I know that a lot of people in the community visit this site. When allowed, anonymous posters flood in and they can degrade into crass and demeaning comments. However, what was posted outside this blog on YouTube tonight has clearly crossed the line. When an adult and former board member states "get their addresses; go to their homes" directing the 500 members of the student body to seek out the school board members houses, clearly this adult is out of line.
What's more is the person filming is yet another former board member.
I will not stand for this and hope the rest of the students and community support me in this effort. I have written a brief email to Howard Colter to hold an emergency assembly and stop this before it escalates even more.
I hope civility and common sense rise above stoking an emotional fire.
Below is a comment that was posted tonight. Everyone should read it and really understand what it says.
"My son participated in the walkout today, and he came home pumped up about have made a statement!
My husband had a sit-down with him tonight about the importance of finding out the facts before you join group--no matter how right or virtuous they may appear to be. There are always two sides to an issue.
We live in a democracy in which we elect officials to make decisions for us--and when you disagree you make that known with your next ballot--NOT with immediate knee-jerk bullying.
I am grateful to every single current and past school board member for their work (and undoubtedly immense emotional involvement).
I do not know what went on in the non-public session. I appreciate the thought that each and every one of the school board members put into their vote. I appreciate that they were elected by the whole community.
If you'd like to make a change, then run for school board or work for a school board candidate next time around. "
There is definitely two sides to every story, its too bad the school board won’t tell us their side. Its to bad they don’t tell the community why they voted against a seemingly perfect candidate for principal. Because if they gave the community a legitimate reason as to why Justin Campbell would not be a good principal we could see the second side and understand the situation a lot more.
ReplyDeleteIt's not just too bad, it New Hampshire law. The board can't tell the community due to statutes designed to protect the personal information of public employees or hires, see RSA Section 91-A:3 concerning nonpublic meetings.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/VI/91-A/91-A-3.htm
Thank you for acknowledging there are two side to every story.
I apologize for what I said. My comments were directed to a small group of students who I know and who know me. My expression and posture (not seen in video) would make it obvious that I was joking and the student's reaction (laughter) makes it clear that it was taken in that way. To be clear, I would never actually encourage any such action. It was meant as "rally humor", but upon reflection, I acknowledge that it was not at all appropriate. Again, I apologize and will convey my apology to the Board members.
ReplyDeleteI've watched the video in question and I do not think the statement, "Get their addresses. Go to their homes." was uttered by David Taylor. Later in the video you can hear David respond to a greeting from his son. David's voice is close to the camera and distinctly recognizable.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, I'm choosing to interpret this as a student caught up in the heat of the moment. The light hearted laughter that follows indicates to me there was no malice -- simply a student who didn't realize the gravity of issuing a call to bully and intimidate me, my family and the families of other board members.
It was a distasteful joke made by someone too young to know the depth of a parent's protective instinct for their children's safety -- nothing more.
However, if I am wrong and any violence is attempted against my children, my wife, myself, or my property; I will swiftly make this a police matter and respond to the fullest extent of the law.
John -- looks like we cross posted. Thanks for the apology and owning up to the comment.
ReplyDeleteExcept for the age of the speaker, I got it mostly right.
I would like to know more about why the students were apparently allowed to leave school in the middle of the day with no disciplinary repercussions.
ReplyDeleteRegardless of your views about a particular candidate for principal, or the process that was used, there are appropriate forums and means to express ones' opinion. Leaving school without permission is truancy. Was it made clear to the students as they left this school that this was an unexcused absence, and that it may put some of them in danger of violating NH truancy laws? Did teachers/administrators attempt to keep the students in class?
The fact that at least two adults were apparently "in" on this walkout (assumption based upon their being in the right place and time to video it) makes me wonder how many more adults colluded in this attempt to use the students to influence the SB.
Seth,
ReplyDeleteThere you go again.
If you watch the video, David Taylor Sr. is actually seen in the video walking around. How can he be the one holding the camera (your accusastion) when he is clearly in the video with his own camera around his neck?
Have you possibly thought that it could be his son, who happens to have the same name who could be behind this video?
Making this type of accusation without proof is slanderous and quite frankly, dangerous. In fact, you are often seen trying to quell exactly this type of rhetoric.
I think I smell a hypocrite.
How does one punish 500 students? They do have a 1st amendment right to
ReplyDelete1. protest
2. seek a redress of grievances agaisnt their government
3. free speech
I think there'd be a bigger revolt against the school for punishing this group of people than the outrage against the board for starting it.
One more thing:
ReplyDeleteThe parent that emailed Seth couldn't be more wrong on one point:
Our elected officials are public figures. They need to hear from the public on every subject that the voters feel is necessary. To hold one's comments until the next election is just downright wrong and unAmerican. Our country is founded on the right to protest and the kids are demanding a full-time, permanent principal. I am proud of my two kids for standing up for their rights and walking out in a peaceful, non-violent demonstration.
Regarding the walkout, true they have a right to act, they also have a right to the consequences of that decision. That is called preparing them for adulthood and what is at the root of those questioning it.
ReplyDeleteJohn Collins,
Thank your for commenting and clarifing. I think your statement has been both brave and a tool to stop the incredible amount of discord that would have accured today if left alone to be dissected, commented, theorized etc.
I implore you and the other former school board member to utilize your influence in a more constructive way than to just inspire them to speak up. I am an advocate of 'speaking up', I just would like to see more factuality behind it.
John -
ReplyDeleteWhen a student steps on the bus or walks through the front doors of a school, the school has taken on responsibility for their safety. I have first hand experience with this and can confidently say our schools take the safety and well being of the students *very* seriously.
Now if a student leaves campus without permission, they are committing truancy and the school needs to inform the student's parents using a truancy slip (not sure on the terminology - I've never received one). It's not punishment, it's fulfillment of the school's obligation as caretaker of that student. The schools liability, should a student who is truant be hurt off campus, is extreme and the truancy procedure helps protect the school from a lawsuit.
I agree, the ORHS can't practically punish 500 students for walking out but they are obligated to send truancy slips home for every student that left the building without permission. It would be irresponsible to the parents of those students not to. There were announcements Thursday morning reminding the students of "severe academic repercussions" should any student take things too far. I think the high school administration responded to a tough situation as best they could. I am confident enough in our administration to know there were employees of the high school present at that rally to ensure the safety of the students.
Just to clarify, the 'John' posting above starting at 9:55 AM is not John Collins. Also, John Collins (my husband, but I am questioning that decision right about now!! haha- this is a joke) had nothing to do with encouraging the walk out. He did overhear some students talking about it after the School Board meeting on Wednesday night, but that was the first he had heard of it. I beleive the students were acting on their own. He was at the HS on other business and encountered it (most unfortunately, in my opinion). Of course I believe his comments were extremely inappropriate, even in jest, and I am very sorry for this incident.
ReplyDeleteJohn -
ReplyDeleteIn my blog post, I never mentioned people's names. That was added later in the comments. Re-read the post. Was the person filming David Taylor Sr? Perhaps not but his voice was heard in the beginning of the footage after the infamous comment by the other former board member. In addition, you point out that this person could have been David Taylor Jr. I highly doubt that because in the video, the exchange went something like this:
Student (voice further away from the camera): "Hi Dad"
Adult voice (very near the camera): "Hello"
So, please keep to the facts and don't engage in the senseless name calling and accusations. This only serves to distract from the issue at hand which is that the safety of residents in the towns is at risk.
This comment only needs to be heard by one person with less common sense than I am sure most students (if not all) possess in this district to take inappropriate action. A post that was directed at me is simply a distraction.
John, keep to your points, post using facts and backup your ideas with grounded reason. Please stop attacking and finding a distraction from the real reason I posted this listed above.
Laura - Thanks for the clarification. You're correct, I was directing my comments to "John" who posted from 9:55am to 10:03am, not "john collins".
ReplyDeleteMe as well, Laura. The comment I just wrote was to "John" from the posts above.
ReplyDeleteOh my Lord, too many Johns. No offense to those named "john".
ReplyDeleteLaura, please make sure YOUR John knows my intended coments to HIM. If I don't go take my my 4 year old outside, there will be WW III in my house!!
When the students walked out on thurs. they made the decsion to walk around the school grounds to the sau
ReplyDeletecareful not to cross the street so that they were not really leaving campus.These students did an amazing job organizing themselves. Imagine getting hundreds of students to be respectful and follow the rules set by their student leaders.
On wed night my child informed me that their might be a walkout the next day.Several students were going to the school board meeting and if they felt that they were not heard than a walkout might happen. I asked my child why he wanted to attend the walkout and he was able to give a thoughtful answer for his position. At that point I gave my consent.I hope others used this day as a learning
oppurtuity with their HS students no matter what side they are on.