BAMN urges DPS students to skip class in protest



BY TAMMY STABLES BATTAGLIA • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • May 1, 2009

Updated at 10:13 a.m.

A community action group is urging Detroit Public School students to march this morning from Chadsey High School to oppose the closing of 23 schools across the city.





But the principal of Chadsey High is denouncing the plans for a student protest, saying the group organizing the walkout is taking advantage of his kids.

“That’s them giving out literature to our kids out front; I’ve got to try to stop this,” Chadsey principal Tony Jones said about BAMN’s promotion of a rally and march to Clark Park today at 11:30 a.m., during the school day. “That’s not right.”

He said students should be in class learning; those who leave class will be punished.

“If students walk out of this building, they’ll be excluded. They’ll be kicked out of school for a certain number of days,” Jones said. “You cannot do that. It’s illegal.”
BAMN [[By Any Means Necessary) plans to start a rally at 11:30 a.m. in front of the school on Martin Street just north of I-94 in southwest Detroit, then walk three miles to Clark Park on Clark at Lafayette, according to a BAMN news release.

The group's organizer Monica Smith said this morning that it is advising students to leave school, which is in session today, and boycott classes today to protest Chadsey’s proposed closing by Detroit Public Schools.

Detroit Public Schools spokesman Steve Wasko condemned the march, pointing out that students would have to cut school to participate.

“It’s the height of irresponsibility for adults to be encouraging students to miss class in the middle of the school day,” he said. He said the district is welcoming input on school closings from students and parents at a number of public forums throughout the city.