A DPS Student's Open Letter Concerning the Sick-outs

[Lowell]

...the students, who are the customers and the real losers, need to drive this if any attention will be given. Hopefully this great letter is a start.

That happened in Soweto in 1976 and it changed and liberated a nation. Ask Nelson Mandela.

It's beginning at Cass and Renaissance:

Administrators threatened to suspend anyone who participated in the protests, but the kids stood their ground and emptied the halls anyway.

They say did it to get the state's attention and support their teachers.

Students spilled onto the street as Communication and Media Arts high schoolers walked out, standing up for their teachers - and their education despite a five-day suspension handed down by principal Donya Odom.

"I got suspended for five days for an American right," said Tarik Jackson. "That's ridiculous."

http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/loca...82368501-story

[Scottathew]

Freedom of speech is not freedom from consequence. If I were walking out of school, I would expect to be punished. The kids aren't being denied their freedom to speak, they're being punished for walking out of class when they're supposed to be in it.

Now, as to the punishment, 5 days suspension? That's an f-ing ridiculous, shameful, head up your ass joke.

Give the kids detention, or at the absolute maximum, 1 day suspension for each incident. That way "speaking for your rights" isn't just code for "getting out of class".