School defends serving 6th-graders gin

[elehhhhna]

School defends serving 6th-graders gin

© 2007 The Associated Press

AKRON, Ohio — An Ohio charter school that emphasizes African history and culture served gin to sixth graders at a graduation ceremony and state education officials said they plan to investigate.

Four students were given a teaspoon of gin mixed with water in a ceremony modeled on a Ghanian rite of passage event, said Kwa David Whitaker, a Phoenix Village Academy official.

The ritual was intended to teach truthfulness, said Whitaker, who oversaw the Tuesday ceremony.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/4876293.html

[mike_c]

1. adopting other peoples' rituals without adopting their culture...

...is a recipe for strange outcomes.

[Buzz Clik]

2. Let's see ... graduating from sixth grade is such a huge deal, it requires alcohol.

Golly, what am I missing?

[LostInAnomie]

3. Why even wade into those waters?

They should have known nothing good would come of it.

[Hippo_Tron]

4. Wow, a whole teaspoon, bet those sixth graders were wasted

[dsc]

8. For those with a history of alcoholism

even a small amount could end up being a very bad idea. I would be livid if it were my kid. I know all too well what abusing alcohol can do and would rather not have my kid exposed to alcohol by someone in authority.

[Xenotime]

5. That means I have gone through the ritual at 6000 proof!

[jeff30997]

6. "a teaspoon of gin "

Wow what a buzz it must have been!

[jollyreaper2112]

7. new song!

Just a spoonful of gin helps the ceremony go down!

[Liberal Veteran]

9. Well, it could have been worse.

A teaspoon of laudanum might have had tragic results.

[LeighAnn]

10. Glad it wasn't carbolic acid.

I hear that's a horrible way to go :(

[DBoon]

11. And for Native American appreciation

the students would be served peyote?

[wakeme2008]

12. Oh the horrors

A class full of 6th graders calling old Mr Ralph..... :rofl:

[otherlander]

13. It's only fair, after all!

:smoke:
:rofl:

[msongs]

14. what is the history of gin in africa then? nt