Post by Chris_Wendt on Nov 19, 2014 6:35:33 GMT -5
The only thing that bothers me about this Christian Club story is that my school district, my village, is making national news for being on the wrong side of the law, of the constitution. There are ample precedents about forming such clubs in public schools. Wantagh's proclivity to procrastinate under the guise of studying simple issues to death make us look like...a bunch of amateurs. Well, by dilly-dallying around and stalling, the Board of Education has attracted some very serious attention from a nationally recognized group, and that group is just about ready to teach our board a lesson they should not have needed to learn.
My protégés, do yourselves a huge favor, and institute this club. Get yourselves and our district out of the limelight, right now. There is NO UP-SIDE to your stalling, even less to your possibly denying this club its charter. Approve the club, and help get it started, fast. Turn this thing around!
I realize that the Newsday article was quoting Student Liz Laverde when they reported that the Principal told her the requested club would be "illegal". Unfortunately, neither the Principal nor the Superintendent have denied or countered that specific statement. It saddens me to think that any of our professional educational leaders would have made such an errant statement. I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt, however, hoping that the Board of Education will (a) do the right thing and approve this club, and (b) enlighten themselves and the professional educational leaders in our district about the "legality" of students availing themselves of their First Amendment Rights:
The other issue, the bullying (and the resulting depression) is also, sadly, noteworthy. Bullying happens to actually be illegal in our schools. As with many bad behaviors (and many good behaviors) examples are often taken from the top and brought on down through an organization. From the top...down, that's how it flows. The good, and the bad.
Sentiently,
Chris Wendt
My protégés, do yourselves a huge favor, and institute this club. Get yourselves and our district out of the limelight, right now. There is NO UP-SIDE to your stalling, even less to your possibly denying this club its charter. Approve the club, and help get it started, fast. Turn this thing around!
I realize that the Newsday article was quoting Student Liz Laverde when they reported that the Principal told her the requested club would be "illegal". Unfortunately, neither the Principal nor the Superintendent have denied or countered that specific statement. It saddens me to think that any of our professional educational leaders would have made such an errant statement. I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt, however, hoping that the Board of Education will (a) do the right thing and approve this club, and (b) enlighten themselves and the professional educational leaders in our district about the "legality" of students availing themselves of their First Amendment Rights:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
The other issue, the bullying (and the resulting depression) is also, sadly, noteworthy. Bullying happens to actually be illegal in our schools. As with many bad behaviors (and many good behaviors) examples are often taken from the top and brought on down through an organization. From the top...down, that's how it flows. The good, and the bad.
Sentiently,
Chris Wendt