Excuse Slip From Obama Doesn't Excuse Students

[OhioChick]

Teens Suspended For Skipping Gym Class

POSTED: 10:43 am EDT April 23, 2008
UPDATED: 4:57 pm EDT April 23, 2008

Two high school seniors in Scranton, Pa., are paying a high price for their interest in politics.

Colin Saltry and Joey Daniel said they skipped gym class on Monday to rush over to a diner where Sen. Barack Obama's motorcade had just pulled in for an impromptu breakfast stop.

The two met Obama, and they say he even signed excuse slips for them to show their teachers.

That didn't work. Saltry and Daniel got one-day suspensions for leaving school grounds, and Saltry has been ordered to resign as senior class president. Saltry said it was worth being suspended to meet Obama, but he didn't expect to be bounced from his class presidency.

Assistant Superintendent William King said the rules are clear, and adds that if the students had approached a teacher about wanting to leave campus, they probably would have been given permission.

http://www.newsnet5.com/education/15966700/detail.html

This is insane, no matter which candidate these kids were interested in seeing. People complain about kids not being interested in politics....wonder why? It sounds to me like the kids didn't have the time to ask a teacher to leave....to be told it would "probably" be okay.

We should email "Assistant Superintendent William King" in regards to the harsh punishment these kids got for missing gym class. It's pathetic....whether it was to see Obama or Hillary.

Can anyone find email addresses for either the Superintendent or Assistant Super?

[LakeSamish706]

1. Any bets that Assistant Superintendent William King is either a Repub. or....

a Hillary supporter?

[noel711]

3. I know we wanna stick up for the kids....

It's so easy to say: "It's history! They took a risk!"

What would Barack say: Probably "Go to school!"

Direct but true...

However, I think the principal was harsh in punishing them..

I think the punishment should fit the crime..
make them do more work: a written report with their rationale
for skipping school to see Barack,

OR to have a school assembly, and have these two give
formal speeches about why they think they did the right thing
in risking a truancy to see a presidential candidate.

[my3boyz]

4. I totally agree! That was the first thing that came to my mind. nt

[boobooday]

2. Zero Tolerance

For young people's interest in politics.

Jeez.

[zabet]

5. It probably has nothing to do with the political leanings but,

everything to do with the issue of liability by the school if something happened when these kids left school WITHOUT their parents' permission.

[OhioChick]

6. I Understand but...

Should the kid have had to RESIGN as senior class president?

[zabet]

8. As Class President, the kid sets the example for the rest of the

students. The Class President above all should know the rules, follow the rules, and be subject to the disciplinary actions for breaking the rules. Sorry but, broke the rules, put the school at risk for a liability, so yes, I think the punishment is justified. I don't care if they left just to get a pack of gum or to see a candidate....they still broke the rules.

[Shae]

7. I'm not sure the punishment fits

but schools bear responsibility for the safety of the students, and the kids shouldn't be allowed to come and go as they please. It was an unexcused absence and therefore actionable. That said if I were in the position of those kids, I would probably have done the same thing, and suspension is not a punishment that fits the "crime."