WAKE UP SCHOOL BOARD and Do your Job!!!!
TIme to get rid of this woman once and for all!!
Just because the choir is award winning ;does that supercede the reputation of one of our High Schools, the community and the majority of our teachers who have the upmost integrity . As a tax payer I am insulted this woman is allowed to continue on at South and as a Parent I am outraged!

Rumors and gossip are unecessary and distracting. The "part of the story" that is outlined in official documents,enumerated on police reports and demonstrates a long pattern of behavior does not require interpretation: Bowen is and acts like a bully. At a time when bullying is a keen focal point of a school's duties and responsibilities, it should be a no-brainer to end the hypocrisy and cut her loose.

She's absolutely out of control. This is outrageous that she has gotten away with all of these things. I think it's time this community takes a stand and gets rid of this woman for good, she is a hazard to student's safety. If these were the actions of a student they would be expelled from school and shunned by the community. She obviously has severe anger and control issues.

This is the 3rd time in 6 years that she has missed the Graduation ceremony due to suspensions or "administrative leaves".

I wonder if the situation was reversed and the student hit her with a cell phone, what would have happened to the student?

When focused and calm, she is a great teacher. However, three strikes and your out and now, she should be released. I doubt the school board will want to take on the powerful teacher union and her attorney.
I can just hear the responses from a meeting later this month:
"That's just Ellen being Ellen"
"90% of the kids love her"
"She does so much for the district"
"I sent my kid to South because of her"

Ellen, Please resign, BEFORE you are fired!

If you look closely at the South choir's performances, you'll see that Ellen Bowen treats kids like pros. Apparently she seems sometimes to forget that they're just kids and that they do stupid things. Bowen knocking a kid in the head with his cell phone because he was ordered not to use it and he disobeyed may not be life-threatening, but it is inexcusable and has to be addressed by the school district leadership. Union rep Beyerlein says "(Bowen's) style is certainly unique" and hints that she might get railroaded because "she's not popular with (some) families"? The union rep ignores the fact that Bowen's paid to be an educator, not a Marine Corps drill instructor.

I went to South from 92 - 96 and she was a tyrant back then, too. Ellen Bowen stories were very common. I never had her as a teacher but i know plenty who did and most of them hated her and thought she was awful. Where there's smoke there's fire. In her case, it's an all out forest fire and it's out of control.

In my professional musical opinion, I believe that Ellen far exceeds expectations musically. What she provides those kids, by "treating them like pros," is providing them the scaffolding needed to be successful musicians. I do not accept physical contact with any student and that deserves to be punished. But while dealing out the punishment one must look at the person holistically and the job she does as a musician far outweighs a tap on the head with a cell phone.

I don't care if she is the greatest music teacher ever. She is dangerous and should not be allowed around our children. She should already be gone. She is a ticking time bomb who will hurt another student, get the school sued and tarnish the school's and community's reputation.

A closed session meeting of the school board was just posted today on their calendar for 6:15pm on Monday June 18, 2012.

I wonder if . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ?

http://gpschools.schoolwires.net/17671091134355197/icalsw/calendar.asp?cal=em

I am currently a South choir student. I believe this makes me more knowledgeable and more qualified to talk about Ellen Bowen and her teaching tactics than outside members of the community. As a choir student I go to class everyday, attend all rehearsals, and am the only person to comment on this article who actually has direct contact with Ellen. First, this article does not tell the full the story. The article does not give a clear picture of the student involved, and there is a backstory about this student that is not included in the article. Though I don't agree with Ellen's action in this case, in order to fully understand the situation you need to have all the details. Second, nowhere in this article does it even mention that cell phones are not allowed in choir class. It merely says she struck the student with a phone, leaving everyone to assume she did it without provocation. Also, the article makes Ellen seem like a villain. And that is one thing she is not. As the article says she has a unique teaching style. She is very passionate about what she teaches. I have never felt threatened during class or rehearsals. I do not go to class everyday thinking that I'm going to be abused. I am not scared of Ellen. She puts everything into her job, and wants to see us succeed in her program, and in life. CONTINUED IN NEXT COMMENT...

I wish to address another part of the article that was misleading. The article talks about the substitute teacher from earlier this year filling in for the past few days. This could lead someone to think that Ellen was not teaching in the fall due to nonprofessional behavior. In fact, Ellen had knee replacement surgery.

There are about 130 kids in South's choir program, and if Ellen were as bad as this article and the comments that have followed suggest, no one would take her class. About 95% of the choir does not want want to see Ellen leave because of one student who couldn't follow the rules. Ellen made the South choir program what it is today, and I am proud to be a member of it.

Do all South choir students address their teacher as Ellen? Or just the 95%?

Did you know the Patch policy for commenting on articles requires the poster to use their real first and last name?

Perhaps your name is Renae?

It sure looks like this convicted felon may now be charged with a misdemeanor assault.

Good thing she is a great choir teacher though! I am sure the student with the cell phone was the only one this year who used their cell in class.

How does Ellen react when you miss a note?

Her track record speaks for itself! I don't care about all the"good" she does! Her "bad" outweighs her "good"! Time to go Ellen! Bullying of any kind should NOT be tolerated by our school board! I don't care about any "backstory"! She is out of control and will do what she wants when she wants to!!

5 year old on playground in grosse pointe. "I don't care if I was rude and misbehaved, if you discipline me, my parents will sue you."

Besides a bonk on the noggin by a hot headed teacher, what other action was taken against the student that blatantly disregarded school policy? Cause & effect, had the student not broken the rule she would not have lost her temper, no?

There is no excuse for a teacher hitting a student. Unless she felt physically threatened and was defending herself...which doesn't appear to be the case here. No matter how good the choir is and no matter how talented Ms. Bowen is as an instructor, she has to go. Her "backstory" speaks for itself. I am appalled that the GP School Board has let her stay as long as they have. Ms. Bowen hasn't learned from past incidents and I don't think she'll ever change. The school board fired people for looking at inappropriate pictures on their computers. If they let this woman stay on after this latest incident, it's time to clean house on the board.

This matter is under investigation. How do we know this was not an accident? The fact is...we don't. Our family has A LOT of experience with Ellen and, even with all of her antics, blatantly hitting a student is completely out of character for her. Lapses in judgment that have created opportunities for accidents have occurred, but intentionally harming a student is just not her M.O.

I will stand in strong defense of Ellen Bowen because what Ellen teaches these kids is not really about “putting on a great show” – it is about daring to do what other people are too afraid to do… going places that most people would never risk going. The character traits that Ellen coaches these kids to embrace – courage, confidence, team-building, the ability to break out of comfort zones – These are traits that will cause them to excel on whatever path they choose in life.

While Ellen has certainly acted in questionable judgment at times, in NO WAY does that define her value to our school and our community. Though she does tend to be unwavering and steadfast in her demand for excellence, I have NEVER found Ellen to be a threat of any kind to my children. Quite to the contrary, as young adults, Ellen has proved to be one of the most positive long-term influences in their lives. What she has taught them about the value of hard work, the satisfaction of excellence, and the importance of functioning as a team will stay with them forever, as they reach beyond the ordinary.

If the kid was mine he would have had a bigger lump on his head when he got home!
Let's pander to and reward the child with the discipline problem it;s not his fault! It's all of ours fault. When he grows up and breaks into your home I hope you all feel the same way.
Let's give him a car and 100K to make him feel better about himself ! Please. The nuns used to smack us all day long and ya know what...we learned to behave!

Agree with the above comments totally. Ellen has gotten away with WAY too much for so long.... because her students sang well. So, maybe she is a good choir teacher, I will give her that. BUT, she is a bully in a time when bullying is front and center. How do we teach our kids not to bully when they have her as an example? There are so many teachers out of work right now, I have to believe there would be someone who could come in and do a good job in the position. Time for Ellen to be gone.

Only in Grosse Pointe could a teacher have gotten away with so much for so long. Time to send her packing.

We recently moved to Grosse Pointe from out of state. As I narrowed down my choices for a home, I did an online search to check out the High Schools in GP. I was floored to read hundreds of articles about a battering teacher! My children all enjoy singing - for fun - not a career - as most children do. Specifically because I didn't want my children exposed to her - a felony assualt with a car on a student didn't get her fired or lose her her teaching credentials - I chose a house where my kids would go to North.
Most people check the schools in a neighborhood - is this really Ellen Bowen really the person we want representing a Grosse Pointe education?

Let's reverse the situations. What would happen to a student that "tapped" a teacher on the head in anger with a cell phone, that threw a shoe at a teacher in anger, and also intentionally struck a teacher's car three times, all in anger. I am pretty certain that student would have long been expelled from the school system. And I doubt it would make a difference if that student were an honor student. So I ask all of you coming to this teacher's defense, why shouldn't this teacher be held to the same code of conduct that we apply to our students?

Nate is right, this kid that broke the rules has been the one being suspended all year!!! Ellen kept giving him chances again and again. Did anyone tell you that? That he disrespects Ellen every day and his peers as well? That Ellen, despite all that this kid does, kept giving him chances to be a part of our choir and believed maybe he could change? That's a HELL of a teacher in my book. A light tap on the head (Which it WAS), should not be something to be fired over. This is all because this kid is mad about Ellen kicking him out of class for being a little jerk - and now he thinks he can go and try and get her fired for revenge? What a classy little CHILD. I can't wait for this Board Meeting, I know for a fact you will see ME and half the choir there supporting and fighting for what you people are calling an awful woman. Why don't you people do some extra research before you go and judge things you clearly have no idea about. If anyone saw "Phantom of the Opera", I'm sure you would know that no other person could have pulled that off except her with High School Students.

Also, that if Dan Vicary leaves because she gets fired, it'll all be on you people who are fighting against her and then our program will really suffer. I love Ellen. She will be probably what I remember and cherish most from High School. If I don't have her next year, I can successfully say that my Senior year could be ruined. All because of this child who clearly doesn't know maturity just yet. Also, her past with the car incident- that wasn't even school related! Ellen literally was being targeted by hmm let me think- oh yeah the idiot principle who got fired for inappropriate pictures...

These comments need to be heard by the school board before their closed session on June 18th. If you feel strongly about this situation I encourage you to go to www.gpschools.org, click on the school board tab and then click the line that says contact the school board.

Regardless of your opinion I encourage you to make your voice heard, we need to let the board know what we are willing to tolerate from a member of the GPPS staff as a community. Do the ends justify the means? How many strikes should a staff member receive? What constitutes a strike? Staff complaints, parental complaints, student safety issues? When is enough, enough?

The issue is learning to take the consequences from your own actions. While her reputation is excellent as a choir director, she is accountable for touching a student whether provoked or unprovoked. This is not 1965 where it was acceptable to hit a student nor do we know the details of the incident. Yes, the "Tough Love" approach is good sometimes. However, this is not the first time she has behaved this way. Personally I witnessed very aggressive behavior while I was a student twenty years ago and watched her singlehandedly ruin another teacher's career.

Again, she was given a break several times before. If this was the first time, then yes, it would probably be forgivable. It is time to end this pure and simple. GP School Board, please do the right thing. You cannot afford what can happen in the future if this goes unchecked.

I say if the student broke the rules then HE needs to be the one to apologize to the teacher. Certainly what she did was not wise but that student needs to be held accountable. If Ellen were the football coach no one would be upset and her "toughness" would be applauded. She trains those students well. They appreciate her discipline in the end and her program is the best thing about Grosse Pointe South, as far as I am concerned. Students, like this one, are being raised to think they are the center of the universe.

I am of the opinion that if the school allows this behavior with one teacher, it may allow it with other teachers (or students) that are also high performers. It may be a pattern. I would rather NOT take the chance that one of my children may be a future target of her anger.

O

All you people saying that the boy should apologize to Ellen because he broke the rules are dillusional. If you are going to argue that logic, then Ellen should have been thrown out of the GP schools years ago, as she has broken so many GP school rules as well as Michigan laws in her career. He was using a phone in class, something 95% of high school students do while in class, and as a recent graduate of South, no other teacher has ever come close to reacting that way, even to repeat offenders. Also, to the commenter talking about how the football coach would be applauded for his actions in a situation like this, is it maybe because he is coaching a CONTACT SPORT!!! He isn't coaching kids dance routines and pitch variations. The kids make the choir great, not this insane woman.

"He was using a phone in class, something 95% of high school students do while in class, and as a recent graduate of South, no other teacher has ever come close to reacting that way, even to repeat offenders"

IF there is any merit to the comment above, I, as a community member and taxpayer say enough is enough. Cell phones ARE NOT NEEDED in a classroom. If kids think they are and teachers allow it, we need to consider how we fund our schools. If kids aren't engaged enough that they have time to use cell phones, then what is wrong with the curriculum?

This is why I hate the patch. All of you guys gossip about things you aren't involved in. Most of you aren't involved in the choir, and only have heard of rumors of the "famous" Ellen Bowen. I saw the incident, and I am a personal friend of the victim. The only people who should be talking about this is the Grosse Pointe School Board, Administration, and Dr. Outlaw. This is why Grosse Pointe is just a town based on gossip.

Chris K, do you honestly believe that this "cell phone epidemic" is only occurring in GP? Contrary to your ancient viewpoint on technology, cell phones are a major part of society today and bring a lot to education. School today is no longer just pen and pad based, so excluding something like cell phones is ridiculous. This is off topic, so I again will say, Bowen is a psycho, Ron Paul 2012, 9/11 was an inside job.

HUH? I am happy to let kids use their cell phones if it eliminates my responsibility to be sold a bill of goods about how much technology funding I have to pony up for classroom use. Who are we kidding that kids are using their cells for classroom purposes, I may be OLD but I am not stupid and I am no Luddite.. I don't know Craig, what else you do.. but when I go to the movies, church, the symphony, opera, a lecture, I am advised to silence my cell phone. I think it has something to do with RESPECT for the venue ( or in this instance the teacher) and while I don't condone what the teacher did to resolve the issue, I sure do condone respect of institutions . So I don't know who is off topic Jeffersonville but seems to me you raised the issue of the 21st Century. Now live with the consequences.

Perhaps time for South to focus on students rather than rankings. My kids go to a different GP school yet they knew right away who it was when I told them a teacher at South assaulted a student in class. Perhaps it is the bright & talented students she gets to work with have boosted her reputation as a Choir director too. Think about it.

I truly do not think that those comments above are Ellen... As a current choir student I know how Ellen expresses herself via the web and email, and that seems nothin like her. POSER ALERT!

I know for a fact this is not from Ellen Bowen.

After seeing the recent posts by" Ellen Bowen", i called and checked with the true Ellen Bowen who is en-route to Indiana (which I knew about) for a function there. She has not been on the computer and states that these statements are from someone who stole her identity. I verified this and let Alison Baker know and contacted the writer of the original article. Please disregard those statements as they do not represent the real Ellen Bowen. Please remove.

I just spoke with Ellen Bowen and she assured me that she did not write any comments on GP Patch. This site has been hacked.

Allison & all of those contributing comments,
Several of the comments posted on this story were removed. I would like to remind everyone of Patch policies, which require users to identify themselves by their own name, not a pseudonym and that impersonating others is not permissible. Comments have been and will be removed.
Allison I was away from the computer for a few hours, which is why the comments remained for a while. In the future, if I don't respond when you or anyone believes a serious violation has happened, please call me 313-212-9715.

Patch encourages open conversation but please keep it respectful of others and within the terms of use.
Sara

The simple truth is that Ellen is suspended because the administration feels she is "a danger to children." Her actions weren't right but to say that she is dangerous is absolutely ridiculous. As a recent graduate of South and the choir program, I can say with confidence that no teacher understands students more than Ellen and firing her would hurt so many students who work everyday under her expertise to create something that they can call their own and be proud of.

Chad
2:12 pm on Friday, June 15, 2012
Boo hoo. Your senior year will be ruined because your teacher will be in jail for assault. Go cry me a river. Glad to see you choir kids are still weirder than ever. So Ellen is bullying her students by trying to discipline them? What would you call this response to a grosse points south choir student?

Oh and you will only see half the choir at the school board meeting because the other half will be at camps trying to improve themselves for this amazing program led by an amazing teacher.

A friend e-mailed me about this article and its comments, especially the obviously fake posts by "Ellen Bowen". It is amazing to me that all of the anonymous posts are being allowed on this forum thread. If someone is not willing to list their REAL name and their e-mail address for all to see, then the moderator should not allow the posting of the comment.
The shame of all of this is that someone not familiar with the situation is going to do a Google search for "Ellen Bowen" and be taken to these posts, thinking that Mrs. Bowen is actually making these posts. While some may think this is funny, I think it is a sad commentary and hurts our entire community, not just Mrs. Bowen.
There is a very well defined process in place for handling these kind of situations in our school system. The School Board is meeting soon to review the facts and advise the administration how to proceed. Mrs. Bowen and the School Board should be allowed this due process without having to deal with bogus posts like the ones above.
The Patch is a source a lot of residents have grown to depend on for accurate, timely reporting. I frankly don't know how you get the reporting you do done in such a timely fashion, Sarah. For the sake of the community, please remove these bogus posts and start monitoring the posts before they become public. If you don't have the time to monitor the posts, then don't allow posts to your articles, as they are denigrating the integrity of your publication.

I sang for Ms. Bowen at MCCC in the 80s, and the behavior described here seems very, very familiar. However, what's appropriate in a college setting doesn't work in public school environments! Some of her behaviors at Macomb were still beyond inappropriate -- like going out drinking with the show choir, The Macombers. They were legal drinking age, but still. And there were the popularity games both in and out of the classroom. She seems to have major impulse control problems that frankly indicate bigger risks than cell phones to the noggin.

We are going to turn comments off on this story. If you have something you would like to say, please email a letter to the editor to either Sara Martin at sara.martin@patch.com or John Hetzler at john.hetzler@patch.com.