I saw a tweet from @riayn about a Louisville administrator punishing a student who called school bus driver a “jerk” after school bus driver ridiculed student for having Lesbian parents: “RT @outoutout: Sick and disgusting! “Louisville school targets student over her lesbian parents” http://bit.ly/cJ9hzc”
After reading the article, I had to send an email to the woman to try to convince her that she missed an opportunity to teach an important lesson. Here is my email to the assistant principal and the superintendent:
Ms. Allen,
I just read an account of your decision to suspend a student from the school bus because she was disrespectful to the school bus driver. You certainly have the right and duty to teach the children life lessons including the respect for authority. I think the lesson of respect would have been better if you had also suspended the bus driver who displayed a tremendous lack of respect to the student and to her parents.
The bus driver is an adult and in a position of authority who should have demonstrated better judgment in this case. Her job is to safely deliver the students to and from school. I also imagine there are policies against picking on other kids and tormenting them. Bullying and hurtful words can and often do lead to violence, which I’m sure you’ve seen in your years as a teacher and administrator. An adult in a position of authority has no business adding more hurtful words to such a dangerous situation. Her job is to diffuse it.
I can appreciate that you have a tough job and making a mistake can earn you more attention than you might want, but you have a chance to correct that mistake. The bus driver should be suspended for being disrespectful to the student and her family, and for fostering and encouraging a hateful environment. The bus driver should also have to attend a training class on how hateful words can lead to violence. Perhaps other members of your staff could also benefit from such training?
I believe this is a better approach to handling this situation. This lesson is that we should all respect each other and that both adults and children are subject to punishment for acting in a disrespectful manner.
I pray that you and other members of your staff learn this life lesson and that you are able to teach it to the kids and members of the community.
Sincerely,
Becki True
