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jrjo
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 Posted: 11/04/04 - 12:09 Post subject: Should a student be suspended for a KKK costume?
http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=104&sid=319388
| Quote: | GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - A high school student's costume garnered a top prize _ and a five-day suspension _ at the school's Halloween masquerade party.
The Ku Klux Klansman getup took the prize for the scariest costume at the City High School dance attended by the principal, assistant principal and other staff members.
Superintendent Bert Bleke said he agreed with the school's decision to suspend the student but wanted to know why adults at the party failed to stop the senior, who was wearing a white-hooded outfit, from entering, much less winning a prize.
"There are a number of questions I have and don't yet have answers to," Bleke said.
Contacted by the newspaper, the student declined to discuss his Halloween outfit. He said school leaders advised him to keep mum, and that he didn't want to cause any more trouble for himself. |
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robp
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Posted: 11/04/04 - 12:20 Post subject: Re: Should a student be suspended for a KKK costume?
| jrjo wrote: | http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=104&sid=319388
| Quote: | GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - A high school student's costume garnered a top prize _ and a five-day suspension _ at the school's Halloween masquerade party.
The Ku Klux Klansman getup took the prize for the scariest costume at the City High School dance attended by the principal, assistant principal and other staff members.
Superintendent Bert Bleke said he agreed with the school's decision to suspend the student but wanted to know why adults at the party failed to stop the senior, who was wearing a white-hooded outfit, from entering, much less winning a prize.
"There are a number of questions I have and don't yet have answers to," Bleke said.
Contacted by the newspaper, the student declined to discuss his Halloween outfit. He said school leaders advised him to keep mum, and that he didn't want to cause any more trouble for himself. |
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I believe he should've been sent home and told to change his costume. My opinion is that a KKK costume isn't in the spirit of Halloween and was probably donned more to irritate people than anything. Suspension accomplishes little in my opinion - you're rewarding a student for misbehavior. Suspension is appropriate when a student is a threat to himself or others at the school.
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megawill
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Posted: 11/04/04 - 12:27 Post subject: Re: Should a student be suspended for a KKK costume?
| robp wrote: |
I believe he should've been sent home and told to change his costume. My opinion is that a KKK costume isn't in the spirit of Halloween and was probably donned more to irritate people than anything. Suspension accomplishes little in my opinion - you're rewarding a student for misbehavior. Suspension is appropriate when a student is a threat to himself or others at the school. |
well in the spirit of bi-partsianship, and since rob agreed with me today in another thread, i have to say that i am megawill and i approve of rob's message... 
Last edited by megawill on 11/04/04 - 12:28; edited 1 time in total
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Pug
The Movie Geek
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Posted: 11/04/04 - 12:27 Post subject:
Suspended? No.
Slapped around a little? Probably
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robp
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Posted: 11/04/04 - 12:40 Post subject: Re: Should a student be suspended for a KKK costume?
| megawill wrote: |
well in the spirit of bi-partsianship, and since rob agreed with me today in another thread, i have to say that i am megawill and i approve of rob's message... |
I hate to go off-topic but I think W is uniting the country already!!
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BamBam
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Posted: 11/04/04 - 12:41 Post subject:
Someone did this when I was in H.S., someone also came to school in BlackFace....both were admonished, but not suspended.
Though I think the student in Grand Rapids could have said he was just dressing like WV Senator Robert Byrd (D) and maybe have avoided the suspension
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kristin31
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Posted: 11/04/04 - 12:48 Post subject:
No, but I do believe he should get his ass kicked for pulling a stunt like that.
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Gogirlgo
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Posted: 11/04/04 - 13:04 Post subject:
Just to play devil's advocate here, why does he not have the freedom to wear any costume he wants? I mean, he could be saying, with such a costume, that this is the scariest thing he can think of, not supporting it.
If you feel he shouldn't be wearing it, is it b/c it was at school, and the school doesn't want to be seen as promoting such values? If so, isn't it possible the school could use the opportunity to foster some real dialogue about these rather weighty issues?
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Cappy
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Posted: 11/04/04 - 13:04 Post subject: Re: Should a student be suspended for a KKK costume?
| robp wrote: |
I believe he should've been sent home and told to change his costume. My opinion is that a KKK costume isn't in the spirit of Halloween and was probably donned more to irritate people than anything. Suspension accomplishes little in my opinion - you're rewarding a student for misbehavior. Suspension is appropriate when a student is a threat to himself or others at the school. |
I agree
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robp
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Posted: 11/04/04 - 13:17 Post subject:
| Gogirlgo wrote: | Just to play devil's advocate here, why does he not have the freedom to wear any costume he wants? I mean, he could be saying, with such a costume, that this is the scariest thing he can think of, not supporting it.
If you feel he shouldn't be wearing it, is it b/c it was at school, and the school doesn't want to be seen as promoting such values? If so, isn't it possible the school could use the opportunity to foster some real dialogue about these rather weighty issues? |
It was a Halloween party..... I doubt they were going to undergo any real dialogue on weighty issues other than which girl/guy looked the hottest. And besides, we all know you have no freedom in high school.
What if he had come dressed as a soldier carrying an M16A because he felt that was scary....
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Gogirlgo
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Posted: 11/04/04 - 13:20 Post subject:
| robp wrote: |
It was a Halloween party..... I doubt they were going to undergo any real dialogue on weighty issues other than which girl/guy looked the hottest. And besides, we all know you have no freedom in high school.
What if he had come dressed as a soldier carrying an M16A because he felt that was scary.... |
A dialogue would hopefully not have gone on a dance, but after. Carrying an M16 would be a safety issue and thus completely different.
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genie
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Posted: 11/04/04 - 13:24 Post subject:
| Gogirlgo wrote: | Just to play devil's advocate here, why does he not have the freedom to wear any costume he wants? I mean, he could be saying, with such a costume, that this is the scariest thing he can think of, not supporting it.
If you feel he shouldn't be wearing it, is it b/c it was at school, and the school doesn't want to be seen as promoting such values? If so, isn't it possible the school could use the opportunity to foster some real dialogue about these rather weighty issues? |
Just curious, would you let one of your kids wear that costume, to school or even just trick or treating?
Edited to add: "what mega said"
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Pug
The Movie Geek
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Posted: 11/04/04 - 13:37 Post subject:
| Gogirlgo wrote: |
A dialogue would hopefully not have gone on a dance, but after. Carrying an M16 would be a safety issue and thus completely different. |
What if it was a fake, but realistic looking M16? No longer a safety issue, but still not an image that the school wishes to project.
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Gogirlgo
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Posted: 11/04/04 - 13:46 Post subject:
| genie wrote: |
Just curious, would you let one of your kids wear that costume, to school or even just trick or treating? |
Off-topic
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runaroundsue
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Posted: 11/04/04 - 14:13 Post subject:
I don't know. did the school have rules that stated "no offensive costumes". My sons were told no plasitc swords, guns.....etc. would the school have been equally offensed by a nun, preist, preist, Attila the hun, Hitler??? I think they before have been darn well specific to suspend that kid.....or I see a lawsuit.
I do think it was a poor choice, however.
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