Without marginalizing the event, that article reads as if it was written by a guy off the street relaying what he heard at a gas station versus investigative reorting. Still, it’s a serius issue that warrants the categorization of facts and (any) missing information included.
The school Administration chalked it up as a harmless prank
What was the procedure used to arrive at a 3-day suspension? Surly the parents & students were interviewed, and it was discussed/assessed whether the students intended to carry out a much more severe act following the hanging of the nooses.
School Administrators are not in the same realm as Wild West marshalls, where they have the freedom to do whatever they want. Board/District policies likely set limits or a range of suspension length for different bejaviors. While the act is dispicable, it’s likely not in the same category as a student striking a teacher, fighting another student, etc.
The above quoted sentence reads like ones interpretation, and while it creates stereotypical images of an overweight, balding, white superintendent yuking it up with “those silly rascals”, it likely doesn’t represent the factual events that occurred.
Angry parents will never be appeased because expelling students for the year is not likely a possible choice for the admin, even though many will agree that the parents have every reason to be pissed … and concerned…
The difference in punsihments between what one group of students did (hanging the nooses) and what the other group did (beating someone up) are different categories of behavior … one more severe (by our standards) than the other. Hence, the different and more severe punishment. In our country, calling someone a racial slur or other racist act is not in the same severe category as say, kickin’ somone’s arse.
I would not be surprised if the DA did, in fact, pull the “tough guy” act, as many still think that stuff works. In reality, it likely served as gasoline on the fire. Kids don’t respond to threats and authority like they used to. Refer to the WWE as an example of how many students react to authority. Not cause and effect, but maybe representative of that demographic.
There seems to be a whole lot of information missing from the “article”. But, I can believe that the black students were mistreated, mad about it, and set out to handle it themselves. I’ve seen situations where one student will use a racial slur and receive punishment for it … but then offended students “handle their business” and kick the snot out the student, and then receive harsher penalties than occurred with the initial act … followed by peole complaining that the punishments are “equal” (neither were the acts … by our standards).
Reading the people’s posts after the article make me still wonder what the facts are (without trying to get over-emotional about it). It’s a serious situation … serious enough that one should approach with caution before knowing what really happened and how the decisions were made, as well as, what limitations/policies are in place in the district.
I’m not surprised that there’s still racial conflicts in our country. There likely always will be. Obviously,I’m not condoning it, just stating reality (IMO).
