Like many of you, I’m worried about America’s school system. But what’s got me writing this post? I mean, there’s a whole list of problems that are associated with our illustrious public school system. I’ll tell you: in two days, I’ve read two news stories where kids were given sexual harassment charges. Kids were given sexual harrasment charges! Haven’t heard of this? Allow me to make you wonder:
1. In Michigan, a kid was telling a friend during lunch that he thought a teacher was “cute”. That’s all he said, he thought she was a cute teacher. A subsitute teacher overheard the conversation–a substitue teacher–and went to the principal. Now the kid’s on a two day suspension. I don’t think he’ll get a criminal record, but still…a little overboard, don’t you think?
2. In Boston, a kid was being choked by a bully on the back of a bus. The bully was trying to get the kid’s gloves, and would do anything to get them apparently. The kid couldn’t breathe, and kicked the bully in the groin in self-defense. Apparently at the kid’s school though, that doesn’t count as self-defense, but a form of inappropriate touching. Now he and his brother are afraid to go back to school after his suspension is served. Is there something wrong with this picture?
Look, I understand we want to create environments where people feel safe from harassment of this sort. But this is ridiculous! At those kids’ ages, I didn’t have any concept of what sexuality was! I’m not sure what these kids’ schools are doing, but if I were a parent at one of these schools, I’d call the principal and ask what the heck is going on. I mean, really?!
I hope this stuff gets into the Weekend Update jokes on SNL. The principal(s) is going to hang his/her head in shame if it does!
Rami Ungar The Writer 