You have fought a good fight very publicly with grace.

You raised important issues and awareness in others through your efforts.

I am proud that you didn't just slink away quietly.  I know that watching your struggle reinforced more than just one valuable perspective for all of us and, most importantly, our children.

I am sorry you are sad to settle, but there is no need to ride the machine down to an outcome that is the worst for you.  I hope there is at least a bright side in the settlement.

Now - make more art! and love! and noise!

good luck to you in your endeavors.

Hi. Tamara. 'So glad this ordeal is over for you and that you can move on. I confide I remain deeply concerned about the settlement. I'm thinking "does this set precedence, and what are its implications for artists or teachers in the future who may face the same dilemma?" Lawyers will take note of this. Truly, there will be danger ahead for our first amendment rights and the growth of creative censorship. I feel apprehensive...

That said, we are but happy cogs. You've created a wonderful community of free spirits here on myspace.com. I hope you'll keep up your space as the glue of our community. Group online art show anyone? No more of this Austin-only stuff y'all ;-)

My beautiful friend you sound slightly apologetic(?) You have lost nothing. Settling is a win, the high school has lost a great deal. Because of you my dear dear friend, I have certainly won, it was only your plight that got me try the myspace boogie and I have the most wonderful beautiful friends one could want.

For this my dear lady I say thank YOU and thank you for being and being you!!!

Tamara,

  i would be lying if i were to say that i for one am not disappointed by the outcome, but i see how you did what you felt was best.  I just hate to see archaic attitudes and those stuck in a 50's mentality run off a truely quality and inspirational teacher.  As a high school teacher myself, i just feel a sense of loss for the students you have taught and would have in the future. I have no doubt you will find ways to impact the world we live in that have lasting and meaningful effect.  you are something very unique and special in a not so special world.  Peace to you and celesta as well. 

Brava!

Tamara Hoover is braver than most will ever be, stronger than she probably wanted to have to be, and was put in a position no one should ever have to defend.  Her bravery and character should never have been questioned to begin with. Her strength was evidenced by her fight. Her relevance is evidenced by the issue at hand, that is much larger and more systemic than one young teacher in a high school in austin.  She didn't wake up one morning like Rosa Parks and decided to sit in the front seat, she was pushed to the front seat and still had a hell of a lot of courage to fight this battle for all the little whimps like you and me that allow our elected officials and right wing nut groups to dictate to the rest of us what is acceptable behavior for those that teach our children. We've allowed the false standards to be placed out there so that things like her being in a art/photgraphy is quesitoned while the character of another teachers vedetta, spite, revenge and ego was allowed to go un-noticed.

Tamara, you are a legend and you don't know it yet.  You set a precedence and it will come home to roost years after everyone has forgotten your name, but you hopefully will not be full of cactus spines because of it, and will still remain the gentle artistic strong woman you were to begin with.

Ohhhhhhhhh Ha!  RA and Brava.

I saw on MSNBC this morning that you've agreed to resign under a settlement agreement.  I'm disappointed but I respect your decision.  It defies logic that nudity should be considered immoral prima facie... obviously by the same people who consider breast feeding immoral; but I wasn't in line to share the consequences if you'd lost. 

I do apologize to you on behalf of 21st century American society, and I hope that ultimately this works out for you.  I trust that the people who came after you will eventually get what they deserve as well.

IT just occurred to me to ask;  When will the made for TV movie about your life be produced?  Who will get to play Tamara? Celesta?  ;+)

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Hi Tamara,

Now that your energies are not being directed toward the negative struggle to press onward with a lawsuit, you can get back to making art and living your life again.  You stood tall throughout your ordeal and revealed the Austin schoolboard to be a group of prudish, confused administrators who couldn't recognize the truly important aspects of the issue before them -- I hope all of the parents in Austin took note and will continue to apply pressure for reform there.

Those are some amazing accomplishments, Tamara.  I am honored to have corresponded with you throughout your struggle.  Thank you for all you sacrificed to bring greater understanding to the world -- in your way -- with peace and love in your heart.  Now you can get back to living a less-stressful life and begin your next project without baggage to hold you back!  Bless you for your strength of character and your willingness to stand up for something so important as the basic human freedom of self-expression.

You are a true-life hero and we are all lucky to have witnessed your strength of character, your creativity and your commitment to your cause.  I hope you realize how inspirational you are!

Thank you, Tamara, for setting an example every school-age child and adult alike can admire and for showing the world how to resist the shackles of puritan repression with grace and dignity throughout your ordeal.

Much love,

Bob, Erika and Reilly