Klanswear ok at Tecumseh Local Schools?
i just sent this letter to District Superintendent Jim Gay:
Mr. Gay,
Hello, i was just reading about the Civil Rights case at Olive Branch and wanted to know more information. Specifically, i would like to know by what methods it was determined that “no harassment took place.” It is very interesting to me that a kid could claim that another kid was wearing a Klan getup on school property, yet nothing found to be deserving of further inquiry. If the other student was not wearing Klan regalia, then what, exactly, were they found to be wearing? And if they were indeed wearing Klanswear, what action was taken, if any, and why was this sort of attire permitted (or was it instead encouraged)?
I understand freedom of expression is a precious and invaluable thing in our society, but likewise is freedom from harassment. I think you’ll agree that wearing a swastika to a synagogue would constitute a similarly grave social blunder, if not also break harassment and/or anti-hate crime laws.
I thank you for your time, and will greatly appreciate your response.
Regards,
x jeremy jarratt, POEE
1990 Senior Class President, Tecumseh High School
2 replies on “student wearing Klan attire not found to be harassing (local)”
Who could disagree!? To hell with free speech!
Your insights are striking.
Oh, but there’s more. In the 2 followup posts (part 2) (part 3), i noted that a friend of mine called you (assuming, perhaps improbably, that you are really you) and discovered more details than came out in the local media. Specifically, i implied that, as Morales has you saying, “no harrassment took place” [in all likelihood].
But, considering that jumping the gun is the modus operandi du jour, perhaps mockery and half-veiled insults are the inevitable conclusion after all, warranted or not.
In any case, what i presented was merely a case-in-point that citizenry should be more concerned about local goings-on, more inquisitive regarding events taking place in our publically-funded institutions (particularly in the hallowed halls of learning), that they should rather ask blunt questions of persons of authority than stand around, milling like sheep. And that those in a position to account should be held accountable and put to task until matters are resolved.
At the very least, inquiry, even endeavored foolhardily, is always better than complacence.
In the end, i conclude (given the “new” angle on the story, as presented by my friend Kathy) that the vampiric local media should take some heat for incomplete reporting not likely to be compared to the likes of Tom Paine or Edward R. Murrow anytime soon (or at least for editing the full story almost completely out of the picture). And that Shanee Stevens, in my opinion, is either a greedhead, or not given to much investigation herself. καλλίστῃ!