February 19, 2005
Schools and Parenting
Where to draw the line... From
Zero Intelligence:
>School suspends 14 over explicit rap CD
14 students at Johnston High School made a rap CD. The lyrics were typical of modern gangsta rap and included topics like binge drinking, drug use and sex. Although they did this on their own and used no school resources the school has decided it has governing power over their private lives and has suspended all of them.
>[Johnston Public] Schools Supt. Margaret Iacovelli said a four-day investigation into who made the CD ended yesterday, when the students involved were given five-day suspensions, and ordered to perform 10 hours of community service and receive some in-school sensitivity training.
"We had to address the disruption at the school that the CD caused," Iacovelli said. "We looked at it in a different light because it also disrupted the community. So we gave them 10 hours of community service to help repair that damage."
Iacovelli apparently believes she is in charge of community health as well.
Iacovelli said the lack of respect toward women was a major reason for the administration to push the students into sensitivity training.
"In light of the CD, I think the kids need some additional education to be more tolerant," Iacovelli said. "I think this really brings to light that parents are always telling their kids to turn the music down -- maybe they need to listen to the lyrics."
In other words she will decide what mores and attitudes the students have and what their actions and activities will be inside and outside of school. Legality and parental rights be damned.
Jeezzz - this particular school administrator is taking over the role of the parents. How did they get hired and what are the parents thinking. The kids did this on their own time and without use of school resources so why should the school step in like this...
Posted by DaveH at February 19, 2005 9:09 PM
yo i was one of the kids that dropped the CD and yeah i would do it again...I learned nothing from the stupid punishment...Ill realease lyrics on the PTO School Staff it dont matta...there words get ova it!
It is words. Not actions, it's words. It is a form of poetry, though vulgar. How dare anyone say they cannot talk bad about someone, they can SAY bad things about anyone. They cannot act on the suggested lyrics, but how dare anyone say what can come out of their mouths and how they can express it (the cd). It may hurt feelings, but noone has the right to govern on feelings alone. It is completely ridiculous. Oh, and gianna, you should stop judging by feelings and still be friends with these kids. They can express themselves anyway they want. Don't complicate matters because so called authority figures told you to.
excuse me i qo to johnston hiqh school and it was SOLD on school qrounds and it hurt a LOT OF PEOPLE...my friend made it and i cant talk to him anymore because of that