What is Digg?137 Comments
- petroK, on 10/12/2007, -10/+206I suspect that if 4 blonde girls named ashley, heather, ashley, and christie wore the same outfit the response would be the following:
"Like, OMG...what cute outfits" - JoJoWalker, on 10/12/2007, -18/+132I was a teacher in the inner-city schools and though this seems ridiculous on its face (believe me, I get how stupid this incident seems) what this really is is a reflection of how incredibly difficult it is for teachers and administrators to deal with the problems of gangs and student safety. What if it turns out that red suspenders are actually gang symbols and the principal didn't suspended them and there was a fight etc etc. Well, the principal would most likely be fired (by the same parents who would go to the school board and demand their termination) and the school would be sued by the parents of the student who got beat up and then you have insurances issues. So in this environment, what are admins supposed to do? Think about this in terms of network security. Your network admin doesn't allow any shenanigans on the network, so why should a school admin take any chances in their school? It's a sorry state that we are in as a cultural, but it is where we are at and it is what we have to deal with.
- masterc, on 10/12/2007, -12/+102That's just wrong. Suspending them for no apparent reason? That's crap.
- Text, on 10/12/2007, -1/+53This happened at my school, except it was around 35 kids that got suspended for wearing the same thing and "creating a disturbance with loud noises".
That was the last time the band ever wore their uniforms leaving the school for a field trip. - Genthree, on 10/12/2007, -17/+62There are two sides to every story. My dad was a principal and I can tell you story after story about things like this being blown way out of proportion by overly zealous parents who believe that their precious little angels could NEVER do anything wrong.
- nerditup, on 10/12/2007, -0/+34They got suspended because of their suspenders
- mrlost117, on 10/12/2007, -8/+40@jojo
"So in this environment, what are admins supposed to do?"
delve deeper into whats going on, don't jump to immediate and harsh conclusions, and don't lose your cool and make yourself look racist.
"One of the girls asked him what was the matter with it. Then he started yelling at all everybody and took us to the office and suspended us," - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -5/+36pot calling the kettle AFRICAN AMERICAN THANKS
- violentvinyl, on 10/12/2007, -4/+28From the article:
"I told him I think it's a racial thing," Barnett said. "He said he didn't appreciate me saying that because he has black friends and this and that," Barnett said.
Hahahahahaha. Sounds like a played out comedy routine. That's never the right thing to say in that situation. - Snakedal337, on 10/12/2007, -0/+23This is nothing, I, and a bunch of friends all wore pink shirts...just to wear a pink shirt, we got suspended for 3 days and pink shirts on guys were banned because they thought we were "Conspiring to start a gang"
Well I only had to serve one day of the suspension, but the pink shirts are still banned to this day. - waz67, on 10/12/2007, -9/+32No apparent reason? More like no apparel reason.... (sorry)
- NathanLoehlein, on 07/27/2009, -6/+27And people wonder why there's racism in this country. If everytime something happens to a person of color they cry "it's racism" then they are only perpetuating the problem.
- sockpuppets, on 10/12/2007, -3/+24Jokes are funny. You're just plain dumb.
- tw0bit, on 10/12/2007, -3/+23probably thought it was a gang thing, thats what happened at my old school...you couldn't wear one pant leg rolled up, but then again who would want to...
- jellygraph, on 10/12/2007, -1/+20the Mario suspenders look really cool, btw
- Saryon, on 10/12/2007, -8/+26"Small's mother, Regina Barnett, said she isn't happy with Shaffer's decision. She said she thought the suspension had to do with the girls being black. Shaffer is white."
How did I see this coming... - Yeyui, on 10/12/2007, -3/+19The school has issued their own press release:
September 29, 2006
McCulloch Middle School, Marion Community Schools, Marion, IN
On Tuesday, the parents of two of our middle school students at McCulloch Middle School in Marion, IN, chose to go to the members of the press and levy charges of racism and unfair treatment against McCulloch Middle School and against Principal Shaffer personally because of a disciplinary situation. We chose at the time to follow the guidelines that govern common administrative practice and refused to comment on specific disciplinary situations involving students who were minors. However, in order to avoid relying on incomplete and inaccurate information, we are providing the following points of explanation:
1. In today’s tough climate of ongoing school violence, school administrators are often faced with the challenge of dealing progressively with situations that threaten the safety of our students. Because of privacy concerns, it is not always possible to defend publicly actions that are based on multiple instances of violation of our school handbook and state law in regard to bullying, intimidation and defiance. When there have been multiple instances of disciplinary action, including reports to the police department, and the misbehavior continues, the school must take action to protect the rights of all of our students to learn and grow in a safe school environment. Any perception that students have been disciplined solely based upon one incident or for an issue limited to the school dress code is completely false.
2. It is our expectation that all students, no matter their socioeconomic status, ethnicity, or learning ability come to school with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn. A part of this is the willingness of individual students to follow directives given by school personnel charged with their care.
3. McCulloch administrators and district administrators have been willing to meet and have met to discuss the vdisciplinary actions taken in this case with the families of the involved students. We will continue to do our best to work with all students, and look forward to the return and successful re-entry of these students into the learning community that is McCulloch Middle School.
4. We continue to hold our students to high expectations in behavior and academics with no apology for having these lofty but attainable goals for every student who attends McCulloch Middle School. Part of our job here is to prepare students not only for high school but also for life as a contributing member of society.
5. The first step in achieving the lofty goals we are setting for ourselves is the creation of an atmosphere where every student feels safe and respected and challenged and yes, even loved. With that end in mind, we will continue rooting out unacceptable behavior and those who would purvey that. We refuse to allow students whose goal is disruption and disrespect to take the upper hand and destroy our atmosphere of learning.
Dr. Michael Shaffer, Principal
McCulloch Middle School
Marion, IN - sparkles, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16When my kid was in third grade or so, Taco Bell was giving away these little metal rings with a spider on them with their kids' meals. They were pretty cool for kids' meal toys, and there was a Taco Bell right next to the school, so a bunch of the kids had them.
The principal came through and stole all their little metal rings, claiming it was 'gang activity.' I called the guy and tried to explain to him what the rings were, but he waffled and dissembled just like the principal in this story, refusing to even acknowledge that he might have been mistaken. He stood by his story that his school was being overrun by some kind of third grade Taco Bell gang.
There are a lot of very stupid school administrators out there, and stupid people tend to cling to their first impressions very jealously. - kwilliam71, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16What if football jerseys were all of the sudden gang symbols. You can be sure they wouldn't suspend any football players... especially during football season.
- AdmJollyRoger, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14I guess they do look like the gang from Clockwork Orange (with the addition of the red suspenders of course). Seriously, even the most out of touch honky would know those outfits aren't gang gear. Don't worry, I'm white so I'm allowed to say honky.
- Crass22, on 10/12/2007, -4/+17"I will tell you that we have a code of conduct here at McCulloch Middle School that we expect all of our students to measure up to. We're talking about a violation of that code of conduct."
The principle talks about code of conduct, is that some unspoken/unwritten law that basically states the principle can pick and choose what he feels is appropriate conduct and which isnt? See I like rules to be written down and shown to students on the first day, like dress code stuff so everyone can be on the same level and be aware of which boundaries to push. While this article upsets me, it doesnt nearly upset as yesterdays article about the Norwegian school boys being forced to sit to pee. thats just wrong. - DougieD, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14Yes. That's the problem. Those damn Internet liberals.
- youngcable, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12but what did they do wrong?
- ViRaZ, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11Then should the jocks who wear the same varsity jackets be considered a gang?
- crawfishsoul, on 10/12/2007, -7/+17This is the reason why my father, a school district administrator, told me to never, ever, ever get into education. The rewards simply don't outweigh the constant scrutiny and BS from parents who, as Genthree said, believe their kids ***** don't stink.
He's had on more than a few occasions, parents adamantly deny that the kid who was clearly their little Johnny, on tape beating on some kid. - jthomp3120, on 10/12/2007, -4/+13its their gang colors! (thats what my school would say)
- Klisk, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11You're not a teacher, you're a douchebag. If anything, blame yourself.
- cmw72, on 10/12/2007, -4/+12It's probably for the best...
The Pink Ladies are T-Bird property. - rejectpenguin, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9Maybe its the fact that her shirt is see thru! You can see the girls bra on the right.
- KMartSheriff, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Because there aren't more important matters in the world, God forbid we let our children wear red suspenders
- Jeebugorn, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9no....that makes them american. i dont see any people calling themselves canadian-american, or south american-american, or european american. my family is from england, i'm an american, not english-american.
- deter1ii, on 10/12/2007, -12/+19OOOOOOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhhhh. Its another issue of the man holding the brother down, Bull *****. I think it's total crap what the school did to them, but calling this a race issue is more bull ***** to add to the fire. When the racism issue dies, so will racism. I did'nt know what a racist was until I was told to not be one.
- Ghstfce, on 10/12/2007, -6/+13C'mon, I've grown up with blacks all my life. When has a black female EVER asked nicely what she did wrong? And the race card, she can shove it. If you have Juanifa and her friends up in your face, wouldn't you suspend them too? It wasn't about race, it was most likely about respect, of which kids nowadays have none of.
- KMartSheriff, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Yes, I also didn't catch the part where they did something wrong.
- dgaspard, on 10/12/2007, -8/+14He did say "code of conduct" not dress related. The principle probably just asked why they were together and the girls went off the handle screaming acting ignorant. Now it's racist...
- jamsea, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8At my school almost everyone wears exactly the same thing every day...
Then again I go to a catholic highschool with uniforms :P
Those girls look like they lost a bet with those red suspenders... - NathanLoehlein, on 07/27/2009, -1/+7They broke the rules which probably state that there can't be a bunch of peopel dressing the same?
- Arramol, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I have to ask though...how much good would suspending people for wearing matching outfits do in the suppression of gangs? Two main problems with this kind of action:
A) It turns up a lot of false positives. At my high school, you could always tell when the local Catholic church had had a retreat the previous weekend, because all the students who went there would come back wearing the T-shirt they'd gotten on the retreat. Gang activity? Not likely.
B) It does nothing to actually break up the gang. If anything, it makes gang members harder to identify by forcing them underground. - nordberg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Sure, there are no administrators with their head up their ass!!!
- Tochi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6They were probably walking through the halls four-file and snapping their fingers "Grease" style, that's why the principal thought they were in a gang... because yeah... red suspenders = gang? Sure, if it's a gang of math geeks who wear big pants.
- clickwir, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Plunging neck lines on an 8th grader. Unacceptable.
Hell, you can even see through that white shirt and see her pink bra! Come on, they shouldn't be wearing ***** like that in 8th grade. - Klisk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4So what, they're not supposed to defend themselves? Just nod their heads and take it? I would definitely stick up for myself. Just because a principal is supposedly your superior, that doesn't make them the least bit intelligent, as this article proves. They have every right to "argue", if you would even call it that. I would just call it defense.
- JackHallows, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8Nothing as far as I can tell. To be honest, I made my comment above before I read the article fully. Saw the title, saw the picture, and put 2 and 2 together - The school is being run by racists.
- cuddleparty, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6how about we blame the teachers for our ***** education system? since we're all just randomly pointing fingers here.
/sarcasm - DeadLikeMe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Is this becuase of the bill that is being proffered that allows students to be stripped searched on demand - could be he was just trying it out and thought his excuse was he wanted to make sure that their clothing duplication extended to their panties.
I'm just guessing here ? - BIGmog, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Why don't they suspend all the football players for wearing the same football uniform on the same day?
- rhawk301, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4JoJo you have a good point, and I respect your answer. Except, we DONT have to "deal with it". What we need to do is become activists for the right way. We need to turn our schools around and not allow crap like this to happen. If you have known gang members at your schools, then throw them out. If I were a headmaster, I would be tough. Yeah, I know it is most likely harder than it sounds. But look at it this way, if we don't get tough and force crime out of the schools, then nothing good will ever come from our educational system.
I for one am not willing to sit back and allow this to happen. If there are problems at the school, then we need to meet them head on. We need to really re-visit the whole "zero-tolerance" policies also. We need to start looking hard at intent, and rehabilitation. These are kids growing up, we can't throw the book at them on the first offenses they commit. - nofxjunkee, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Conclusion? People suck!
- Atomic1fire, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7my school has a twin day for dressing the same with freinds
no gangs that i know off there - JackHallows, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6So why were they suspended?
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