To everyone saying that these are just kids being kids, what would be your reaction if the game was “Hit a black kid” I think what we are seeing now would be nothing compared to what Al Sharpton would have to say about that. Racism is racism. Every single racist action against any other minority gets front page billing, what is so different here??

Hey hel, being of Irish background I am appalled by the thinking that “pinching” the Irish is appropriate. Slapping is one thing but pinching?
::sarcasm off::

Also, to Upset, I do apologize if you were offended by my earlier comment. Growing up in the South Park and Howard Stern era, we learned how to take things not so seriously.

Who asked the ADL to get involved? The principal? Or did they invite themselves? Does having the ADL on her side somehow strengthen the principal’s position against the children? The fact that what happened could have and should have been handled privately, between teachers and students, was instead allowed to become (according to Tandy) a worldwide spectacle is a complete farce. Suspending sixth graders. Every person involved in this decision should be ashamed of themselves. Not only are they failures as educators, they are failures as rational thinking adults. Quite an example to set for the kids. And if even one kid’s name appears in the media, especially the internet, that kid’s parents should sue the district into financial oblivion.

What’s also sad is that I moved here from Southern California 23 years ago and started my 8th grade year at West Middle.. The first thing I remembered when I saw this story is that it was at this very same school that I learned what a Jewish person was.. Guess how I found out? By a bunch of kids in school referring to another classmate as “F’in Jew”.. That was my first introduction to racism as I can recall. I guess some things just never change..

Will someone please explain to me why the kids’ parents are at fault? Is it because they make better scapegoats than young people whose cognitive/social reasoning skills haven’t fully developed? People whose sole focus in life is to fit in with their peers? Doesn’t anyone remember Middle School!? And public humiliation!? REALLY!?!? Like medieval style? Wow. What a special suggestion on SO many levels. Let’s target a group of kids for targeting another group of kids…the logic is astounding. How many of you would like to be publicly humiliated for the stupid things you did when you were hitting puberty? Pull it together people. I know everyone feels obligated to be ultra-liberal for fear of being accused of racism…but reason should also enter into your thought processes.

I can tell you as a former teacher at West Middle that an Anti-Bullying Committee (ABC) was begun 5 years ago, but begrudgingly by Linda Lelonek (principal), who very rarely attended meetings and resisted major policy changes or programs for the student body.

I hope Parkway resists the ADL being involved. The ADL might say “to secure justice and fair treatment to all”. But in Israel, everyday is hit a Palestinian day, shoot a Palestinian day, or bulldoze a Palestinian’s house day. Foxman and the ADL are quick to condemn Nobel Peace Prize winners Desmond Tutu and Jimmy Carter for comparing Israel’s treatment of Palestinians to apartheid. The ADL always takes the side of Israel and ignores their human rights violations. They are not qualified to speak for human rights and do not belong in our public schools.

I am a parent at this school. It is BECAUSE these kids are not anti-semitic that they did not realize they were being anti-semitic. To them, “Jewish” was just another category - like “Tall”. Of course, it’s not okay to hit anyone for any reason, but I’m telling you evil was not in their hearts. These kids can not be expected to have the perspective we do as adults. They do not know that the Jews have been a persecuted people. They do not know about the evil of the holocaust. To these kids, “Are you Jewish or Christian?” Is like asking, “Do you like Coke or Pepsi?” Children are childish. They do impulsive, stupid things. Have you ever met a 6th grade boy? I do not believe that these kids’ parents taught them to be anti-semitic because I do not believe the kids ARE anti-semitic. The principal of the school, the 6th grade principal, and the regional director of the Anti-Defamation League have ALL said that the kids did NOT realize they were acting in a predjudiced manner and that’s good enough for me. Let’s use this as a teachable moment to let the kids know WHY it’s inappropriate to single out race, religion, tall, short, etc. By the way - did anyone get suspended for hitting the tall kids?

“The meeting went well and two more students were suspended.” Does anybody else realize what a sad statement that is? If we chuck out to more students, everyone is happy. No. Negative punishment is not what is needed in this case; education is what’s needed. Teach these kids that signaling out anyone based on religion, race, appearance, etc. is not acceptable. Parkway should be ashamed of themselves for making this a public spectacle and an apparently global witch hunt of 12 YEAR OLDS. This should have been dealt with internally. Now we have people trying to find these kids’ names and addresses. This is getting dangerous Parkway, the media, and the agenda-driven Anti-Defamation league should be absolutely ashamed of themselves, but they are to busy basking in the attention.

Mara, parents — not school employees — contacted the media. Should they not have? Could anyone argue this is not an issue others are concerned about?