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
It was not disrespectful, but even if it were, he has the right NOT to stand even if the US anthem was being played and to NOT be bullied by teachers beause he chose not to.
Hooray for him and his father for raising a chld with values.
Ping...
No. Detroit public schools in the 70s and 80s. And we were still allowed to respect our own flag along with those of other nations.
You're flaming......yourself?
No it's not. Standing for another country's anthem in no way shows any disrespect for my country at all. Please, some sanity here.
Don't agree there.
That is what I was taught, and as I remember, proper flag courtesy.
LOLOL!!! I was just going to ignore it....
I would guess that the reason that you recieve memos in English and Spanish is because you have a sufficient number of Spanish speakers in your area to warrant it. Like it or, The USA is not at this time, English only.
are you asking Santa for a sense of humor this year ?
BTW...your tagline is MOST appropriate!
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And you failed to answer the question. You are behaving in a very liberal/progressive manner.
I'm on his side here, actually. That just struck me as hilarious. I was hoping to just lurk this rather interesting thread.
Must be too much turkey ;)
Time to slow down and think!
Touche ;)
IMHO, it is way past time for the mutha of 'a$$ kickin's' to be visited on these American hating heathens.
Got to go now...veins starting to pop out, etc.
LVM
Glad I live in Hampton Roads.
Does the Mexican National Anthem start with:
"José can you see?"
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