I have tried to email the school district several times. Either their email servers are being bombarded...or they cut them off.
My letter to them:
I attempted to email the principals in question, but their emails are not working at this time. How doubly distressing.
To whom it may concern,
http://www.cnn.com/2005/EDUCATION/05....ap/index.html
I read this story on CNN and was appalled at the lack of compassion and consideration afford to this young man.
Knowing that my opinion carries little weight, I still feel compelled to express my dismay over this. Profanity is not acceptable in the school setting, I understand that. Many times in life, there must be shades of gray in our dealings with young people. He is enduring difficulty with his mother's deployment in such a hazardous zone.
The cell phone call occurred during lunch hour, NOT a class time. A more compassionate response would have been for the teacher in question to instruct him to move to the hall, or step outside to finish such a critical call to this young person's connection to his parent. AT THE CONCLUSION of the call, an appropriate disciplinary response could have been decided. Detention, an essay regarding the reasons for cell phone rules during school times, etc would have been more beneficial to the development of this young person than a ten day suspension. Such a suspension will only feed contempt and frustration with his relationship with the school and its staff.
There are times in life when adolescents need compassion and NOT a heavy hand. How sad your school district responded with a fist instead of taking a chance to help this young person grow and understand that people can care about what is happening in his life.
Respectfully,
Pamela Backstrom
Indianola, Iowa
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