Posted on 11/25/2005 3:01:56 PM PST by chicagolady
I am the father of the young man who did not stand for the singing of the Mexican national anthem during a cultural awareness program at Larkin High School.
I have been constantly asked to explain the details of the event, and it is in response to these individuals that I offer the following facts.
Some of the students, my son included, were compelled to attend this assembly. The Mexican national anthem was printed on fliers and handed out to the attending students. The Mexican flag was marched in and placed on a podium by itself. The attendees were then asked to stand and sing the Mexican national anthem.
My son was not alone in his refusal to stand. Statements given to me by other youths and parents put the number of refusals at close to 20.
Larkin staff members immediately confronted the seated youth. Some of the students were threatened with in-school suspension; most of the seated students were intimidated into standing.
My son explained to the angry teacher who confronted him that he did not see a U.S. flag on the podium and he did not believe they were going to sing our national anthem. This teacher stated, "They have to stand for our national anthem, so you have to stand for theirs."
My son stated in response, "Yeah, but they're in our country."
The teacher called my son a punk and sent him to the office. The administrator in the office supported the teacher's demand and told my son that he could have made a more intelligent decision. My son was not formally disciplined. The teacher who confronted my son defended her actions to her students during class the following week.
I called Larkin principal Richard Webb to express my disappointment and concern. I described the manner in which my son had been treated. I was told that my son should have stood and that the school stood by its right to have this assembly in its chosen form.
I then exercised my right as a citizen and addressed the school board.
The press was present at the board meeting and media awareness snowballed from that point forward. Some of my statements to the board included, "I am disappointed that those responsible for creating an assembly intended to educate and sensitize Americans also felt free to act insensitively with regard to our culture. It is permissible to present another country's anthem alongside ours and receive standing respect. It is not reasonable to expect or demand that Americans stand and display respect for another flag and country in absence of the American anthem or flag."
I also asked the board to consider two positive actions. "First, encourage Larkin High School administrators to not underscore one culture to the exclusion of others. This ill-conceived mandatory assembly did nothing but widen the current schism. Second, I would ask the board to lay down some principles for future assemblies. While it is good educational practice to teach about other cultures, it is not an acceptable practice to require mandatory response to the patriotic elements of those cultures."
I was appalled by Webb's printed statement. Apologizing only for the "unfortunate spotlight" placed on the school does not acknowledge the process that brought the spotlight. Lack of proper oversight created an assembly that offended a large number of people. Teachers behaving badly guaranteed parental follow-through. Administrative silence and denial has perpetuated their arrogant image.
Trivializing the incident and belittling those it concerned has only confirmed Webb's lack of grounding with the community.
Since Dec. 8, 2004, educational institutions receiving federal funding are required to hold an educational program pertaining to the United States Constitution on Sept. 17 of each year. This year, Sept. 17 fell on a Saturday.
Our high school apparently chose on Sept. 16 not to hold an assembly on the Constitution of the United States, but to educate our youth on the patriotic elements of another country.
- Bedard is an Elgin resident.
11/25/05
Patriotism Honoring BTTT. This one will get bookmarked.
There's no backbone here...another case of someone looking to be offended.
The kid was not asked to put his hand over his heart or do anything except show common courtesy. The father should have explained to the kid about diplomacy. If the father was stationed in a foreign country...would he SIT DOWN ON THE TARMAC if another country's anthem was played???!!!
Save the fights for when they're really necessary.
You obviously have a difficult time distinguishing between the FReeper posting the article, and the author of the article. They are typically not the same. Though sometimes they are, this is not one of those cases.
I suggest you learn how to read a FreeRepublic article post before posting further.
His son is a pragmatic and smart lad. If I were in Mexico I would stand for their national anthem out of respect. However, I would never expect the Mexicans to play MY national anthem in Mexico.
The Larkin High School administration is stupid and is guilty of felony stupid political "correctness".
If nothing else, there was a teacher verbally abusing a student. The word "punk" was certainly not appropriate.
America will not be lost with the caliber of young people like this young man. The rest should stand tall too. God bless this young boy for loving his country. He did the right thing.
Larkin
High
School
1475 Larkin Av
Elgin, IL 60123
TEL: 847-888-5200
FAX: 847-888-6996
As the principal of the building I oversee all programs at Larkin High School including school climate, campus operations, school improvement, and student programming. I can be contacted by calling (847) 888-5200 xt. 5205 or by emailing webb_r/lhs@dns.u46.k12.il.us.
Together We Achieve...Together We Succeed
More power to you and your Son, we all need to speak up.
If we are to save this republic
That still needs some explaining.
Sounds like your clever teacher didn't know the difference between China and Japan.
Some of these “45 goals” being achieved are:
17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks.
29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.
30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man."
31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.
Not so obvious but VERY EFFECTIVE.
http://www.ourcivilisation.com/pc.htm
A community declines when the majority of its citizens become selfish, and under this influence it slowly dismantles all the restraints upon self-indulgence established by manners, customs, tradition (cultural standards of morality) and law (See the law of reverse civilization).
What is Political Correctness?
Political Correctness (PC) is the communal tyranny that erupted in the 1980s. It was a spontaneous declaration that particular ideas, expressions and behaviour, which were then legal, should be forbidden by law, and people who transgressed should be punished. It started with a few voices but grew in popularity until it became unwritten and written law within the community. With those who were publicly declared as being not politically correct becoming the object of persecution by the mob, if not prosecution by the state.
He was a Democrat.
The absence of decent common principles of patriotism in favor of diversity with the exclusion of our historical values is appalling -- and these people in the school system apparently think there's nothing wrong with this.
I suggest you check in with JimRob and learn who I am.
Try checking out the people you're looking to slam...before you attempt to Log In!!!
Lt Robert Bedard.............
Email: elginfire@cityofelgin.org
That's right. Even if it brings every last intelligent honor student down to the level of a street thug, Together we Achieve, Together we Succeed.
Sounds very Marxist to me.
The kid's got guts. Good for him.
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