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Subscribe to RSSParents were furious after a principal suspended students for organizing bicycle ride to school. WOOD's Marc Thompson reports.
Prank or proud moment? For the 64 high school seniors in Walker, Mich., who marked their last day of classes by riding bikes -- with a police escort and the mayor in tow -- it was all about school pride and staging a "prank" with no damage. But to Kenowa Hills High Principal Katie Pennington -- who had no idea what was coming -- it was a prank that could have hurt someone and tied up traffic.
Pennington on Wednesday did apologize for overreacting but, needless to say, the incident has been the talk of the town, population 24,000 -- and even overtook a routine school board meeting Tuesday night as parents spoke up to criticize Pennington.
"The disruption to the classroom, the disruption to the school day, was not these kids," Keri Whip, the parent of one senior, told the meeting, according to NBC affiliate WOOD-TV. "It was the principal."
Seniors "came up with a very cool thing to do that you guys as administrators could have gone and run with this and made this a positive thing with the media," said another parent, Cheryl Carter.
Wednesday afternoon, the school district released an apology on Pennington's behalf:
“Yesterday, I made a mistake and sincerely regret my actions. Did I overreact? In retrospect, of course I did. My first response to learning of our high school seniors riding bikes to school on busy roads was to fear for their safety, and I responded in kind. I apologize to the students, their parents, and the community for a reaction that blew this incident out of proportion and called into question the character of our students. Our senior class has demonstrated leadership, unity and school pride throughout this school year. My actions and emotion overshadowed what should have been a very positive senior activity. I have learned much from this experience and do not consider myself infallible.
“I now applaud the students for their foresight in contacting the police department to ensure the safety of their senior surprise. I only wish the police department or others who may have known about this would have let us in on the surprise but, of course, it wouldn’t have been a surprise had we known in advance.
“I look forward to our second ‘Senior Walk’ and our Commencement for this senior class. It will be a celebration of their accomplishment and recognition of their creativity.”
After the incident Tuesday morning, Pennington ushered the seniors into an auditorium, where part of her tirade was recorded on a cellphone video. In it she refers to the busy streets nearby and to the traditional senior walk through school on the last day of classes.
"If you and your parents don't have sense enough to know your brains could end up splattered on Three Mile and Kinney, Fruit Ridge, then maybe that's my responsibility," WOOD-TV reported her as saying. "... Get your butts home. You're not participating in senior walk today."
The seniors said they were also told they might not be allowed to walk with their class at graduation, but the school district later said that was not the case.
Class president Zac Totten, who helped organize the ride, did speak up for Pennington, who did not attend, and thanked the school for backing off the graduation threat.
"I really want to apologize to Mrs. Pennington," he said. "She's taken a lot of heat for this and this is a great school, and this school is getting some bad press."
Superintendent Gerald Hopkins told the meeting that the district would have supported the bike ride if students had alerted officials ahead of time.
Senior students said having told the school would have defeated the purpose of their non-violent "prank."
The one-day suspension will not count against students, Hopkins said, and those who missed final exams will be able to make them up.
And the senior walk has been rescheduled to May 30.
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Leave a Comment:
is the world going crazy or what?
or should i say, is the u-s going crazy or what?
doesn't the government say we should save gas and improve our health by biking?
I don't think you can get much safer than riding a bike in a small(ish) town with a police escort.
These kids had the foresight to let the police know what was up so that they could ensure the safety of the ride. What more in the way of responsibility did this idiot principal expect from them. She needs to seriously chill out.
After 2 stories over the last 3 days about principals being good spirited about senior pranks it's sad to see this over something so innocuous. The police obviously gave it an OK with an escort so I really don't see the problem.
I don't have a problem with the seniors riding the bikes to school..thought it was pretty creative! What I do have an issue with is the makeup tests. I hope that they get to take the SAME test as the original one given. So many times a makeup test is so totally different, as though it was made to be as difficult as possible--almost a punishment in itself.
I like how the superintendent said if they would let him know, the board would back it even though some people are reporting his own daughter is a senior in this school.
I'm glad she wasn't the principal when I graduated. We stole an airplane and buzzed the school! I'll bet she might have had a problem with that . . . .
The only 'crazy' is the constant lack of common since from the elitist teachers and their union thugs! Marxist control over OUR children should be treated with aggressive retribution. I.E...remove the teachers and unions by ALL means necessary! Forget about their supposed protection from the fake in chief, and the 'contract' that they hide behind. Take back our education for our own countries survival!
Geez, show a little forgiveness already. The principal realized her mistake, apologized and made restitution. We need a little more compassion for mistakes in this country and a little less judgement. Everyone's so quick to take up arms.
Whew, I'm glad my HS took the old taking a car apart and putting it back together again inside the school lightly. Perhaps it's because it was a trade and technical school that they accepted our putting what they taught us to use. I can only imagine what she would have done to our senior class. I guess no one would have been at graduation as 30+ years ago, no one would have ratted anyone out. Another fine example of schools administrators out of control, to go along with all the stupid a$$ rules they have. We have 8.5 million people unemployed in this country, and here's another fine example of someone who shouldn't be in the position they are in.
I think that it was great, cool what the students did. What's the problem here? They had police escort. Every Senior class wants to do somthing to leave their mark. It is a part of passage, like the Senior Prom. I'm still waiting for the first President to make a point by riding a bike down Pennsylvania Ave. on Innuguration Day.
Mrkwildcat, I hope you have the same anger to the executives that are ruthless and grossly over payed when you say union thugs!!! To give you some information here, a union is a contract between a employer and employee or employees. Every executive has a contract of employment. So if you are so against employment contracts, get you politician to get rid of them. Oh thats right, the rich runs the politicians and good luck on that. I would like to see everybody get paid for the hours you work like I do, not holiday or vacation days either
Kids riding bikes to school..................OH THE HUMANITY!!!!!! Where will this stop next thing they will be helping little ole ladies across the street.
Here we go again another school official over reacting to something that wasn't of their concern; what is it with these control freaks? Senior students organized this themselves without school permission or endorsement therefore the school has no say, control, or liablity. Besides the fact that it is not on school grounds anyways, it doesn't sound like they broke any traffic laws, and were they late to school or anything like that? (I'm guessing no). Also, Last time I checked it wasn't illegal to ride a bike. Not to mention these are seniors and most of which are probably 18 now therefore legal adults, not 8yr olds (though I wouldn't be surprised if some act like that but thats beside the point). And that doesn't even take into account the fact that they had a police escort, I'm sure they may have been on some busy streets but not like it was going down the freeway. Oh, and it harmed no one!
This principal deserves all the heat and negativity coming her way. You want to show zero common sense and go on a power trip then guess what you get whatever else comes with it. Clearly she didn't even stop to think. Kids riding bikes in a group! Hell no to that! Suspended for a day all of you! I also ask what about other kids who may have rode bikes to school but weren't in the group? Give me a break. Driving to school would've been no less dangerous, and they wouldn't have had the escort. Same ol because of safety CYA excuse to boot as part of the response, which is really getting tiresome (I know there are other reasons that lead us to CYA everything now a days but still).
The worse part is they missed senior walk but more importantly have to make up a test! All of this because of her ignorance and failure to comprehend a simple situation. To the kid who apologized, good job trying to be the better person and adult and take the high road, but believe me you don't owe her $hit.
Now I know I'm a little fired up but I will say she doesn't deserve to be tarred and feathered or fired, and hopefully this doesn't carry on to long, but a review and reprimand is likely in order. She needs to have control over the school but that means knowing her boundaries as well. Hopefully she learns from this. At least she apologized and mostly owned up to her screwup. Our schools dearly need our support and parental involvement but damn they sure are making harder and harder with these constant bone head and common sense lacking decisions they keep carrying out. To everyone, (this will be harder for some than others) please just think once and while!
It is time
If one of the students had been hurt, people would then BLAME the Principal for NOT reacting. She did apologize, and retracted the severe punishment...end of story. The main problem that the kids caused was a traffice tie up with people trying to get to work. Traffic backed up from the street the kids were on all the way back and up to the freeway and then some.
You need school permission to ride your bike to school with a police escort? Principal completely flip flopped. If she didn't know there was a police escort before unleashing her tirade, why not? Pity any student she would have previously taught in any subject before she became principal.
the principal did not apologize. the school did for her. "on her behalf". Be an adult and lead. Apologize yourself.
Mrkwildcat - get your right wing head out of your elitist wannabe a**. The problem was instigated by the principal, part of the management team, not a member of the union. Unions are not thugs. Do a little research on union activism and history and you will find that the thugs were hired by the companies, members of management, not the unions. You, sir, are an uneducated, reactionary moron.
Aggie - the principal did not apologize. The district did it for her, probably because she refused to do so. My guess is that she may be looking for new employment next fall.
I've got to go with RM on this: What the hell is going on in Michigan? First they turn the place into something that mostly resembles the Chinese national party and various regional governors, beholden only to the head of state, then, they are caught on video passing things without the votes to pass them, then they disenfranchise their voters by nullifying a bill recall in a clear case of conflict of interest, and now, a Nazi Principal is attacking students for taking a heath and green alternative method of travel to school?
If we elect the republicans, I have this sinking feeling that this crap is going to happen nationwide.
I guess, though, if democracy is going to fail here, we may as well elect Mitt Romney, and get it over with. Then the military overthrow can take place, and we can try a new kind of government.
According to recent school news articles, it seems like principals are required to work everyday with something up their rear-ends.
obviously she over-reacted, she is out of touch with the student body, and the school board needs to seriously study her previous decisions in running this school, as a parent I would be very concerned having someone so narrow minded and hot tempered making the rules for my child.
What these kids did was totally legal and responsible, if not they would not have had a police escort, kuddo's to the police department of this town for supporting and protecting these kids when they were asked to do so.
I agree, she needs to find new employment and a new career.
Aggie - school didn't organize or know about it, therefore they could easy claim no liability. Most of these kids are likely legal adults anyways. Don't get me wrong sure someone would try but then again they had a police escort and the driver would be ultimately responsible and should be (called personal responsiblity), assuming you are referring to getting hit by a car. But again no different than if they drove to school, still could get hit then, not to mention riding a bike is not illegal. Traffic backup? Really, that much, any reports on this? Only 24,000 live there. It was a one time thing anyways, people will be fine. But again main issue is the principal over reacting and not showing common sense, not a temporary inconvenience for some morning commuters.
jrm22 - you are right. That changes my comment above some. Should've come from her own mouth. Certainly would carry more weight and humility that way.
mrkwildcat - go easy man
What is wrong with people! Such an innocent "making a memory" act. Pray Christians Pray!
Walker, MI - population 23,800. Highly doubt that there was a "serious traffic jam" and highly doubt that a town that small would mind one day of having something different happen. Awesome prank!
The article said they had a police escort, and the mayor was with them. Many of the parents probably knew about their plan as well. Seems to me the town provided plenty of "adult supervision" for their event. Maybe the principal should have blamed the chief of police and the mayor instead.
Let me consider that for a second ...... hmmmmmm????? ...... Naaww, It's more fun to pile on. SHE'S A WITCH! BURN HER!!!!!!
Give me a break! My daughters 8th grade class rode nearly 600 miles on their bikes from Northern California to Santa Barbara ON Hwy 1, with sheer cliffs, city traffic, and everything imaginable. They were gone 2 weeks and everyone servived. They learned more about themselves on this 'RIDE OF PASSAGE' than anyone could ever imagine. If the principal of a high school is worried about 3 miles, what kind of confidence does she have in their future as adults. Someone is lacking confidence here and I don't think it's the senior class!
AG99: She DID NOT apologize. The statement was released on her behalf. Therefore, someon on the school board wrote the letter and released it. They may have shown her the letter before they released it and maybe not.
As far as I am concerned they should have fired her azz!!!!
opp45646456
As hard is this may be for you to accept, I happen to work 'at will'. And my employer not only keeps me employed, and gives me raises based on my productivity. See, I am very aware of the concept of earning and keeping my job with hard work, and production. As to your lack of understanding, let me clarify: Only those that promote mediocracy join Unions. After all, without there protected contract, they too would be on gubernut assistance, commonly accepted by those that do not wish to 'work and produce' for a living. But hey buttercup, keep paying your slave master up there in DC, he will need all of the funds he can get when his arse is thrown out in November.
Swan: Okay, that made me laugh.
what a raging bit^h!!!
kudos for those students who were doing a positive prank instead of a hurtful one!
You can interpret that paragraph however you like, but since it was written in the first person, I believe she wrote it herself. The Board would have written it differently if it came from them.
But sure, go ahead and take it in the worst possible light. Heaven forbid we should actually accept she took responsibility for her overreaction and did the right thing. It's so much more satisfying to hate on her instead.
How small and spiteful Americans have become.
I don't see energy conservation & fighting an obesity epidemic as a 'prank'. I see it as 'teaching by example. How much smog & fuel consumption would be eliminated if our gov't. leaders did this? Food for thought.
The school district apologized on her behalf, She didn't even have the good grace to do it herself. What 'restitution?' Not punishing these kids for doing nothing wrong?
She's an idiot. I'm glad I don't have to deal with her. Pity these kids and their families do.
Here we go again. Call the National Guard!! Seriously, kids nowadays can't do anything without getting in trouble, getting charged, suspended, etc etc....Give me a flippin break. I know for a fact, if half of my class would be in todays graduating seniors we would have records, fines, maybe not got into college. We turned out fine!!! The problem is laws were designed to protect society, today they are there just to create criminal acts.
mrkwildcat
So what you are telling me is, everyone with a contract of employment (executives and unions) promote mediocracy, also without their protected contracts, they to would be on government assistance, commonly accepted by those who do not wish to work or produce for a living! How much to the workers make and the executives pull? And who are destroying this nation again. If the contract for employment are good for the executives, than it's good enough for the working class my friend!!!!
Prime example of narrow minded, can't think outside of the box decision making. Im sure this school, like many, banned "senior pranks." So something completely harmless like a group bike ride to school is setup by students as a "prank" which really isn't a prank, offends the principal. Basically "how dare you defy this school..." There definitely was no concern over safety, the principal was angry and pulled that out of her rear end, to have something to damn the students for. What should have happened was an appreciation for a clever, creative, and very harmless way of the students "pranking" the school without mischief.
2014MD: Walker MI is a suburb of Grand Rapids, MI. While Walker is a good sized suburb with many businesses and one of busiest thurofares in the State. Also, I-131 & I-96/I-196 run directly through Walker. Plus, G.R. is the second largest city in Michigan. This DID cause a large backup on a major interstate. Just FYI . I also heard the words of the Principal read on the radio, started with "Did I overreact, I guess I did".... and with that followed words of apology and withdrawal of the punishment.... The Board apologized also for her, but she also offered her own.
I just don't think it's THAT big of a deal to make national "news". And I still contend that should something have gone wrong, an accident or an injury, she and the school would have been held responsible. That is a very good school with a great reputation, and the kids did get police escort, but hindsight says they should have gotten the blessings of the school and the principal. Again, hardly national newsworthy...
Aggie-345886, it's not a prank if everyone knows about it. Having a police escort is sufficient for their protection.
I still have to laugh at the whole traffic jam concept. Grand Rapids, MI is only population 188,000. I have lived in NYC, Philly, and DC...and those place know what a real traffic jam is.
Thanks Aggie, I'm was getting mad at reading all the comments about how small a city Walker is. Considering the Grand Rapids with suburbs is about 333,000 people and many people commuting into the city from surrounding communities. But I don't see how this is any different than closing one lane on US-131 with no warning to spray weeds during morning rush hour.
2014MD. I never said anything at all about a "prank". Never used the word. And a police escort isn't going to prevent some kid from falling off their bike. Or kids colliding...any number of injuries could occur that have nothing to do with having a police escort. Just saying.....
I've lived in a few "big cities" myself. I'm no stranger to traffic jams. No place is immune from gridlock and that includes G.R. and it's interstates and main roads.
Aggie-345886, the story was about a HS prank and so by extrapolation of the your statement "but hindsight says they should have gotten the blessings of the school and the principal" implies that it would no longer be a prank. Hence why I wrote that. Also, riding a bike can injure anyone, does that mean they should not ride it? It did not look like those kids were racing in the Tour de France so I am pretty sure they were not going to "fall of their bike...collide." Back in the day it was part of growing up to get scrapes and bumps, now we have parents putting on helmets when their kids are learning to walk inside the house. Gosh I feel old saying that and I am still in my 20s. Aggie, do you wrap your children (if you have any) in bubble wrap when they ride their bikes?
The whole point of a prank is that no one saw it coming.
btw I am just having some fun :)
My "kids" are all in their 40's...suffered many a cut, scrape, bruise, stitches, and broken bones. MY point was that we ALL know how people love to "blame" someone, anyone, and you KNOW if a kid was injured, it would be the school in this instance...one way or the other. So I'm saying it doesn't have so much to do with the kids...just that IF...SOMEONE would be suing or blaming the school. Simple as that. AND the fact this is hardly national newsworth. I've nothing against pranks...participated is many myself. I, too, like to have some fun. btw..I have undies older than you! Have a good holiday weekend....take a bike ride -lol
two words for that Principal - lighten up
What a power trip. Someone did something without telling her so they have to be punished.
She just hasn't been laid in a while and is probably on the rag. Not her fault.
Better yet get a life and something as well thought out as the senior bike ride to school!
Someone needs to have the stick removed from her backside...I'm just saying.
While I agree her knee jerk reaction was ....silly, I will say one thing in her defense. Our litigation happy society is to blame for those in positions of authority being gun shy. I have no doubt that IF one of these kids had been hurt, the school would have somehow been sued.
...and after lighten up, she should hear "go ride a bike!
Look, it's practical and fun http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou1AvKDicxA
JLM and Paul- I agree. What a sorehead that principal is. I rode my bike to work for years WAY more than 3 miles. What they did was harmless.
That's what I am hung up on. Riding your bike is a perfectly legal means of travel, and contains no more inherent danger than driving or doing anything else in this big messy world. To do so in a large group. with a police escort, is about as safe a thing as it is possible to do. Just an asinine decision, and I was heartened to see that she apologized quite thoroughly.
When I was in school a lot more than 64 kids rode their bikes to school, and from what I see today that's still true.
Is this principal a member of the Big Oil lobby or something?
UDunnoBro
No, she is a member of the socialist elitist teachers union....'nuf said.
Mrkwildcat---Principals are not members of the teachers' union. They are supervisory/management. Once promoted out of the classroom, an educator may no longer belong to the union/association. Please get the facts before you rant and call people names.
Rev Dan.... Mayb YOU should read again... where is there a name being called?
Also, your post is not entirely correct. Teahers Unions allow for Administrators to be part of the union. Many teachers get promoted to administration... This may even apply to Principals.....Dont let facts get in the way of your liberal hurt feelings...
Liberal. Conservative. Both ends have their heads up their rear ends. You guys could learn a thing from this story about not screaming before you get all the facts and look foolish.
Lew-Calling people "socialist-elitist" is most certainly name-calling, although I've heard much worse. Now, as to your assumption that my response was because of "liberal hurt feelings" I have to wonder why you went there with that comment. What made you come to that assumption? And what in my post would lead to the assumption that I have "hurt feelings" let alone "liberal hurt feelings?"
Now, back to my original statement. I worked in education for over thirty-five years--first as a teacher, then as an administrator, then as a marketing director in the publishing industry, before leaving and going to seminary. As an educational administrator I was not part of the collective bargaining unit of the Teachers' Association/Union. I could not belong to the Association. I had to belong to a separate association for administrators. In my experience, the same is true for at least most education associations.
I will grant you that association membership requirements may differ slightly from state to state, but the differences are slight because the national associations govern the local.
I would have loved to have a calm discussion about this Lew, and am certainly open to being corrected if I have made an error, but please don't make assumptions about people's political leanings simply because you disagree with what they say. "Liberal" and "Conservative" are NOT derogatory terms, but many people turn them into such. Liberals and conservatives are simply the two ends of the political spectrum in this great country with most people--including myself--falling into the category of "moderate." Liberal and conservative should be viewed as balancing political forces--not as enemies. "We the People" are all Americans who love this country and want the best for the country. The sooner we--especially all of our politicians--remember that, the better off we all will be.
As to the Principal and the senior class, Crazy Talk Kid, you are right in that we need to focus on the story. I was trying to do that in terms of a clarifying response. I appreciate your impatience, but again, I was not screaming, merely clarifying. The principal made an error in judgment. She should be held accountable for that error. But to call for her head and firing is perhaps going too far. We all make mistakes. We all say things that, after they were said, wish we could take them back. I have done it many times in my career. When it happens, you apologize. In this age of instant news and instant response because of technology, many people analyze and rush to judgment before all the facts are known.
Let's all slow down a bit, take a deep breath, stop rushing to judgment, and above all, let's stop calling names and labeling people simply because we disagree with some element of what they say.
At least they didn't trash the school like some do. Good grief, the police dept. was in on it & helped. She should've been proud to know they did that. She needs to start taking chill pills............
Nah, pills are bad for you. She should smoke a blunt instead.
Another Moron school administrator, she needs to be fired, the size of the community is small enough that it should be no problem geting rid of her. What a complete idiot.
Biking to work,school etc has been pushed for years as a way to save gas and the enviroment. I bet she drives a full size truck that gets 8 mpg.
I think that's the fundamental issue here - bike riding is effeminate and "Europeanish". Real Americans burn petro-chemicals; it's what keeps our nation strong and pure.
bob douglas-1120933 - I know you're being sarcastic, but I'd still suggest that if more people biked/walked around we wouldn't be a nation of fatasses that can't do a single push-up or pull-up.
The real obstacle to that is the suburban phenomenon of the superblock, and arterial roads with no bike path nor sidewalk.
Yeah i was being sarcastic. (Re-reading that i also sound stupid.) I commute by bike and love it when it's not raining. And... I feel a bit angry towards people who are really fat and out of shape, knowing they could just do some simple things to take care of themselves... like riding a bike. shrug. guess it's one's own choice.
I understand how you feel. I commute to work by bike too. When other people find out about it, their reaction is about equal to what it would be if I announced I had just climed Mt. Kilamanjaro. Whenever it's brought up, I try to tell them that it's not all that strange/difficult/dangerous to do, but I don't think many people seem to believe that. This article seems to show that it's going to be quite a while before what we are doing is seen as normal.
By the way... I'm a teacher, so I'm biking to school. I wonder what that principal would have done to me!
We ARE talking about seniors in high school, right? This is what has happened to our country's education system that has been overrun with liberal nanny-staters. This whack job of a principal is telling us it's unsafe for 17 and 18 year old teenagers to ride a bicycle on public roads??? What, children that age aren't responsible enough to ride a bike?
When I was in high school we had a cycling club that included about two dozen students, the school's Athletic Director and a couple of Phys. Ed. teachers. Twice a week we'd go for an afternoon ride of 25 miles after school on....God forbid.....busy public roads. Wow, so daring! So risky!
I wonder if this principal let's the students go to the restrooms by themselves or do they need an adult chaperon?
I doubt the principal is a liberal. She sounds like a Nazi to me and deserves to lose her job!
This action sounds more like a conservative whack job, I know what is best for you!!!!
Roger 2468
poor rog....
meantime, the princapal stated she didnt know they had a police, and mayor escort, besides the huge population of 24,000, (sides hurt from laughing), dont see any real danger, but i think the principal was publicly pointed out.
gratz to the class of 12'
Yep, it's the liberal "nanny-staters" who want to go into your bedroom and tell you what you can and can't do. They want to go into your doctor's office and tell your doctor what they can and can't say to you and what drugs they can and can't prescribe. The liberal "nanny-staters" make their representatives sign an oath to Grover Norquist over their constitutional responsibilities.
Suuuuuuuuure.
So now who is overreacting? Sometimes people overreact. The good ones recognize it and apologize. Case closed!
This isn't a political issue or liberal or conservative.
ALL politicians (both sides) think they know what's best for us. And I'm sure they continue to think that even after they're caught [insert sundry scandal here].
Walker is just a small suburb of Grand Rapids. The total population of Grand Rapids is around 333,000 people and this was during morning rush hour when many people are commutting from neighboring communities into Grand Rapids.
The entire student body should ride their bikes to school on the first day in the fall.
Way to go madam principal. Stoopid is as stoopid does.
Sounds like a situation where a little communication would've gone a long way to avoid an issue.
Since when do high school seniors have to get the principal's permission to bike to school?!
She said she is NOT infallible, so she will never be Pope
exactly, no communication was required whatsoever, but they did in fact reach out to police for addtional safety, and I commend them for their great idea. forget the senior walk, the bike parade is now the thing. if i was class of 2013, i'd be all over it.
Since when is riding a bike to school a bad idea? Go by any school elementry, middle, or high school and they have bike racks.
Where do we find these "educators." This is the second one in the news today that shows no common sense. Sigh.
And what is worse is that we pay them.
even worse these are the ones teaching children, they are suppose to be role models.
When I first saw the headline I thought I was going to read about a bunch of elderly people that got arrested for a prank...bummer. It just turned out to be more hype and drama.
Then you should watch Betty White's, Off their Rockers. It exactly what you are looking for. A bunch of zany old broads and coots pranking young people. Look for it on NBC.
14 deleted, extrapolation sexism from Eat Rolos. Banned, rereg of SirTrollington.
What has been glossed over is the part where Mrs Principal tell the students to "get your butts home". If she was indeed so concerned about their safety, why then would she send them back home, on their bikes, without benefit of the police escort? I am a resident of Walker Michigan, my children attend Kenowa Hills School system. And I think we need a new principal.
This was left out, she forced them to find rides to get back to their cars. That doesn't change anything though, just thought I should let you know.
Dam hooligans riding their bikes to school. I hope they don't go completely nuts and start a recycling program!
I wonder what would happen if they walked to school and had busses pulling up to the school with no one getting off.
This story is, to paraphrase a well known writer, a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing.
This is news? Perhaps in a small, backward town but not to the nation. To criticize bicycle riding is one foolish idea!
Glad to see the principal realized it and made amends.
Congratulations to the senior class of Walker, a town in the state of The Motor City!
I remember my last high school day very well. I skipped it. Started my summer vacation and the rest of my life a little sooner than the others.
you missed out on a hell of a dope session then...
I hope she turns this negative to a positive and starts a bike-to-school program next year. Students, staff, everyone should be encouraged to participate. It should be an incentive program like the ones that encourage kids to read books. Win!
We have teachers in Chicago indoctrinating their students against gun ownership, ones in North Carolina berating a student about disparaging President Obama, and now a principal punishes students for riding bikes to school!
Well, we certainly have 3 nominees for teacher of the year don't we?
Imbeciles.
That is a lot of the problem today with schools and the teachers/principals who run them. Too much BS and not enough teaching. Look at the teacher in NC who sweared at her kids because they had thoughts they expressed and those thoughts were not in line with hers. According to her, they were wrong and she was right. This principal is of the same vein and both need to be re-assigned to nothing more telling than janitors in the schools they once taught.
I live just about next to the Olentangy Orange High School. I see a lot of seniors driving and some walking. Most ride the 5 mpg buses. It would be nice if bikes came back. I rode my bike to both middle school and the first year of high school. These seniors are old enough to drive; they are certainly old enough to bike to school. The "dangerous" activity (riding on public roads) occurred off the school property. The school (the principal) had NO authority to impose any punishment at all. I concur with the majority on this thread. Katie Pennington made a rash and unfair judgement, exceeded her authority, and as a result should be employed in another capacity. I am thinking janitor.
This woman is clueless and needs to be replaced. What I want to know is during all the other school days of this particular school year when a kid rode his/her bike to school where they punished? Where they taken into the principals office and yelled at and then sent home? If not why do it on this day? This principal is flat out nuts and should not be overseeing children of any age!
The problem is not the kids nor the principle - the poor lady was damned if she did and damned if she didn't. Sure we have some of the most ignorant rules today - - however if the principle would have laughed it off someone would have condemmed her for that. When I was in highschool, 21 years ago, we gave guns away as prizes, we chedwed and smoked at school, we had snack machines with Coke and Candy - we got into fights, dithced school and the teachers would paddle us if we did wrong - if we got paddled our parents would sure to whip us again when we got home. Guess what we we better for it - this half crazed society has created this problem. I feel sorry for teachers now days they can't do anything right LOL
Yep really, with this pc country, you can't win for losing.
Hehe, the last comment I made about political correctness got me banned from newsvine. The newsvine staff, principal, tempest in a teapot. :)
I've been out of the penalty box for fourteen minutes.
While "Walker" itself is a small town, it's suburb of Grand Rapids so the traffic can be kind of crazy. I can't picture exactly where this hs is, but it appears the police were in on this so what's the big deal? And I have friends that live in Grand Rapids proper that bike to work practically year round. This principal sounds like an idiot and should be fired.
That is an incredibly busy area. You get a lot of people heading into Grand Rapids from the surrounding area's going through there and with all those kids biking it, I can imagine it would be a nightmare with all the traffic backed up. I'm glad I don't have to deal with that very often.
I live in Walker Mi and you are wrong. We don't have that much traffic and this was on residential and country roads. Sorry, but the traffic backups are on interstate 96 with construction, not with a bike ride that lasted less than an hour and was only 3 miles for the entire ride. We are a small community, 8 miles from Grand Rapids proper. My daughters ride their bikes on the same roads routinely going to their jobs and to friends homes.
Right Jackie, as I said earlier, this may have incovienenced some people in their commute but not anymore than road construction or closing a lane during rush hour to spray the weeds around the "helpful median men" that they can't mow anymore.
And this lady is in charge ? I think this was a great "prank" from the seniors. Well thought out, Cop escorted and NO distruction or anything. I saulte the seniors for comeing up with such a "prank". Just this week in my home town the seniors broke into the school. Zip tied all lockers shut, Rearanged furniture, Shredded papers and duct taped a dead opossum to one of the front doors so YEAH I think your school seniors came up with a GREAT and SAFE senior prank. Lady you need to lighten up !!!!!