Posted on 05/08/2002 1:11:25 PM PDT by NativeNewYorker
KIRTLAND, Ohio -- What if a class assignment forced you to choose between getting a passing grade or following your moral values?
NewsChannel5's Kareen Wynter reported that one student decided to fight it, but it almost cost him the school year.
Many students dream of graduating school with high honors, but this student said that he has little to look forward to in his final weeks.
"It's a moral issue I have," he said. "I pay tuition to come to this school. I shouldn't have to defend my moral issues."
A class project in criminal justice turned sour for the college senior, who we'll call Ian.
The assignment was to wear a pink triangle around school for the day as a symbol of gay rights and then write about the experience. Ian confronted his teacher.
"I asked 'What if a student were to feel uncomfortable with this -- would there be an alternate assignment?'" he said. "She said no."
He, in turn, got an F and faced expulsion.
So why wasn't the student offered a backup assignment? Lakeland administrators said that it is part of classroom policy.
"I think if the situation were easy, it wouldn't have been part of the curriculum," said Barbara Grano of Lakeland.
Still, faculty members said that they didn't break the rules.
"Absolutely, this student had an option," she said.
When NewsChannel5 spoke with Ian later in the day, his teacher had given him an apology note that read, in part, that the requirement was waived.
Ian said that he doesn't think things would have been resolved had NewsChannel5 not gotten involved.
"I appreciate everything you've done," he said.
His mother was happy, too.
"I was thrilled," she said. "Here's a young man who stood up for himself, and it worked."
Professors at Lakeland said that there's a list of things you can and can't challenge in the school's handbook.
Note too that this was a criminal justice class, likely filled with young 'uns wanting a career in LAW ENFORCEMENT.
Everyone was just following orders.
It appears "roll" and "joint" could be used in another context here;what the hell was this teacher thinking?
Remove God and absolutes and what fills the void?
Paganism and tyrranical absolutes... both bent on the
removal of anything Judeo-Christian.
So much for 'tolerance'. It's fascism... pure and simple.
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The Criminal Justice Department |
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Katherine A. Steinbeck |
. | Corrections The need to replace corrections officers who transfer to other occupations
Lakeland's law enforcement program is the preferred educational program |
You ROCK! Well said!!!
So he wears it and gets his butt kicked by a couple guys who are intollerant of gays.His reputation branded...all for a grade.I'll hire this young man anyday for his guts and his stance!
It was a pink triangle which represented support for gay rights that he was told he had to wear in public. When I see someone with a button or icon on that symbolizes a cause, I assume that the person supports that cause and will treat that person accordingly. I myself would never feign to support a cause that was against my morals, I commend him for standing his ground. Maybe we ought to make you wear a Gore 2004 button for a week...
Katherine A. Steinbeck, Chairman
Phone -- 440.953.7144
This is the really scary part; it would almost make more 'sense' if it were part of some fruitloop sociology class or somesuch. Or a diversity-through-faggotry seminar or something. But criminal justice?? What the hell's going to be coming down the pike next, the PRIDE POLICE? "You! Thtop in the name of the LAW! OOOOoooooH!"
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