Sounds like the high school administrators and the soon-to-be student protest “leaders” were working hand in glove to bring Ridgewood residents a slick, smoothly produced protest event. But wait…isn’t this the same Principal Gorman who on Monday, 3/12 referred to the anticipated student walkout as a “powderkeg?” You can’t have it both ways, Principal Gorman. So which was it? Why would you characterize it as a powderkeg if you had such a significant hand in bringing it to fruition? And how does all of this square with your solemn responsibilities as the leader of one of the biggest high schools in the county?
Mr. Gorman seemed like a cool guy especially compared to Fishbein but now it seems like they’re cut from the same leftist cloth. School is for educating kids not encouraging them to take political stands. If the students were so hell bent to “march for life” why not try it after school or on a weekend? Instead you became the leader and used some stupid terms in your letter. I bet you’re a good contributor to democratic party.
Norman @12:38 said – “School is for educating kids not encouraging them to take political stands.”
Off to the re-education camp with you!
The term “powderkeg” is not to be found in Principal Gorman’s 3/12/18 letter to parents.
That letter began as follows:
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“We are aware that many RHS students will be participating in the student-led national walkout on the one-month anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.”
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It was only after he transmitted that letter, later that same morning of Monday, 3/12/18, that he said the following, face-to-face to the parent of an RHS parent to whom he had sent the letter and who asked why he was allowing a walkout:
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First:
“It’s a national movement.”
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And next, when pressed by that same parent for a better answer (to wit: “But this is your school!”):
“It’s a powderkeg.”
Oh Norman, grow up.
You people are so dense. It was a “powderkeg” because any significant crackdown by the administration was likely to backfire considering so many students were planning to participate. No easy solutions, but wouldn’t it be more troubling if hundreds of students were suspended for speech? All things weighed, it was likely easier to allow students to walk out AND allow a counter-protest — for a brief time, 17 minutes — and keep things peaceful and civil. The students who wished to participate (on both sides!) got a little experience in organizing, civic engagement and public protest (First Amendment rights and important parts of American life), and those who didn’t wish to participate could stay in class.
Is there any reason that the protest could not have happened AFTER the school day was over? Or, would the kids get penalized by sports teams (lax, BB, track), clubs (New Players), etc. for being late. Think about their working parents who may face repercussions from their employers if they walked off the job to protest.
I find it ironic that you mention the first amendment yet you protest against the second amendment, hmm. Certain “rights” have more importance. Our founding fathers would beg to differ. I thought your way of thinking is all inclusive, guess not.
Important parts? Important to whom, you? You know what I find important, reducing government intervention and oversight. New Jersey has long abandoned that principal. I think most students are best served formulating their own opinion and not being crowd forced into a protest.
How about a 17 minute walkout about the rampant prescription drug abuse at RHS or a candle light vigil about that student who was beaten on school property or most ignored the sinking rank of the public schools in general. I think our local problems need a closer look.
It was a coordinated effort. 10 am est.
what a joke.
90% of the kids went along since they got out of school for an hour
5% were invested in the protest
5% were invested in the counter protest.
If the district and all of the adults in it hadn’t been so ravished with the idea of students up and leaving their assigned classes in the high school AND the middle school (BF at least–did GW administrators also buy into this?) the number of students sufficiently emboldened to actually violate the attendance rules would have been small and thus perfectly manageable via normal disciplinary procedures. This was never a powderkeg. Ridgewood’s school population has NEVER had an anarchic quality.
“End Game”, indeed–check this out and tell us student protestors are not engaging in politics!
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By Scott Whitlock | March 19, 2018 1:25 PM EDT
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Teenage students lobbying for strict new gun control laws appeared on all three networks on Monday and were hailed as “superheroes” and “voices of a generation.” In total, ABC, CBS and NBC devoted 19 minutes and 14 seconds to various young adults from the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. None of the networks asked these teens tough questions about exactly how many guns they want to take away and what is the end game for their efforts.
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CBS is pushing the gun control efforts most aggressively. On Sunday, 60 Minutes devoted 14 minutes to the teens with no fact checking. On Monday, CBS This Morning offered eight minutes without a single question about the ramifications to the Second Amendment. This Saturday, the network will air a one-hour special on the nationwide attempt to restrict gun rights.