Monday, January 30, 2012

Schools

Two items stemming from schools have grabbed some national attention lately.

One, in Wisconsin I believe, suspended a kid, maybe even threatened to expel him, for writing an article for the school newspaper. The article opposed adoption of children by gay couples. The kid used his Christian principles to write the article. And, these are key, he was assigned to write the piece by his editor and/or teacher adviser and there was an opposing view printed on the same page, right next to his. A gay member of the community saw the article (but not both of them?) and complained to the principal, superintendent, and who knows who else. Anyway, the kid was called in to the office by both the principal and superintendent, missing a study session for a final exam and a final exam. He was, according to his lawyer, berated for the piece. One of the two administrators called him "ignorant" (for having Christian beliefs, I guess) and demanded an apology. Supposedly, the issue of "separation of church and state" was brought up. Huh? When the kid tried to defend his beliefs, he was again berated and threatened with action because he was a "bully." Hmmm.... There's a lot wrong here, none of which is surprising. First, administrators are involved. My views on most of them are no secret. Integrity, courage, intelligence, those sorts of principles are lacking. Second, who, exactly, is being "bullied?" Third, aren't schools supposed to be bastions of free thought, the marketplace of ideas, pro and con and in between? (But we know only the "right ideas" are allowed on campuses, both high schools and universities.) Fourth, if true, what administrator would call a kid "ignorant?" Fifth, there was no issue of religion being promulgated/inculcated in the schools. Shouldn't students learn about different religious beliefs? The kid only used his own religious beliefs to finish an assignment given by his editor/teacher. Sixth, the teacher adviser, one would presume, approved of the piece. If not, why not? The list goes on. Perhaps the school board should reconsider the employment of the principal and superintendent. Perhaps, even, a jury could make the situation a little more palatable, applying a little justice, although far too late.

And here in Michigan, a kid was suspended, again threatened with expulsion from his high school for having long hair. No, I'm not kidding. To begin, this is 2012!!!!!! And I'm not certain, but I believe it was a private school, maybe even a Christian one. But, again, I'm not sure. If it is, though, have any of the administrators seen the many paintings of Christ, you know, the ones with long hair? The kid is a cancer survivor, having lost his own hair years ago during chemo treatments. He was growing his hair long as a fund-raiser for other cancer victims. I don't know the rationale for the action against the kid other than the school has "rules" forbidding long hair. as an afterthought, I wonder if that "rule" applies to girls. If it does, hmmm, is there a gender-bias suit here waiting to happen? Again, perhaps the school board or whoever controls schools such as this might want to reconsider who it hires.

I don't know; I don't know. What ever happened to common sense in running our schools?

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