Respect is needed in St. James mess

Published 12:00 am Monday, October 11, 1999

L’Observateur / October 11, 1999

The arrest of parent protesters over the St. James High School messleaves the sheriff’s office and the school board in a tough position. On theone hand, the school board insists they are looking out for the best interest of the children, but the sheriff’s office is arresting parents.

Authority is the question here. The school board and superintendent feelthey have to back up their words with deeds by asking the sheriff to enforce the law. On the other hand, the parents feel their own authority todecide what is the best interest of their children is being undermined.

Caught in the middle, in the midst of a re-election campaign, is the sheriff.

And, also caught in the midst of all this hoopla, are the children.

Most of the students have returned to school while their parents continue their protest against the transfer of St. James High principal RidgleyMitchell. Hurled into all this mix is the fact that Mitchell is a candidatefor parish president.

What lessons are being learned by all this? For weeks, the parents peacefully protested outside St. James High’s mainentrance, but when they attempted to intrude into the school’s stadium during a football game, Sheriff Willy Martin Jr. and his deputies had theirduty to safeguard school property.

Some parents see this situation as an opportunity to participate in a righteous civil action, flying in the face of organized authority to promote their viewpoint. A few may see this as an opportunity to exert politicalmuscle. Others, who may not have ever attended a parent-teacherconference, see this as ego-stroking.

Meanwhile, what are the students learning? That protest must be peaceful and obey the law to gain general respect. That the cause must be right, soone must choose their battles carefully. That the reasons for such protestmust be pure, free from petty egotism. And that sometimes, one findsthemselves being used.

As most of the students have returned to school, it appears those parents trust the school system well enough to return the children to classes, yet distrust the same system they are protesting.

The students must certainly respect their parents but also should respect the school authorities. When the parents do not respect the school system,or the system distrusts the parents and their motives, all this places the children in a bad spot.

Now, the court system is getting involved, between arrested parents and civil court action on lawsuits. At the end of it all, we can only hope thatthe children will learn some valuable lessons from all this.

Meanwhile, a breakdown of trust does not look well for the children.

Copyright © 1998, Wick Communications, Inc.

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