Originally posted by Veloise
Moderator note:
split from RTDNTOTO
I'm guessing that decision may prove to be the Principal's Last Official Act.
People will miss that it once meant something to be Southern or Midwestern. It doesn't mean much now, except for the climate. The question, “Where are you from?” doesn't lead to anything odd or interesting. They live somewhere near a Gap store, and what else do you need to know? - Garrison Keillor
All I can say is "Wow!"
So the principal suspended these students for using a method to get to school that she and some of the community members did not agree with. Some people will never understand that, "Same rules, same roads, same rights" means exactly that.
"Where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost." - 1980 Republican presidential candidate Ronald Reagan
Of course they were disruptive, they're from Walker not Biker. I'm sure had they chosen to walk to school, there would have been no problem.
“Death comes when memories of the past exceed the vision for the future.”
It's Michigan. Those kids should know better than to leave the confines of their property under the power of anything else but the glorious internal combustion engine. Bunch of European wannabe communists who probably want nothing better than to wage war on the United States from the inside by destroying American jobs, pedaling on Chinese-made bicycles instead of Detroit-made motor vehicles. We must unite and stand behind the honorable principal and steadfast patriot, Katharine Pennington.
Growth for growth's sake is the ideology of the cancer cell. -- Edward Abbey
It's not the fact that they were biking. Rather, this Principal clearly has a me-against-them attitude with her students. I bet anything these Seniors would've done, she would've thrown a fit. Sounds like she needs to relax and get some action.
"I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany"
Why do these students hate America?
"I am very good at reading women, but I get into trouble for using the Braille method."
~ Otterpop ~
Here's a Hoosier version that doesn't involve bicycling to school but rather a senior prank involving sticky notes that drew suspensions of the students involved, and then those protesting the suspensions. The school later withdrew the suspensions after the community made them laughingstocks.
I have seen
old ships sailing
like swans asleep
Why'd I read this? I'm so angry at ridiculous school administrators.
Dude, I'm cheesing so hard right now.
original article on MLive
(you can tell what I did most of yesterday afternoon)
Bike shop donates a bike, given to principal at school board meeting (she was not present)
The local bike club runs a Tuesday night ride out of the same HS. As they gathered, the radio fellow and the school board meeting attenders were also present, along with TV crews. I was hoping for an interview:
Q: why would you start your club ride here?
A: because the roads are great for cycling, sight distances are excellent, and there's a lot of community support for bicycling
If the principal was so concerned with traffic backups and safety, she has an odd way of showing it by sending 60+ students home all at once on their bicycles (probably without a police escort as well).
"Where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost." - 1980 Republican presidential candidate Ronald Reagan
And we wonder why there is an obesity epidemic amoung kids and adults.
When did I go from Luke Skywalker to Obi-Wan Kenobi?
When I first heard this news I thought it was a joke. Now that I know it is not, I would join any protest bike ride to have her removed. Interestingly enough, I did not hear about any traffic backup on the morning traffic report.
What she did was wrong, but than again, it is no surprise that I am opposed to this overreaching of authority.
When compassion exceeds logic for too long, chaos will ensue. - Unknown
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapi...l_apologi.html
Superintendent: “As I look back on this incident, I realize this was an adult problem, not a student problem."
I am still laughing that this constitutes a prank in the land of right-wing dutchmen!
We did far worse in my inner-city catholic high school.... and we had nuns that would kick our@$$3$!
We hope for better things; it will arise from the ashes - Fr Gabriel Richard 1805
I think that's part of the point. It wasn't a prank in the traditional sense. Yet the response was.
As I said earlier, this is more about the administrators feeling like they were one-upped by the students.
"I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany"
Well apology or no apology the admins still get their parting shot....the Seniors found guilty of riding bikes evidently aren't going to be able to participate in a graduation ceremony with the rest of their class, as they are still scheduled to have a separate ceremony (which was thrown together at the last minute in an attempt to placate outraged parents before the apology was officially issued).
No, this can't possibly be over. Someone's head must roll.
EDIT: I guess I'm not sure what a 'senior walk' is.
Last edited by Maister; 23 May 2012 at 3:18 PM.
People will miss that it once meant something to be Southern or Midwestern. It doesn't mean much now, except for the climate. The question, “Where are you from?” doesn't lead to anything odd or interesting. They live somewhere near a Gap store, and what else do you need to know? - Garrison Keillor
In fact, the "senior walk," where they promenade the school's hallways one last time, is what got rescheduled. Grad is next Weds at the fieldhouse, and I hope many students ride bikes to it (I sure would!).
I had no idea what a "senior walk" was until a meeting this morning discussing the upcoming graduation of a coworker's daughter. Prior to that, I thought a senior was something reserved for folks like RJ and Ofos.
"Where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost." - 1980 Republican presidential candidate Ronald Reagan
I'll show you what a senior walk is, punk. Now get off my dang lawn! And if I ever catch you peeing in RJ's pool AGAIN, I may just tell him.
“Death comes when memories of the past exceed the vision for the future.”
Off-topic:
Oddball
Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves?
Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here?
Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?
From Kelly's Heroes (1970)
Are you sure you're not hurt ?
No. Just some parts wake up faster than others.
Broke parts take a little longer, though.
From Electric Horseman (1979)
You know, like at the mall? Though maybe that's more of a Senior Shuffle...
The purpose of life is a life of purpose
Well we have a problem in America. Too many people are too physically active. Even with the apology, that will help make sure every kid is driven to and from school every day.
What a world.
Midwest Energy News
From the comments:
"If Principal Katie Pennington wants to punish someone, she ought to suspend the traffic engineers, urban planners and state and local DOT officials who designed these streets. These people should all be locked in stockades in the middle of the town square. Oh, wait. There is no town square."
I firmly believe that this is also tied to the question of why simple sidewalks are such a hot-button issue in many suburban areas, as well as to the state-level politicians who, over the years, enacted laws that essentially prohibit central cities from easily annexing those suburban areas and thus subjecting them to their much higher public works and other development standards. Michigan is notorious for this.
Mike
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