John Koszarek: 'Apology' Email

Insincere apologies are utterly worthless.

A coerced apology means nothing.

Slinger High School social studies teacher John Koszarek was forced into making an apology that's meaningless.

It's meaningless because it's not really an apology and he didn't mean it.

The school district was attempting to contain a controversy. However, the attempt to have Koszarek apologize failed.

Koszarek made awful comments about people in Washington County, comments he wrote in an email to Rep. Don Pridemore.

Koszarek compared residents of Washington County to supporters of Hitler. Yes, that would be the montrous Adolph Hitler, evil incarnate.

"Of course you are in Washington County where Hitler would have defeated Reagan had he the 'R' in front of his name on the ballot. Enjoy your fleeting moment in the limelight. Soon the people will see that 'Emperor Walker' and you and the rest of the jesters have no clothes."

Sick.

Koszarek, public school teacher and negotiator for the teachers' union, is learning that actions have consequences, sort of.

From the anti-Scott Walker, pro-union Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

A Slinger teacher's reference to Hitler in an email to a state representative has stirred up a hornet's nest for him and his school district, and may result in disciplinary action.

John Koszarek, a social studies teacher at Slinger High School who's taught in the district for 34 years, wrote the offending email from his home computer to Rep. Don Pridemore (R-Hartford), in response to an email newsletter Pridemore sent out about the effects state legislation on area school districts.

...Tim Wiedmeyer, school board president in Slinger, said the district first heard about the email from an aide to Pridemore.

Robert Reynolds, district administrator, said he called on Koszarek to apologize.

"When I became aware of the email," Reynolds said, "I asked, did you really mean to insult the great supporters of our school system - the good people of the Slinger area who are always so supportive of us?"

Republican or Democrat, he said, the parents of his school district back their students and their schools. "When there's a concert or teacher conferences, you can't get into the parking lot," he said.

...Koszarek then emailed an apology of sorts to Pridemore the next day.

"I was right in saying that Washington County automatically votes for Republicans no matter the quality of the candidate," he wrote the next day.

"I was wrong when I used Hitler as an example . . . .

"I obviously never intended to say that the people of the county are Nazi sympathizers. I have known too many quality people from the area over my 34 years in Slinger."

With all due respect, what a load!

It's not obvious at all.

Of course, Koszarek intended to say the residents of Washington County are Nazi sympathizers. He wrote that they would vote for HITLER. He intended to say that they are so terribly Republican that they would even embrace HITLER over Ronald Reagan.

Perhaps Koszarek, public school teacher for 34 years in Slinger, has problems with his writing skills. Perhaps he wrote something he didn't believe because he struggles with English. Perhaps he didn't realize that words having meaning and he owns what he wrote to an elected official about the people who pay his salary and benefits.

Suddenly, like magic, the residents have become "quality people."

Sure.

I suppose pressure from the district administrator can do that.

Koszarek really showed a stunning lack of judgment by associating Washington County residents with Hitler. Someone with his experience should know better, but apparently he finds Scott Walker to be such a loathsome creature that all judgment went out the window when writing to Rep. Pridemore.

Koszarek signed his email. He clearly identified himself. He made his opinions very clear. When the truth is revealed, it's revealed.

Naturally, his apology is inadequate.

Koszarek stubbornly insists, "I was right in saying that Washington County automatically votes for Republicans no matter the quality of the candidate."

His only regret: mentioning Hitler. Bad choice.

...The apology wasn't enough to get Koszarek out of hot water. Reynolds says the district is investigating "what our disciplinary options are" - they're not clear cut, especially because the email was written on Koszarek's own time, at home and on his own computer.

Still, Reynolds says, the email did damage to the school district.

"We still believe we have some options," he said.

Tim Wiedmeyer, president of the Slinger School Board, said he's upset with Koszarek because "he brought such negative opinion to the school district. I'm so very disappointed in his choice of words."

I doubt Koszarek will suffer any significant negative consequences in terms of disciplinary action.

He should be embarrassed for behaving in such an unhinged manner, but his "apology" email shows he has no shame.

Read the text of Koszarek's "apology" email:

Dear Mr. Pridemore

Concerning yesterday's email:

I was right in saying that Washington County automatically votes for Republicans no matter the quality of the candidate. Remember that they were the only county to vote to elect Linda Cross as DPI head in spite of her woefully inadequate qualifications, other then that 'R' next to her name.

I was wrong when I used Hitler as an example last night. I had thought about using the old "dogcatcher" staple but wanted something else. Obviously Hitler was a poor choice. How about if I say that they will literally vote for anyone with an 'R' behind their name.

I have watched and participated in voting in Washington County over the years and solid candidates like Mickey Lehman and Mary Panzer from West Bend have been viewed as unacceptable by voters there because they were RINOs. Both were good politicians and quality legislators. The county now has too many ideologues and not enough statesmen. (see G. Grothman...)

I obviously never intended to say that the people of the county are Nazi sympathizers. I have known too many quality people from the area over my 34 years in Slinger.

Hopefully this clears up any misconceptions that my previous email may have accidentally created.

John Koszarek

Still a proud WEAC Board member and staunch Union member

"Hopefully this clears up any misconceptions that my previous email may have accidentally created."

Priceless.

"Accidentally created"?

How NOT to take responsibility.

How to diss the people who pay your salary and benefits.
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Read Rep. Pridemore's December 2011 newsletter and Koszarek's emails to Rep. Pridemore here.