Letter to the Editor: Harsh Tactics in Probe Of Students’ Wine Drinking
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Sunday, May 31, 2009
In reference to the article in the May 28 Loudoun Extra, "Did the Punishment Fit the Wine?", I want to make it clear that we parents of suspended Dominion High School students are not complaining about our children having been caught in violation of the school district's zero-tolerance policy.
We were initially aggrieved not to have been presented with all the facts by the high school. Subsequently, we remain most unhappy with the means that the French teacher and the assistant principal who chaperoned the trip used to gain information about the alleged infraction of school policy.
Specifically, they woke children from their beds, forced them into signing statements before releasing them, in their nightclothes, in a hotel lobby, and even removed phones from hotel rooms to prevent them from calling their parents. The principal upheld the decision by his assistant principal to suspend only 10 of the students, despite the same evidence that showed other children had also violated school policy.
Parents spoke out at the School Board meeting Tuesday to ask for an investigation into how Dominion High School mismanaged Loudoun County public schools policies 8.2 (investigations) and 8.35 (zero tolerance).
Linda Hollingsworth, Great Falls
Tagged: Dominion High School, Letter to the Editor, opinions, students
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The school board should investigate one of its own principals or teachers? Don't hold your breath. Hatrick won't allow it!! You have good argument, Linda, don't let them get away with it.
Posted by Eric101 (anonymous) on June 2, 2009 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would think denying a minor the right to call a parent would be illegal. The whole situation was handled poorly and I hope these parents smack the district with a fat lawsuit.
Posted by GenuineRisk (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 12:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We have heard one side of this situation. I won't assume the school staff and chaperones were in the wrong. I would like to know what happened in their view and why they made the decisions they made.
During public comment at the SB meeting, one of the parents indicated that he would like to know specifically what action may have been taken against the school staff involved. He accused the LCPS of making up the rules as they go along. The example he used was this: the employee who was recently arrested, in school, for being drunk. He noted that the principal sent a letter home that day letting parents know who it was and what had happened. There is no comparison here. On one hand, we are talking about an employee's personnel record, which is confidential. On the other hand, we are talking about an employee who was arrested by law enforcement. That information, including the person's identity is not protected by confidentiality laws. If this does go to court, at least the public can hear all sides of the story.
Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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