Posted on 04/08/2006 5:35:41 PM PDT by the anti-liberal
Monday is national illegal alien day. (List of events here.) Some schools are suspending students who walk out, but not here in the People's Republic of Montgomery County, Md. They're going to earn school credit for skipping school and protesting enforcement of our immigration laws (via WaPo):
The Montgomery County schools' decision to grant students community service credit for attending Monday's immigration rights protest is raising concern among some parents as well as activists who say officials should focus on education, not political advocacy.
Montgomery is the only Washington area school system offering students credit for taking part in the event, to be held on the Mall -- a decision Superintendent Jerry D. Weast said is consistent with how the system has operated.
"This is nothing new,'' schools spokesman Brian K. Edwards said about the decision. "Advocacy is allowed."
But in the superheated atmosphere surrounding the immigration debate, the decision is drawing sharp criticism from many quarters. Yesterday, school system offices were flooded with angry phone calls as word of its action circulated among conservative radio hosts.
In a memo sent to Board of Education members, Weast said that "callers were abusive to school system staff, using derogatory ethnic comments in expressing their views." He added, "This is not the first time the national debate on immigration policy has engendered harsh commentary for the school system and staff as a target for political purposes."
Edwards said students will receive service learning hours for participating in the rally as long as they do so under the supervision of a community group that has been approved by the school system.
Student participation in the event is being organized by CASA of Maryland Inc., a Silver Spring-based group that works with the Latino community. It is CASA's role -- as organizer -- that has some questioning whether the school system is allowing an outside group to push its political agenda on students. "I do understand that CASA offers some worthy services to immigrants and that's noble, but it's a stretch to allow students to protest for a particular side of an issue,'' said parent Melissa Andersen. "I'm taken aback by it. I think it's poor judgment."
CASA of Maryland is a taxpayer-funded, open-borders organization whose leader made headlines in February when he threatened the children of pro-immigration enforcement advocates:
An article published yesterday by the Sean Sands of Maryland Community Newspapers Online quoted Casa de Maryland’s Executive Director Gustavo Torres saying “We are going to picket their houses, and the schools of their kids and go to their work. If they are going to do this to us, we are going to respond in the same way, to let people know their neighbors are extremists, that they are anti-immigrant. They are going to hear from us.”
Will the Montgomery schools give credit to schoolkids who participate in counter-rallies held by the Minutemen or other pro-immigration enforcement advocates?
Contact info for the Montgomery County superintendent's office:
Office of the Superintendent of Schools Carver Educational Services Center 850 Hungerford Drive, Room 122 Rockville, MD 20850
Fax: 301-279-3205
Ms. Suzanne Peang-Meth
Administrative Manager for the Superintendent
Phone: 301-279-3381
Mrs. Valerie Jardine
Copy Editor/Administrative Secretary
Phone: 301-279-3381
Mrs. Juliette G. Treviño
Secretary
Phone: 301-279-3381
Ms. Reginette Schafer
Administrative Secretary I
Phone: 301-279-3381
Reason number 112,765 to homeschool...
I just wrote to Arnold/ Bush and asked them, if the freeways here in Los Angeles were closed once again, if they would be enforcing the law of the land? Or was that just for certain people? Like, what if I wanted to walk on the freeway?
Does any of you Texans know what the Alamo flag looked like?? I'm thinking I'd like one for Monday ....
Which is scary, as DC is right there. We don't want this disease to spread to close to our capitol.
I'd be a very angry parent and my position was against the illegals protesting and then the school awarded points to those students that supported the protestors..
ping
I believe the Alamo flag was the single star of the Lone Star state with the red and blue stripes.
I am afraid that is already too late.
FReeper Million Santa March saves the day for Kensington Town ...
Parents seeking tolerance of gays (Montgomery County, MD)
A welcome mat for criminal immigrants
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=montgomerycounty
I'm afraid you're absolutely right.
Good job! Sounds like you have more than enough reason to be proud.
Thanks for the links btw. Depressing...
Hopefully those parents simply pulled their kids from the school altogether.
OK - my daughter is a freshman in High School. She has been made aware of this event and told that she will remain in her seat no matter who walks out of class. She had better listen - OR ELSE!
Gee, let's think of all the other illegal activities that schools can encourage and give credits for.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I fully expect they would service credits for an abortion!
Any parent that sends their kid to government school must be desperate or completely clueless.
Or both.
I wish you and yours all of the best (and the best of luck...) - with prayers.
Taxpayer funded? How nice.
April 15th is right around the corner. Pay up or go to jail (which is more than can be said for illegals.)
Gooberment skools are child abuse.
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