These are children. In no way should their names, faces and address be put on websites for people to perform their own sick witch hunts. The school is dealing with the situation appropriately and the students are learning a valuable life lesson. They don’t need the added stress of some vigilantes chasing them down. I’m surprised you don’t remember being 12. This is a case were the press and a few have blown it out of proportion and should let the school and parents deal with this issue. I suggest any adult that wants to contact a child to “tell them they are wrong” should seek therapy for their own obsession. As far as publically apologizing, that is ridiculous. The only ones who deserve an apology are the other children that were hit during this week. The parents and children should seek them out and apologize directly to them. To engage in public apology would only disconnect these children from the situation and would not teach then anything but anger.

I am amazed at those who have responded saying this is just kids being kids and that it has been blown out of proportion. That is just the kind of attitude that we don’t need. This is serious. Racism and anti-semitism is serious. These serious issues need to be addressed now. If they are not, it will get worse. Is it embarrassing to the kids and families - yes. Perhaps that is what they need to straighten up and end this type of behavior.

Sorry, but I have to agree with Matt. These are kids being sixth graders. It went from shake someones had day to hug someone day to slap someone day to “hit a Jew day”. These are just kids taking things to a next level until they are told to stop. We need to take a step back.

Racist parents usually raise their kids to be racist. Sad part is, some parents don’t even realize they are racist. This is 2008. How sad for these kids, …and these parents?

To Upset - yes, you are right, these issues need to be addressed now. I’m sure they are. As I said and others, the parents and school officials are handling it. These kids have learned a lesson, and I am sure understand people of different religions and different cultures a little better now by making this mistake. We have to trust that the appropriate people are making sure of this. This is not our business. THESE ARE 12 YEAR OLDS who made a mistake - they didn’t spray paint swastikas on lockers, they didn’t send nasty notes, they didn’t beat a kid up because of his religion. I am not Jewish, but have Jewish friends, know many muslims due to the melting pot that St. Louis is becoming, children need guidance and like adults make mistakes and learn from them. Please let this drop and again trust that it is being handled appropriately by the appropriate people.

I say send them all to jewvie. Seriously, though, they’re 12. This will all pass within a week.

David Hunn: I was not referring the the schools antibullying policy but rather their non-discrimination EEOC policies as follows:

Book: 1
Section: A
Title: Equal Educational Opportunities
Number: ACB-BP
Status: Active
Legal:
Adopted: 09/06/2000

Policy Detail

ACB.BP*
EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

The Parkway Board of Education believes that each individual student should be provided the opportunity to develop and achieve to his/her maximum potential. Therefore, the Parkway School District shall foster an educational environment that provides equal educational opportunity for all students.

PARKWAY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Statement of Philosophy
EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

The board reaffirms in its basic policy statement that every child – regardless of race, creed, color, sex, cultural or socio-economic status, or handicapping conditions - should be given equitable opportunity for educational development. The board also believes that each school within the district must strive to create and perpetuate a learning atmosphere that capitalizes on student diversity and differences.

The board recognizes the importance of providing each student a school environment conducive to intellectual, emotional and social growth through participation in the full range of educational programs and activities. Board policy insures equal educational opportunities in the following: course offerings, guidance and counseling, test procedures, extra-curricular programs and activities, co-curricular programs and activities, implementation of student management and discipline procedures, and support services.

In the performance of its duties, the board guarantees the constitutional rights of each student who comes within its jurisdiction. The goal of equal educational opportunity will be implemented in each of the board’s policy determinations and actions. Board policies and actions of the administration will be directed toward extending and cultivating equal educational opportunities for each student. Affirmative efforts will be exerted to achieve a quality integrated school system as evidenced by racially balanced administrative and instructional staff in accordance with existing federal and state laws, guidelines, court mandates, and the Settlement Agreement.

The Parkway Board of Education directs the superintendent to develop administrative guidelines to implement this policy.

___________________________________________________________________________
POLICY REAPPROVED: September 6, 2000
SUPERSEDES: ACB, 6/24/87
LEGAL REFERENCE:
CROSS REFERENCE: JB

well at least with st. pats day we get an option. if we wear green we won’t be pinched!!! if they want to have hit a jew day then you have to have a way out, like anyone not wearing the little hat gets hit. then it would be a holiday and we would all have cute little round hats and kiss me i’m jewish pins then go get drunk (not the kids of course)

It is good to see so many drama queens responding to this story. Should kids hit kids? Of course not, but kids have been hitting kids since the creation of the world. Frankly, I think this whole story has to be from a Southpark script because that is the way the adults are handling it. Kids learn to deal with problems and social issues through their own encounters, not by whining adults who aren’t even directly involved. I assume all the people complaining are the ones who lost in dodgeball and felt that the rubber spheres were treating them too harshly for gym class. In all honestly, I would love to have a little talk with the person/people who decided to make this a media circus and ruin the reputation of a great school district.

hey igloo, what is “jewvie”? let me guess, you are one of the parents of these kids at issue. why do people like you think these comments are funny and appropriate?