May 2004:

Rich Declines Offer to Teach at LHS
and the Community Responds...

Thursday, May 20, 2004
Letters to the Editor
Post-Bulletin  11A

COACH REQUIRES INTEGRITY
Lourdes High School has forgone a huge asset in not offering Coach Decker a new contract as the head of the boys basketball program. As a player and "student" of eight years and referee four years thereafter, Coach Decker required a high level of integrity from everyone stressing "take responsibility for your actions."

This rule was never compensated, nor bought. It's sad to see this rule now broken.

Coach Decker: Thank you on behalf of me, my family and many others who I know are in support of you. I'm proud of how you've taught me valuable lessons regarding hard work, strong character and the importance of holding yourself accountable, all of which has shaped me to the person I am today.

Thank you for what you've brought to the program in time, commitment, energy, loyalty and spirit. You truly are a great coach.

The Lourdes administration: As a proud alumnus, I am disgusted at how this situation has been handled. By satisfying the requests of few, you have lost the respect of many; I hope this trade was worth losing a wonderful teacher, coach and wise mentor. As Coach Decker and we have requested, grant him due process and an explanation we all can understand. A person of such high regard deserves at least that.

Adam J. Palen
LHS Class of 1999

Thursday, May 20, 2004
Letters to the Editor
Post-Bulletin  11A

DECKER IS MORE THAN A COACH
It was with great sadness and shock that I read about Lourdes High School administration's failure to recognize the importance of a teacher like Mr. Rich Decker. While many people in our society expect nothing from today's youth, it is his high expectations of his students that makes him a great teacher and coach.

By requiring nothing less than hard work, he shows his respect and belief in their potential.

My own academic journey is a testament to Mr. Decker's talent as a teacher. Three weeks ago, I graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a bachelor of arts in political science and international studies. I have a deep passion for what I studied at Loyola. That passion has its roots at Lourdes High School where, like all Lourdes students over the past 20 years, I took Mr. Decker's world geography and government classes.

It was as a student in his class that I began to read the paper every day, attended my first city council meeting and discovered the importance of civic responsibility. Mr. Decker teaches his students that as citizens, we have a responsibility to be active participants.

Thanks to him and other teachers like him, a generation may be forming that is committed to social awareness and change. Let us hope that these teachers will be allowed to do what they do best - teach.

Lucy Mullany
LHS Class of 2000

Thursday, May 20, 2004
Letters to the Editor
Post-Bulletin  11A

EDITOR'S NOTE: We've received numerous letters to the editor on the dismissal of Lourdes coach Rich Decker. More reader comments will be published Friday. After that, we won't be publishing additional letters on this topic.