UPDATED A about the Parkland school shootings has sparked accusations that the testing organization used the tragedy to promote its Advanced Placement Program. The company apologized after an outpouring of anger and criticism.
Emailed yesterday to College Board members, who include K-12 and college professionals, Coleman鈥檚 letter reflected on the Feb. 14 shootings in Florida and the wave of student activism they have launched.
He pointed to a recent speech by Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Emma Gonzalez, and noted that it was 鈥渋nfused with references to her AP Government class.鈥� Coleman wrote that he was 鈥渃ompelled to share the unadulterated, impassioned voice of a student, drawing on her education as both shield and sword in the aftermath of terrible events.鈥�
Coleman鈥檚 letter also singled out comments that Stoneman Douglas student David Hogg made in a . Hogg mentioned that his AP U.S. History class helped him appreciate the value of journalism in shaping history. 鈥淒avid Hogg鈥檚 words honor Advanced Placement teachers everywhere, for they reflect their power to open worlds and futures to students,鈥� Coleman wrote.
Another section of the letter triggered criticism, too. At one point, Coleman appears to critique Gonzalez鈥� speech. 鈥淚 do not write today to endorse Emma鈥檚 every word. Her speech may have benefited from a less partisan approach and an attempt to better understand the positions of gun rights proponents,鈥� Coleman said.
UPDATED Coleman鈥檚 letter prompted Jennifer Pfannerstill, a biology teacher at North Shore Country Day School in Winnetka, Ill., to resign her position Thursday afternoon as chair of the College Board鈥檚 science academic advisory committee. She also quit the company鈥檚 academic advisory council.
鈥淚 cannot advocate for, and stand by, [an] organization that in one of our nation鈥檚 times of trial, would question the very students who allow them to exist and would promote itself as the only program to teach students how to use evidence,鈥� she wrote in an open letter to Coleman and other College Board leaders and members.
The reaction to Coleman鈥檚 letter on Twitter was anything but supportive.
The director of admissions at the State University of New York at Geneseo posted:
No words. What was thinking? Why? I hope a follow up message is being drafted to explain the reason behind the original message.
鈥� Dr. Kim Harvey (@KHarv28)
The dean of admissions at Worcester Polytechnic Institute weighed in:
In all seriousness, who are the individuals at the that wrote and approved the sending of this message?!
Absolutely disgusted with the horrible judgement. An apology should be made immediately in addition to fixing the mistakes that would allow this to be sent.
鈥� Andrew B. Palumbo (@InsideAdmission)
The associate vice president for enrollment management and marketing at DePaul University, had this to say:
Seriously, How many people did you have take a look at that email that David Coleman just sent about the Florida shooting? Did you try to turn a national tragedy into a promotional opportunity? I鈥檝e seldom seen something in poorer taste.
鈥� Jon Boeckenstedt (@JonBoeckenstedt)
Arun Ponnusamy, the chief academic officer at Collegewise took to Twitter to suggest that Coleman read the .
Plenty of others had anger to share.
email using parkland kids to pat urself on back is beyond insensitive
鈥� mindy stecklow (@MindyStecklow)
David Coleman should resign. This is vile. RT : This is disgusting, . I鈥檝e never through much of the organization, but this is low.
鈥� Jared C (@Minus423)
Tone deaf, self serving, narcissistic and worse. Stunning day for - seems the entire college admissions world is waiting for an apology.
鈥� Mark Campbell (@markcampbell)
The College Board was silent about the controversy Wednesday, even as it responded on Twitter to one student鈥檚 demand for a test fee refund. But on Thursday, it issued an apology.
鈥淭his past week, our hearts have ached for the students, educators, and families in Broward County,鈥� the organization said in a statement. 鈥淭he purpose of our letter to members was to put the focus on the remarkable students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and to share their voices. We sincerely apologize that our words have taken the focus away from the needs of their community at this terrible time.鈥�
Photo: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Emma Gonzalez wipes away tears during a CNN town hall meeting this week in Sunrise, Fla. 鈥擬ichael Laughlin/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP