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Students suspended for biking to school
http://www.cyclelicio.us/2012/students-suspended-for-biking-to-school/[font face=Serif][font size=5]Students suspended for biking to school[/font]
Posted on May 22, 2012 by Richard Masoner.
[font size=3]60 seniors at Kenowa Hills High School in Walker, MI were suspended from the last day of school because they rode their bicycles to school the day before.
The students had a police escort, and Mayor Robe Verheulen (a Republican running for the state House) even joined along and handed donuts out to the students.
Some school staff and other commuters in this suburb of Grand Rapids, though, apparently took issue with sharing the road with these cyclists, and had the seniors suspended on the final day of classes today.
The school principal really went off on the seniors about causing a huge backup and a safety problem, while the police officer providing the escort said there was no safety issue, and traffic was able to get past with no problem. Much of the community is in a complete uproar about the suspension, which apparently was administered by the high school principal Katharine Pennington.
…[/font][/font]
Posted on May 22, 2012 by Richard Masoner.
[font size=3]60 seniors at Kenowa Hills High School in Walker, MI were suspended from the last day of school because they rode their bicycles to school the day before.
The students had a police escort, and Mayor Robe Verheulen (a Republican running for the state House) even joined along and handed donuts out to the students.
Some school staff and other commuters in this suburb of Grand Rapids, though, apparently took issue with sharing the road with these cyclists, and had the seniors suspended on the final day of classes today.
The school principal really went off on the seniors about causing a huge backup and a safety problem, while the police officer providing the escort said there was no safety issue, and traffic was able to get past with no problem. Much of the community is in a complete uproar about the suspension, which apparently was administered by the high school principal Katharine Pennington.
…[/font][/font]
http://thetandd.com/news/topnews/senior-pranks---where-do-you-draw-the-line/article_bdb58f00-b1d1-11e1-b8ba-001a4bcf887a.html
[font face=Serif][font size=5]Senior pranks - where do you draw the line?[/font]
By MARTHA IRVINE, AP National Writer | Posted: Saturday, June 9, 2012 4:00 am
[font size=3]…
This year, the rule at Kenowa Hills High School in Walker, Mich., was clear: No senior pranks allowed.
But organizing themselves on Facebook, a group of graduating seniors there decided to ride bicycles, en masse, on the last day of school. They arranged for a police escort along the 3-mile route. The mayor even brought them doughnuts before they headed out to what was supposed to be a funny surprise for everyone else at school.
The principal was not amused.
She thought the students had put themselves in danger by riding along a busy thoroughfare. Traffic was disrupted. Drivers caught up in it, including some teachers, were late for work. In the principal’s mind, the seniors had broken the “no pranks” rule, and she came down hard.
…[/font][/font]
By MARTHA IRVINE, AP National Writer | Posted: Saturday, June 9, 2012 4:00 am
[font size=3]…
This year, the rule at Kenowa Hills High School in Walker, Mich., was clear: No senior pranks allowed.
But organizing themselves on Facebook, a group of graduating seniors there decided to ride bicycles, en masse, on the last day of school. They arranged for a police escort along the 3-mile route. The mayor even brought them doughnuts before they headed out to what was supposed to be a funny surprise for everyone else at school.
The principal was not amused.
She thought the students had put themselves in danger by riding along a busy thoroughfare. Traffic was disrupted. Drivers caught up in it, including some teachers, were late for work. In the principal’s mind, the seniors had broken the “no pranks” rule, and she came down hard.
…[/font][/font]
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/05/kenowa_hills_principal_apologi.html
[font face=Serif][font size=5]Kenowa Hills principal apologizes for suspending senior bike riders on their last day of school[/font]
Published: Wednesday, May 23, 2012, 2:00 PM Updated: Wednesday, May 23, 2012, 4:02 PM
mscott2@mlive.com By Monica Scott | mscott2@mlive.com
[font size=3]WALKER, MI - The Kenowa Hills High School principal who suspended 65 seniors Tuesday for an unauthorized bike ride to school and banned them from their final senior walk around campus is apologizing today.
“Yesterday, I made a mistake and sincerely regret my actions," said Katie Pennnington, in a statement. "Did I overreact? In retrospect, of course I did. My first response to learning of our high school seniors riding bikes to school on busy roads was to fear for their safety, and I responded in kind."
" I apologize to the students, their parents, and the community for a reaction that blew this incident out of proportion and called into question the character of our students. Our senior class has demonstrated leadership, unity and school pride throughout this school year."
The 3-mile ride was treated as a prank -- something students were forbidden to engage in on their last day of school -- not the organized, spirited send-off students and parents described it as. Pennington was criticized for overreacting and the tone she later used in reprimanding students.
…[/font][/font]
Published: Wednesday, May 23, 2012, 2:00 PM Updated: Wednesday, May 23, 2012, 4:02 PM
mscott2@mlive.com By Monica Scott | mscott2@mlive.com
[font size=3]WALKER, MI - The Kenowa Hills High School principal who suspended 65 seniors Tuesday for an unauthorized bike ride to school and banned them from their final senior walk around campus is apologizing today.
“Yesterday, I made a mistake and sincerely regret my actions," said Katie Pennnington, in a statement. "Did I overreact? In retrospect, of course I did. My first response to learning of our high school seniors riding bikes to school on busy roads was to fear for their safety, and I responded in kind."
" I apologize to the students, their parents, and the community for a reaction that blew this incident out of proportion and called into question the character of our students. Our senior class has demonstrated leadership, unity and school pride throughout this school year."
The 3-mile ride was treated as a prank -- something students were forbidden to engage in on their last day of school -- not the organized, spirited send-off students and parents described it as. Pennington was criticized for overreacting and the tone she later used in reprimanding students.
…[/font][/font]
6 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
Those students should have been rewarded for their conscientious behaviour,
not punished. The mayor had the right approach (and no, I don't care that
he's a Republican - his actions on this occasion speak much louder than
the label does).
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