-Kids paid $1 to wear a hat as a donation to FFA
-All hats were checked for appropriateness upon entry. Kids were nit allowed to have hats that advertised drugs, alcohol, violence At that point there were no MAGA hats
-MAGA hats appeared later
- Some 8th graders began taunting Hispanic children with various statements of “gonna get deported.” And at one point a brief chant in the hallway of “send them back.”
-Students said they were uncomfortable with the MAGA hats and with being told they were going to be deported. One student pointed out he was born at Fairfax Hospital and was American.
-Students were requested face to face by administration to remove MAGA hats.
-Students told administrators NO directly to their face
-Students sent to office.
-Students began texting parents complaining that they were being asked to remove hats
-Parents showed up at school. Several parents, including two men, surrounded the principal and began screaming at her in full view of the students, one made vague threats of violence This happened at class change and was seen by dozens of students
-Principal got on speaker and cancelled hat day
-Some parents removed their kids for the rest of the day
- Facebook happened
The hats were not the problem, the statements were. I understand there were issues earlier in the year with “Build the wall” shirts and taunting of Hispanic children, so perhaps this could have been foreseen. But it appears the kids came in with one hat and switched out.
Wearing the hats was nit the issue as much as the taunts and chants. HIGHLY inappropriate and the administration has the right and responsibility to have a safe environment for everyone.
Students were told they could have their dollar back, and about a dozen did ask for it back and received it.
Fascinating account.
I am surprised no one has any video of this.
None of that makes sense. I’ll bet there is more to the story.
Thank you for the “on-the-scene” report.