Ninth-grader punished for asking Army pilot sensitive question

The State ^ | September 23, 2005 | Associated Press

[Moonman62]

CWO Durant has every right in not answering the question. The HS student had every right in asking it, however.

The school had the right to punish him for being inappropriate.

[leadpenny]

Thanks, I remember the cover now.

After reading the reviews I'm even more convinced that the MS administrators didn't know what they were getting into.

Again, I have to ask, what did they think the students might be interested in?

The MS principal should have his/her butt on the carpet.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

Like father, like son. The son got his attention at assembly (I bet a bunch of his contemporaries snickered at the rape question); now dad is getting his attention via the media...can't ya just see Greta interviewing dad?

[conejo99]

If the pilot doesn't want to tell us what his captors are truely like, then he shoudn't ask for questions after giving a presentation on the subject. I guess the pilot didn't answer because of his regard for the sensabilities of the students rather than for his own privacy.

[leadpenny]

Bull. The school should not have allowed a Q&A period.

[Moonman62]

From the article:

The pilot talked about being shot down and captured, but told students there were details he didn't want to share, Stibbe said.

Being able to take a hint is part of the educational experience.

[SpringheelJack]

If the pilot doesn't want to tell us what his captors are truely like, then he shoudn't ask for questions after giving a presentation on the subject. I guess the pilot didn't answer because of his regard for the sensabilities of the students rather than for his own privacy.

Try reading the article first. He said during the presentation that he was captured, but there were details about it he didn't want to share. The kid zeroed right in on that to make a spectacle of himself.

[chgomac]

"Fair question."

Have to strongly disagree with you this time. Good parenting settles what is a "fair question" at a very young age....usually at two or three years of age.

This whole discussion reminds me of an incident 30+ years ago when a neighbor and I were having coffee & cookies and one of my "babies" made a rude comment about her weight. After being made to apologize, he was sent to his room and later we discussed how what he said made someone feel sad (easier for him to understand sad than uncomfortable)

Good manners and class are the ability to make others feel comfortable, no matter what the circumstances. This teenages should have learned this long before his teens....but then I'm an old foggy!

[leadpenny]

My comments stand.

Back when my boys were in school, the only place I remember vets being asked to speak to classes were in HS, and then it was usually just in Senior SS classes.

In this case the school administration is responsible.

[SpringheelJack]

This teenages should have learned this long before his teens....but then I'm an old foggy!

I'm sure he learned it. It'd be pretty difficult not to. Some people, though, are just a-holes, and like to put others on the spot.

[leadpenny]

"....but then I'm an old foggy!"

Me too, and I have not forgotten that, other than girls, I remember the kind of stuff that was on my mind in Junior High.

We had a geography teacher who had been shot down in Europe. He had an inert .50 cal. round on his desk that he allowed the students to pass around during class. He also talked about the injuries he had sustained as he was pulled out of a burning a/c.

[SuziQ]

IMHO, perhaps the child (and his father) could learn a little class.

Exactly! Tactful, he was not.

[conejo99]

Your right, I missed that. However, there are behaviours that you should from ninth graders (and from people who post to public forums).

[chgomac]

LOL.....at "like to put others on the spot"

I'm having another go at good manners with the grandkids...last summer they unsuccessfully attempted to teach lure me into a game called "truth or dare".

After a few of my "what in the world would possess you to ask such a question?" and "whyever would you want to know that?" they gave up, he he!

[Moonman62]

Back when my boys were in school, the only place I remember vets being asked to speak to classes were in HS, and then it was usually just in Senior SS classes.

In this case 499 students got it right, and one got it wrong, even if they were just 9th graders.

[M1911A1]

I have mixed feelings about this.

The question was in poor taste. If it was my son asking it, he would be punished.

However, the POW was speaking at what amounted to a public forum, and he opened the session up for questions. He should be prepared for insensitive questions from immature kids, and it looks like he handled it well.

One of the consequences of the War on Terror that doesn't get a lot of press is that there are a lot of young Americans getting a first hand look at Islam. A good chunk are not career military, being from the reserve and guard. They are the kind of people that are going to gravitate to leadership positions in society, and what they saw "over there" is going to be a powerful influence on how they act and think when it comes to dealing with militant Islam.

Should the reality of what they have seen be filtered when they are asked about it? That is a tough question. My father was a POW during WWII, and he told me that when he came home and was asked about what he had been through, an honest answer often met with disbelief, so for much of his life he kept silent.

My own experiences in OIF were tame, but if somebody asks me what I think of our enemies, I tell them in no uncertain terms.

The brutality of our current enemy knows few limits. I don't think that fact should be hidden or glossed over, but in this case I think respect for the dignity of the veteran should override the morbid curiosity of the kid asking the question.

In a general sense, however, I think we are not focused enough on how brutal and evil our enemies are. We castigate ourselves for mishandling the Quoran at Gitmo, they saw off heads and target children with suicide bombs.

[chgomac]

I'm just sorry that the parents of this youngster must have missed a lot of opportunities.....you know, those "cringe" times when your tiny one comments on someone's wheelchair, or appearance or disability and you have the opportunity to teach what true sensitivity really means...

The principal was right....I expect schools to RE-INFORCE good manners...not to have the primary responsibility to teach them!

[mollynme]

In Europe we had a very direct comments on what happened in Abu Ghraib prison in the news. That kind of things had happened in an US prison why not during a capture in Somalia?

Are you saying that European papers claim that Iraqi POW were raped in Abu Ghraib???

[altura]

Sounds like a show-boating, smart ass little kid.

He should be sent to the corner with a dunce cap.

[HamiltonJay]

Jon Sannes said forcing his son to apologize and to miss future assemblies violates his son's right to free speech. A school is supposed to encourage students to think and ask questions, he said.

Its also a parents resposnibility to teach and encourage their children about and how to use decorum.... something this parent has obviously failed to do. I don't know if I agree with the school actions, but I do know that this parent has some failings as well.

The child either knew or didn't know that this sort of question was not appropriate given the setting and the speakers previous statements.... or he knew and didn't care. In the first place, you inform the child of their innappropriate actions so they know not to do it again.. in the second you punish them severely for it....

It wouldn't suprise me at all if this kid might fall into the second category, and has a history of doing things like this to get a rise out of folks.... and if that is true, then the schools actions are justified and proper. If its the first situation that it is overkill.