Dear Source,
It seems to me that this story is still one-sided. The principal walking out because of one student just shows that she cares about the wrong thing. What should matter is the education of the students, including this young man's. He is not a danger to anyone.
These little "comments" that these teachers are making have little to do with anything. They are describing normal behavior. Who has not fallen asleep during class or skipped a class or a few? These are things that students do every day. In fact, the high school process would not be the same if they didn't, yet the dozens of other kids who do these things are in school. These comments are inconsequential to the issue.
Furthermore the school is so worried about getting accreditation that it is all that it cares about. They lost their accreditation because they failed the students in the sense that they did not give them what they needed. This man did not cause the schools on the island to lose their accreditation: they did it on their own. If so many are losing their accreditation, there must be something they are missing, something wrong internally. Board of Education?
The young man's parent needs answers. The story about the pepper spray? Have they been trying to cover it up? Why are they just making the public aware of it now? Why had the principal never come forward and mention this? Is it because it makes her and the school look bad?
This young man is full of potential. He has the ability to be great just as any other student in the school. Why is he the only one deemed a "threat"? Has anyone taken into account the potential hurt that they are inflicting on this young man?
They need to apologize to him and his parent and even the public for blindly leading them. He deserves to be respected just as respect is demanded from him. There has been no proof of what the papers have been saying, no proof from teachers or the principal herself.
Furthermore, take some time to find out the story behind this story or at the very least, try to get the parent's name right.
N. Benoit
Richardson, Texas

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