Why does the school know there are 35 Jewish students? Is that on the Parkway registration? I wouldn’t think that would be something the school needed to know.

It is not on any registration, but it is a common policy in school districts that have many Jewish students to ask how many students will be out of school during the Jewish Holy Days. These school districts are sensitive to the larger than normal absenteeism on those dates and will not schedule tests or special events during those days. In Parkway, in particular, some schools have a large enrollment of Jewish students and other schools may have very few

Linda Lelonek is one of the most sociopathic, paranoid, incompetent administrators education has ever seen. It is fitting that she is caught with egg on her face.

I just called Lelonek. She said the school does not have an official count of students who are Jewish, and indeed does not keep track of such things. The 35 was an estimate, she said, arrived at, in part, with help from a Jewish family at the school.

Kids will be kids.

I am appalled after reading this story, mainly of the incompetence of the principal of this school. First of all, I think it should be common sense that you don’t “estimate” the religious population of a particular school, especially to the media. Also, it sounded a little like her point that the kids were just tapping each other instead of actually “hitting” didn’t sit right with me. Is this really the point? It sounds like jewish kids were singled out throughout an entire day and pretty much bullied around. Kids were made to feel inferior because of their religion. The hitting vs. slapping seems a little inconsequential really.

These students should not be punished, but instead be educated on the subject of being sensitive to other cultures, nationalities and religions. It is a shame that it happened, but it points to a weakness in our community culture. The school should take this an opportunity to respond by illustrating (to all the students) the harm of being insensitive to people who are perceived as different in our society. I assert this incident is just a reflection of our underlying prejudices and we can all learn a valuable lesson from it.

I think she had to make it a point that, outside of the one student slapping the other in the face, that it wasn’t students being physically assaulted all day. I worked in a middle school for a long time and kids this age cannot keep their hands off one another. Their is pushing, shoving and that type of thing all day long. Not that it makes it right, but that is why I think she said that.

Geez, Louise.

what’s next hit a gentile day

It is in my opinion that being a “kid” is not an excuse for ignorance or insensitivity. There are many children who know better. Whether that is a result of parenting or not, I can not say, as I am not a parent. But I do know that to justify and disregard their actions as a result of their age is apathetic and ignorant.

I do hope that these children’s parents, who probably were the source of this ugliness, teach them about tolerance and hatred, and school them into the harm that targeting people solely because of their religion, gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, and so on can do. They’re young enough that something other than punishment can reach them. But this is very disturbing to learn that after positive “spirit weeks,” they turned to something so ugly, offensive and hateful. Anti-Semitism and other forms are hate and prejudice were offensive 1,000 years ago, 100 years ago, 10 years ago, and yes, today in 2008.

Morons

c’mon, it’s kinda funny.

No, it’s not.

Yes, it is. People are way too sensitive and politically correct.

It’s ‘funny’ that this even made the news. These are 6th graders that didn’t even realize the extent of their ‘insensitivity’.

And why wouldn’t a principal know how many jews are in their school. They know how many whites there are, and how many boys there are. What makes knowing this any different. It’s only a problem if the ‘knowledge’ is used to discriminate against that particular ethnic group.

If you want to know where the kids are getting this from, tune to Comedy Central at 11 tonight.

This is disgusting news.

Even if the kids were not intending on being malevolent, this indicates a laxity on the part of their parents for any sort of propriety. If the parets in that area had been doing their jobs properly their kids would never have thought this was something funny. They would have known how utterly inappropriate and offensive such behavior is. I’m not Jewish but I am every bit as offended as I would think anyone who is Jewish would be. Furthermore, as a non-Jew I am embarassed by such rank, boorish and callous behavior on the part of other non-Jews. Of course, the kids should be disciplined, but I hope the parents are horrified at what their kids have done and that they will first hang their heads in shame and second, make it clear from now on that this sort of thing is totally out of bounds in America and has no place in school, no place in public generally and no place at home either.

As a Jewish student that went through this particular Parkway school, this does not surprise me. The kids at this school do not realize that the things they say and do effect other people. I have heard of worse things being done at West. These kids need to be educated on cultural differences between the many different cultures of the school. Action should be taken to ensure that something like this does not happen at this school again. Passing through the hallways I have often heard many comments relating to the Jewish religion, and some sort of education for these kids should take place.

Maybe I missed the last few instances, but explain how this is proof of an incompetent administrator.

This was an unofficial, unannounced day. No part of the staff knew or endorsed it, to my knowledge. The children were the only ones who knew. To be frank, it’s really not that hard for a group of kids to keep something small scale and temporary as this from hitting an adult’s radar. The Principal reacted swiftly, and sounds like she’s taking very seriously. I’m not condoning what they’ve done. However, I don’t find this to be the Principal’s “fault.” As I said earlier, she may have a pattern of idiocy, but it’s not presented here. I went to this school, and while I never did anything like this, I was a social pariah while there, and so I temper my comments with the following: these are possibly the hardest years in their childhoods. Not adults, but getting cold doses of adult realities. Junior High is by far the biggest change a child will face in the education system. They are confused, and despite growing older, are still naive on some points of social grace. I am not excusing this action, but reminding that there are likely dark corners in all of our Junior High experiences. Lord knows there were in mine.

While I’m not familiar with that school, it sounds to me like some of these kids watch South Park. I don’t know that the intent of most of these kids is as bad as it sounds. That’s not to say that they don’t need to be disciplined and educated in why this sort of thing isn’t acceptable, but I wouldn’t assume it’s a hate-based thing for most of them either. There’s always a few, of course.

Let’s get real here folks. Picking on someone because of their religion, race, handicap, or anything else is wrong…. But all of this political correctness is even worse.

The bottom line is that there will ALWAYS be members of any society who will prey on the weak. Why not step up to the plate, explain to our children that these folks exist and move on. The alternative is to be a victim.

As much as we would like, “haters” will always exist. Rather than complain and moan about things, lets move on!

Sorry - the last line should have read….

“as much as we would like to change things, these “haters” will always exist. Rather than complain and moan about things, lets educate our children and move on.

My perspective:

First, don’t elevate this to “hate crime” levels. As I Jew, I have often been the first to tell Jewish jokes, and often poke fun at my own culture. Look no further than the legendary Mel Brooks for inspiration.

Second, I will bet you hard currency that Jews were tagging Jews just as much as anyone else was tagging them. And while they are being called out, they are not being MADE FUN OF.

Third, read the extent of the planned disciplinary actions: conference with parents to possible suspension. Come on, I pulled a 2 week in-school suspension for hiding a teacher’s keys. This is not turning into some mass lock-down panic-mode reaction. It sounds like Ms. Lelonek will handle this tactfully.

HAVING SAID ALL THAT, it was ignorant and insensitive. The kids will have to learn from this that they need to think their choices through. EDUCATION is the mission of schools, and it is the answer to this VERY MINOR episode.

Let’s all try to keep this in a realistic perspective.

How about a “Slap some common sense into the Principal Day”

Then a “Slap some common sense into the Parents Day”

I have a jewish child in that school-the principal acted swiftly and thoroughly once this came to her attention-she called me personally to apologize long before this became public. Based on knowledge of the students involved, I believe this was insensitivity rather than evil.
Actions have been taken by the school!!

i don’t see what the big deal is.

If they weren’t being hateful what the difference b/t Jew and Tall as a describing word?

infact this is only reinforcing that there is something “wrong” and “different” about being a Jew.

I mean they didnt freak about tall.

I go to Parkway West High and I am writing an artricle about this topic. I intervied many students and teachers. Many of the adults thought we should create a month to respect different races and cultures and not just doing worksheets which all students agree dont work. The schools should agree on having guest speakers to talk to the kids.

You can dismiss anything as an “overreaction” or “political correctness” these days. It’s a vaccine to any kind of misconduct. Hit a Jew day? You’re being “P.C.”

There’s something going on at home with some of these kids, but they can learn. The fact that the Principal acts like this is no big deal, well, I don’t even know what to say about that. How is hit “anyone” day ok? How is it not stopped the first time—before it becomes okay because banning it would be “PC”?

As a Jew, I’ve been somewhat incensed that other groups have had the balls to take our place as society’s scapegoats—you know ILLEGAL ALIENS, or GAYS, or MUSLINS sure seem to have leapt ahead. Nice to know we’re back on the menu.

I’m a Jew, and I think this is kind of funny!

This story made http://detentionslip.org ! Check it out for all the crazy headlines from our schools.

How droll. May I suggest Flog the Skin Off the Hooligans Back Day.

That would be a teaching opportunity and an educational moment.

After the flogging (with appropriate time for scar tissue to form) the school could import a few guest Israeli paratroopers and have “Hit the funny little man in a beret day.”

Here’s how to get their attention; suspend them for the rest of the semester so they have to attend summer school or be held back. Problem solved.

I went through the Parkway West school system and I’m a minority. Playing sports for PW, I have had a lot of worse actions and racial things said to me and my parents. It happens. It’s just kids being kids. The answer to this problem isn’t a lawyer!

Although this is very offensive I am a jew and kids will be kids and name calling is the least of jewish peoples worries.we must be strong to get threw hatred and holocausts.

My child does not attend Parkway Schools, but as a parent, I can’t imagine this community not being outraged at this disgusting display of bigotry. And what is most sickening, this behavior is coming from children. I’m forced to ask “Where are these kids learning this from?” What’s happened to parents teaching acceptance to their children? Shame on you, Parkway, and shame on Principal Lelonek, who needs to get a better handle on what’s happening at her school if she’s to keep her job. Parkway parents, don’t let this simply be brushed under the rug…stand up for what is right.

My child goes to PCM middle and couldn’t believe this happened. At PCM my child is in the minority because my child is not Jewish. On Jewish holidays there are not many students at PCM and they do not teach anything of meaning on those days. Now we just keep our kids home on those days since nothing is taught at school on Jewish holidays. That doesn’t make what happened correct at all.. but my child was read a Jewish holiday book in grade school and back when I was in grade school I had to learn Jewish songs. Now if it was the other way around the screaming would never end…..

who ever said “kids with be kids” Read 19 minutes by jodi picoult
love jordan

I think its funny that this little incident went all the way to Israel and the Ambassador called Lelonek, i think that is crazy, don’t they have much more important things to worry about as ambassador?

PWM 6th grade parent here with a tall son. This was not a violent hate crime. This was kids making bad choices, and worse choices, but it certainly was not a hate crime. The principal acted quickly and without overreacting or letting it get out of hand. My thanks go to the principal for dealing with a bad situation quickly.

There was a Parkway School Board meeting last night, with many people (parents, a rabbi, and a couple student) speaking. All but 2 people had good and positive things to say about the handling of this situation and our principal. Only those 2 had anything negative to say about our principal. Neither was a PWM parent, one has a web site with 200 signatures of other parents (primarily non-PWM parents) who want our principal removed. Among them was the second speaker, Jane Cunningham, who went well beyond the 3 minutes all public speakers were allotted so that she could belittle the Parkway School Board, demonstrate her desire to remove our principal based on information she has learned from the web site she signed up on, and generally pull a Barney Fife in front of hundreds of registered voters. Both of these people have only managed to express their ignorance of the facts, and I suggest they take a step back and let the Parkway community deal with the situation.

All you non-PWM parents need to take a seat for a bit, after you’ve apologized to our principal and staff. Stop acting so offended, or thinking the school was at fault. The core group of kids organizing this have been suspended, the parents of said kids are undoubtedly working with their own kids to help them understand the importance of making good choices. Sounds like some of the adults posting here have similar issues.

Life goes on…all we can do is learn from it.

This was brought down to the 5th grade level at Pierremont another Parkway school, the child who did this to another student seems to be suspended for quite awhile. My question is why on earth were the parents at Pierremont not made aware that this was going on in our school. Racism is wrong and it starts in the home. Children are a product of their environment. I would hate that my child be smacked because of their religion. Parents need to teach their children right from wrong.