Posted on 03/29/2006 5:51:28 PM PST by NormsRevenge
Whether their motive was to protest immigration legislation or otherwise, students who walked out of classes Monday and Tuesday could face suspension at some schools.
Students who took to the streets in support of mass demonstrations around the nation will face some form of discipline, but the severity is likely to vary from district to district.
"Any student we have participating with them will be disciplined according the California Education Code," said Charles Milligan, superintendent of Fontana Unified. "I respect everyone's right for dissent, but you know what? You're supposed to be in school."
Although case-by-case discipline would be up to school principals, Milligan said, some students could be suspended for disrupting the educational environment and defying the authority of school officials.
Students from Ontario, Montclair and Rancho Cucamonga high schools could be marked as truant but not subject to further discipline, according to the Chaffey Joint Union High School District.
Students could also face the consequences of a missed school day, said Judy Post, the district's assistant superintendent of instruction.
"If they missed a test, then they missed a test," she said.
Chino Valley Unified students will receive a truancy and lose their most prized day of the week, said district spokeswoman Julie Gobin.
"They'll be issued a truancy citation. They'll have to do Saturday school," she said.
After more than 200 students walked out from several Chino Valley high and middle schools again Tuesday, Gobin said the district was paying attention to those that left both days.
"We're considering whether there should be stronger consequences for those," she said.
Rialto Unified was quick to communicate to parents Tuesday evening.
In a message sent to parents, the district said it would "take appropriate disciplinary action for students who continue to leave campus illegally" and would not be responsible for truants.
In Pomona, groups of students from several high schools left campus both Monday and Tuesday.
Curtis Donaldson, principal of Garey High, said the district office would decide what disciplinary action would be taken and referred questions to spokesman Richard Martinez.
Martinez could not be reached for comment.
While some Pomona Unified schools enacted campus lockdowns, most districts chose not to do so.
When junior high students started leaving from Ramona and Magnolia junior high schools in Chino, administrators confronted them and encouraged them to return to class, Gobin said.
"In no way, shape or form are we going to use any force on them," she said.
After consulting with the city police and county sheriff's departments, Gobin said they all agreed a lockdown would worsen the situation.
"My immediate thought was ... there would be one gate left undone and everyone would rush to that gate, and we'd have a stampede," she said.
Milligan said Fontana students were not stopped from leaving campus but would face the consequences. To help determine who those students were, he said, the district would review video footage taken to identify participants.
"I'm not going to stop you from going off that campus. That creates its own problems," he said. "But we'll discipline you when you come back."
But as usual, it is the kids who will pay the most for the indulgences of those with agendas meant only to advance their causes..
What's this "some schools" crap?
:(
What do they consider discipline? More entitlement programs?
How about deportation?
Why the heck should they follow these rules when most all of them are here because they or their parents DIDN'T.
Our Country either has laws that we are expected to obey or we don't.
Why are not the illegals among them loaded on trucks and deposited on the other side of the border?
I guess teachers don't take role anymore. Probably in their contracts (disrupts the "learning environment" and hurts the students' self esteem).
Don't hold your breath. It will never happen.
They were just trafficking in pot that Americans won't traffic :)
That is exactly what my thoughts were when I first heard it on the news! LOL!!
Expell the little bolsheviks.
BS. Loud mexican flag-waving protests didn't play so well across the country, & the media is doing damage control.
They should be punished. They are supposed to be in school, and that is what the taxpayers are paying for.
Of course, there is a certain irony to all this...you have students breaking the law to "stand up" for people breaking the law.
"Paying the price: Walkout students likely to face discipline"
Those who believe this put teeth under their pillows when they fall out.
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