education and I am running for the school board to add a fresh perspective and voice to issues that concern Mendham Township residents.
What is a pressing issue in the school district?
After speaking with many parents, one of the most pressing issues is the lack of transparency. Specifically, the process of how books, also referred to as “resource texts” are chosen. The educational content being presented to students has changed dramatically over the years.
Earlier in 2023, there was community outrage regarding a resource text utilized in an English senior class called “FUN HOME.” This a graphic novel and contains pornographic images of people having sex. The images show oral sex, a picture of a topless 11-year-old girl, masturbation, explicit language and contains sexual metaphors meant to stimulate arousal. Despite over 470 people objecting to having this book in the classroom, my opponent ignored those voices and voted in favor of the book. He justified his vote by saying he created a “winning compromise” by allowing it to be a “student choice.”
Opposing parents call it an “OPT OUT” Either way, it is not a solution. Teachers have already expressed they don’t know how to teach two texts simultaneously and students could be potentially be ostracized for their decision or feel the social pressures to OPT IN.
Sadly, I have discovered that highly sexual content is now common to find at almost all grade levels within the classroom setting. A mother recently shared with me that her daughter, while in 11th-grade Spanish class, watched an R rated movie called “Like Water for Chocolate.” Her daughter was shocked to find this movie included people having sex & was shown full frontal nudity of both men and women. I was told permission slips weren’t required in this classroom of 16-year-old students. You may be asking yourself, why would a Spanish class select a movie that shows people having sex? I don’t know the answer to that, but what I can share with you is that under the leadership of my opponent, a policy was created that eliminated the board’s oversight responsibilities for the curriculum and book selection content.
The board is in place for this exact reason, to provide oversight. In addition, under his leadership, there was no documentation found supporting FUN HOME’s approval. “FUN HOME” and “Like Water for Chocolate” are distractions to learning. We need to focus on improving our academic performance. US News and World Report has shown West Morris High School has dropped 3 years in a row while competing districts have kept their ratings.
What sets you apart from the other candidates?
In addition to what I outlined above, I have children in the school system which gives me a personal stake in the quality of their education. My opponent does not. I hear directly from other students, parents, and educators which provides me with many unique perspectives.
For the past 9 years, working for a healthcare performance improvement company has provided me with the experience of collaborating with people of varying backgrounds and has equipped me with the knowledge and experience to support effective strategies that will ensure the wise use of our tax dollars.
The information I have acquired over the years is transferrable to the education system. If permitted, I can provide guidance on how the school may be able to take advantage of savings opportunities, for example, in the area of nutrition, facilities management & purchased services.
What special qualifications do you bring to help meet the challenge?
In life, I try to take a common-sense approach to evaluating circumstances where there are mixed interpretations and beliefs. There is a significant difference between providing accurate, age-appropriate sexual education versus simply exposing minors to sexually explicit content just for the sake of it. It is known that exposing kids to graphic material that is not age-appropriate has negative consequences to their mental health.
I feel it is contradictory when a school shares a growing concern about the mental health issues students are facing while simultaneously exposing students to sexual content that they are unable to emotionally process.
In addition, I find it hard to believe that implementing a policy that says our school does not condone the use of sexually explicit material in the classroom would somehow narrow our pool of talented teachers. Furthermore, the argument that the content is somehow okay because minors are already likely exposed to it is negligent in my eyes.
What else would you like to share about yourself or your campaign?
As I have been walking door to door, it appears I am being labeled as a “book banner”. I am sure the title “movie banner” is coming soon. I am not advocating book or movie banning. I find this description very narrow-minded. I am simply against the use of any pornography/sexually explicit material as part of the school’s curriculum. We could never show this type of material in the corporate world. Why are we encouraging it in the school system? If a family wants expose their kids to this type of material, it can still be purchased online, checked out of the library or be streamed. Lastly, I am really excited about the opportunity to serve my community that I have grown to love so much.
If you are interested in learning more about my candidacy, please visit my website, www.votelee4boe.com.