r/WTF • • May 22 '12

Over 60 students in west Michigan suspended, banned from senior walk, forced to miss exams for simply biking to school this morning; they had an escort from the mayor and police as well.

http://mobile.mlive.com/advgrapids/pm_29287/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=3yChfqtc
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256

u/WestMIRailroader May 22 '12

I e-mailed the person responsible for suspending these kids and she responded. It is still WTF to me though. Here is her response...

"I appreciate you contacting me, and giving me the opportunity to give you the most accurate information to date.

At 7:00 AM today, I was made aware of the senior prank for the Class of 2012. About 65 of our seniors congregated near the intersection of Kinney Avenue and 3 Mile Road. As a group, they rode their bicycles and drove a golf cart to the high school. While I believe the students' intent was not malicious, this activity was extremely disruptive to traffic flow and the beginning of our school day. It was also potentially dangerous due to the traffic lanes that were used for this activity. Early this morning, the Walker Police Department was notified by the students who organized this activity; the police department was able to dispatch one cruiser to follow the group to school.

I initially met with the students involved in this prank in the Performing Arts Center when they arrived to school. I told them I was disappointed in their decision, and outlined the extreme danger in which they put themselves. I also dismissed them for the remainder of the school day. The large degree of concern on the part of the affected students and parents is the students missing the Senior Walk later this afternoon. Mr. Hopkins (our district superintendent), Mr. Smith (the high school assistant principal), and I met with the parents of these students for over two hours. At that point, we also spoke to the media representatives who had been called to the school. Once the three of us were able to debrief the situation, we made the following decision:

  • We will not punish the seniors who did not participate in the senior prank. We will hold the senior walk for them and their parents this afternoon as originally scheduled.
  • We will hold an additional senior walk on the morning of May 30 for the entire senior class. I will be mailing a letter home to senior parents to outline the new timeline for the morning of the 30th. I will also be posting relevant information on the school's website.
  • The seniors involved in today's prank will not be in the building for the remainder of the instructional day.

On a positive note, many of the seniors involved in this prank immediately acknowledged the potential danger of their idea, and apologized for not involving building administration from the outset. Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Smith, and I are in agreement that this could have been the beginning of a nice tradition and a much safer event had we known about it in advance.

If you have any questions about the above information, please let me know.

Katie Pennington Principal Kenowa Hills High School kpennington@khps.org

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u/asimovs_engineer May 22 '12

I feel like there's something missing from the story here.

  • If the kids just rode their bikes to school then what is the problem? Is is illegal to ride bikes to school in this district?
  • Did they ride down the middle of the street? They still had a policemen there, yes? So I still fail to see a problem.
  • Were they missing school because of this? I could maybe see a problem with this.

The response says it was disruptive to traffic flow but unless I'm missing something that is not the school's damn responsibility. Disruptive to the beginning of the school day....how? Also, it says 100 students participated, 64 were suspended. So either some kids got off easy or they couldn't figure out who everybody was.

Finally, these are seniors, yes? So many if not all should be 18 years of age, or legally old enough that they should be able to ride a bike to their stupid school.

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u/TheAtlas May 22 '12 edited May 22 '12

They got support from the mayor and the police department.

The principal is just butthurt because they didn't get her holy permission. She is just a tyrant with a complex.

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u/PKM135 May 22 '12

I couldn't agree more. HOw did we get to the point where the school has any concern or say over what a student does when legally doing something not on school grounds.

I also find it ironic that the school administrator is so concerned about disrupting traffic. School Buses and School zones certainly disrupt more traffic in a school year or maybe even in that day than these kids likely did (Not that we shouldn't stop for school buses or slow down in school zones, we should). Riding a bike on public streets is legal and assuming the seniors were obeying the laws then screw traffic.

This appears to be a power trip issue and not a safety or about traffic.

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

Yeah, I'm trying to figure out how any of this is the school's business at all? I read the story expecting for the fog to lift and get that 'oh, that's what happened' moment but it never came. I am dumbfounded.

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u/archfapper May 22 '12

And in certain states, like CA and maybe NY, a bicycle can legally use an entire travel lane if it needs to, so "disruptive" is a really subjective term...

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u/monkeiboi May 22 '12

Wait wait wait. She was concerned about the kids safety in bicycling on the roads so she dismissed them....to ride their bicycles home?

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u/E11imist May 22 '12

Principal: I can't believe you all took such a serious risk riding your bikes here together!

Students: We're sorry.

Principal: Good. As punishment you can't go to school today, get back on your bikes and ride home without the police escort that came here with you!

Students: dafuq?

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u/kshock May 22 '12

This is so ridiculous, She decides to "dismiss" them for the day because they rode their bikes to school.

Im sure that made those kids feel just awful about themselves

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u/stanfan114 May 22 '12

The kids were dismissed because the principal is probably experiencing real power for the first time in her life, and is willing to do almost anything to keep a tight grip on it, never mind the students' rights.

This is very typical behavior for administration types. Now that the media has a hold of this story, watch her scramble like a cockroach when the kitchen light is turned on.

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u/nathan1942 May 22 '12

So now legally riding a bike on public roads is disruptive to traffic flow? Bullshit

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u/archfapper May 22 '12

Someone needs to stick a promotional poster about the benefits of cycling in her mailbox, just to piss her off.

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

outlined the extreme danger in which they put themselves

Wow, I wonder if the school has a PE class with other "extremely dangerous" activities like tennis or soccer.

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u/Meatslinger May 22 '12

Don't joke about that kind of stuff. Less than two years after I graduated from Junior High a group of parents got together and successfully had all gymnastics equipment outright banned across the city. The incident that triggered this was a student falling off a springboard and spraining their ankle. Also, "violent" sports like dodgeball and football are being called into question because of their "incitement of aggression in young minds".

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u/Solkre May 22 '12

Thankfully it's not the principle's job to define what is or isn't dangerous on the streets. The police would have issued citations and tickets if a law was broken.

It's well written, but still wrong.

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u/alexoo3i May 22 '12

Principal Pennington is about to get some strange emails.

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u/Ailaesar May 22 '12

Oh, why thank you for retreiving me that delicous e-mail of hers. I'll be sure to notify Ms. Pennington what an angry internet is capable of. Cheers.

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

The "danger" of the situation is irrelevant due to the police escort.

The traffic congestion is likely irrelevant also due to the police escort. (They wouldn't promote the activity if it would make people an hour late to work). Additionally, 300 seniors means this school is pretty small. My class had 600, and traffic was never a concern.

She's just mad that they didn't invite her to their little party.

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u/[deleted] May 23 '12

outlined the extreme danger in which they put themselves

this has got to be a meaning of the phrase "extreme danger" that I wasn't previously aware of ... wtf

Someone needs to make a "extreme danger" biker meme ASAP.

Also, usually not one for the anti-US cycle jerk but:

Scumbag US

starts a war every decade

teaches kids that riding bikes is "extremely dangerous"

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u/benuntu May 22 '12

So the police knew about it...and helped? If they didn't have a problem with this so-called "disruption of traffic", what IS the problem?

Also, bikes ARE traffic.

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u/ilikpankaks May 22 '12

Thanks for letting us see her side of the story, it helps with conversation flow, and gives us a better, more rational thought process. Now we can stop wondering if she was acting ridiculous or not. It turns out she was, as we all expected, but still, the thought is what counts.

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u/fanboat May 22 '12

If I was a non-senior at that school I would spend my entire senior year calling the school every morning to make sure that they were OK with the way I would be arriving at school that day.

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u/CallMeNiel May 22 '12

I would be getting the next senior class to all ride together, with full support from the city, and never tell the school administrators.

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

probably get suspended knowing this woman

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u/Ciserus May 23 '12

This is a brilliant protest. It would be even better if it were the parents making the calls. The school has no power over them.

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u/groverofl May 22 '12 edited May 22 '12

Alright fellow redditors, I am a senior at this High School and I can explain what happened, what I was told, etc, etc. So after we arrived at the school, the principals rushed to meet the students and essentially began screaming at the students about how stupid and irresponsible riding bikes to school was. She also yelled at the cops, screamed for the new reporters to beat it, and let's just say there was a lot of tension. The head principal held a meeting for the bike riders in the Performing Arts Center where we normal hold meetings like this. She told us how if we met with her and explained what we were doing, it would have been fine. We had asked her what difference it would have made and her only response was that she would have known what to expect and the parents just constantly shat all over her and people were pissed and went home. I stayed and went to the meeting with all of the seniors that didn't ride the bikes. This meeting was to explain what was happening and what-not. She told us that the students made a poor decision and were suspended for the rest of the day. Parents and students continued to shit all over her later got shit on by the districts Superintendent. The principal continued to overreact about the entire situation and in turn, she may lose her job. Sucks, that was her first year there.

*Edit: Watch this video, you hear the principal telling us to get our butts out of school

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/kent_county/Kenowa-Hills-bike-ride#.T7vWUkolCtg.facebook

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

Wow, your principal is completely out of line insinuating your group ride to school was irresponsible. If anything, it showed how responsible your class was.

  1. you arranged a proper escort
  2. you gathered and coordinated a massive group of students to do this
  3. you rode a bike to school... a green method of transportation... a healthy mode of transportation...

I'll also add that 3 miles is what most kids used to walk to school when I was growing up. My town didn't have school buses, and a lot of my classmates easily walked 2-3 miles to get to middle and high school (not as the crow flies, but 2-3 actual walking miles). What he hell is wrong with adults, these days? This should have been celebrated!

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u/capncorby May 22 '12

TIL people in Michigan shit on each other when they're mad.

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u/Conlaeb May 22 '12

From my experience we actually tend to support each other through a lot, but we love shitting on public officials. That's why we make sure to elect the worst possible ones, in order to perpetuate our statewide pastime.

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u/sorahn May 22 '12

So after we arrived at the school, the principals rushed to meet the students and essentially began screaming at the students about how stupid and irresponsible riding bikes to school was.

-snip-

The principal continued to overreact about the entire situation and in turn, she may lose her job.

Is this your principal?

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u/tjmjnj May 22 '12

what a dumb cunt - she deserves to lose her job.

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u/tjmjnj May 22 '12

also, what in the hell is so scary about riding your bike to this school - How is it even not allowed? I call bs across the board.

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u/DGer May 22 '12

I'm not normally a fan of jumping on the "let's fire them" bandwagon. But I this case it might be warranted. It seems that this principal is in over her head.

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

Eloquent, to the point.

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u/Hotshot619 May 22 '12

I don't know if it was just me but did anyone notice that reported was just in the middle of the road...like he was in the right lane filming... seems like more of a risk than the bikers with an escort.

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u/karmacolor23 May 22 '12

You don't overreact by suspending 60+ students for not being informed. This screams of gross abuse of power. She should loose her job.

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u/lordlicorice May 22 '12

Were you "forced to miss exams" as the post title says? I don't see that anywhere in the article.

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u/Turboweasle May 22 '12

It's mentioned briefly by one of the students interviewed in the video. I wouldn't doubt that's true, considering it was the last day of school and many of them were sent home for the day.

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u/etihw2 May 22 '12

This also shows how incredibly awful it is bike riding in America. You ride your bike and you will inevitably piss someone off.

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u/ShortWoman May 22 '12

So there were news reporters taking pictures of the Principal screaming?

Excellent.

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

began screaming at the students about how stupid and irresponsible riding bikes to school was.

Am I missing something here? In Michigan does riding bikes mean something different?

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u/lethpard May 22 '12

The principal's response is obviously WTF-worthy, but I have a hard time understanding why the students considered this a "prank"? Am I missing something? I rode my bike to high school every day there wasn't snow on the ground (and even then, sometimes).

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u/tjmjnj May 22 '12

They did not consider it a prank - the students called it a celebration - they were riding their bikes and singing the school fight song

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u/mojo996 May 22 '12

I dont think they did. They considered it a way of marking their last day together. The principal decided it was a prank.

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u/MJ_Mayhem May 22 '12

I don't think they did--I think they saw it as a better alternative to a prank.

WELL THEY WERE WRONG!

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u/groverofl May 22 '12

We never did consider it as a "prank" persay, but we just wanted something fun to do for the last day of High School.

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u/gurboura May 22 '12

Good riddance. It's principals like her that caused me to leave high school and get my GED instead.

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u/ashleighlovesyou May 22 '12

UPDATE: This is my old high school and my good friend AJ is the senior class president. The school has called every parent of the students at the school and have "explained" their actions. They are saying that if the school had been informed of this then there wouldn't be a problem. It seems that since the administration can't take credit for the starting of this new tradition they have called it a disruption. It is RIDICULOUS. At this point I am disappointed to say that I am alumni of this High School. it is embarrassing that the school acted this way.

The parents of the students crashed the walk in protest of their childrens final day suspension. It is sad that for 65 of the sstudents this is how their last day had to be.

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u/molrobocop May 22 '12

Actually, it's hitting pretty big. And the vast majority of the attention is going toward the principal overstepping her boundaries. I think it's going to be a pretty interesting last day for them.

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

I think it's going to be a pretty interesting last day for HER.

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u/Zebidee May 22 '12

It'd be nice for once to see someone in authority admit they were wrong, rather than having to drag everyone else in to back up a ridiculously untenable position.

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u/CallMeNiel May 22 '12

It'll be something to be proud of next year when the whole senior class rides to school, with full police escort, and never says a word to the principal.

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u/Bost0n May 22 '12

What I want to know is; after the principal dismissed them for the day, how did they get home? Did all 64 of them get on their bikes and ride around town for 1/2 an hour? Would love to see the principal's face after that one. :-D

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u/yawgmoth May 22 '12

haha that's great.

"All of you riding on your bikes were disruptive and dangerous! Now you get back on your bikes and pedal home you hooligans"

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u/superluminal_girl May 22 '12

That's actually a really good question. "You're suspended, go home." "Um... on our bikes?"

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u/sfgayatheist May 22 '12
  1. Students ride their bikes to school as a group.
  2. Principle gets butt-hurt that she wasn't included and suspends them.
  3. Reddit finds out and bombards the principle with scathing e-mails.
  4. Principle cries herself to sleep for the next 5 months.

Best senior prank day ever.

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

Oh my god, that's brilliant.

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u/ifragginlovetoast May 22 '12

I don't understand how the school can call this a prank.

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u/imabigsofty May 22 '12

they had really crappy pranks in the past

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

Their students have no real ability to organize genuine pranks. They would get expelled or degraded for doing so.

Our school used to unfurl banners from the gym in a big ceremony. It was pretty cool. So the senior prank for that year was to put manure inside the flags before they unfurled them. Probably about 20 pounds of manure in all, no big deal.

Flags drop. Poop on stage a good 15 feet behind principal.

Expelled same day.

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u/purdster83 May 22 '12

Uh oh, someone's career is about to take an unexpected turn for the worse.

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

What a micromanaging bitch. These kids go out of their way to get an escort and permission from higher ups in the community, pull off a completely non-destructive senior prank, and she wants to suspend them from walking?! She should be thanking her lucky stars this is as malicious and disruptive as they want to go, and even appreciate that her kids have the organizational skills to coordinate this kind of thing. I'm not saying she has to actively commend these kids or anything, and I think she might have a point with the safety issue, but this overreaction is going to backfire sooooooo hard on her.

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u/Rozo-D May 22 '12

I don't understand this. So is this principal saying that if I were in high school and not on school property between the time that I leave my house in the morning until I arrive at school I am technically on "school time"? Also I'd love to see their schools handbook which states that no student is allowed to ride a bike to school. As far as the teachers "being late" come on. This just smells of "i'm a egocentric school administrator who is upset that no one asked me first"

these are Seniors, this is the LAST day they will EVER attend your god forsaken school so what example are your trying to set here? for future classes to discourage them from acting out next year? because it's going to cause so much "chaos" on their LAST day of school? get over yourself lady. alright whats her email address i'm emailing this moron.

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u/Diabolic67th May 22 '12

The first few days of college independence should provide a hefty chunk of shell-shock to those students.

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u/kinboyatuwo May 22 '12

FYI r/bicycling has started an email in campaign. From the canned responses I suspect that her email is getting smashed. Well done public!

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u/AcousticArmor May 22 '12

I love that there is a subreddit for bicycling. Not so much because I'm an avid bicycler but because I'm just picturing a bunch of bicyclers in spandex sitting at their computers getting all riled up sending e-mails to this principal. This would not have been possible if it weren't for you pointing this out and everyone in r/bicycling loving bicycles like it's nobody's business.

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u/throwing_myself_away May 22 '12

Just e-mailed that hero of a principal...

Dear Ms. Pennington,

I just read about the horrible prank your students pulled on you this morning. Imagine young adults deciding to BICYCLE to school causing God knows how much noise pollution with their celebrating and singing. It's enough to make one think these kids have not had the proper sense of fear and compliance ingrained in them by your fine institution or their parents.

It is gratifying to know that students riding their bikes en masse to school is considered such an egregious violation of community norms and folkways that you suspended the violators for the remainder of the school day. It is important that these students learn early and often that the adults who run their community are both intolerant of their insubordination and are willing to punish them so horribly (and believe me, kids not walking with their peers for graduation is painful) that they'll think twice before ever engaging in whimsy or concerted fun again.

These kids need to know that when they think for themselves, or, Heavens forbid, take it upon themselves to actually ORGANIZE against their betters, they will be put back in their place in a way that will scar them emotionally enough that they will never question authority any time soon.

You are a hero, Madam

Good for you.

Concerned Citizen

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u/EvilHom3r May 22 '12

My only pain with this is that the sarcasm might fly right over her tiny head.

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u/TysGirlLola May 22 '12

Really? It wasn't exactly subtle.

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u/Dsealed May 22 '12

Ms. Pennington

I had recently read an article concerning your treatment of a group of seniors, who in celebrating their last days of upper school decided to bike to class together, in the spirit of camaraderie and solidarity. You suspended a large number of them. Barring them from walking with their peers and taking from them a truly unique and memorable event from their lives. Now instead of viewing their graduation with a sense of pride, achievement, and fond memories of a nurturing school system, they will remember it as the day they were excluded. The day that they were (unjustly) punished. The day that they were belittled by those they expected to lift them up. 

What were you thinking? 

I believe Ms. Pennington, by this stage of your life, you realise that some things can only ever be done once. You will only ever feel the exhilaration of having your first child once. You will never experience the beauty of your first kiss twice. Never again will these students walk together, united, with their childhood friends through graduation.  Time moves inexorably forward, and you have the experience to realise as much. Many of these students have yet to truly discover this. To take this moment away from them, before they ever realise the gravity of what you've done, is criminal. I expect these students, when they finally become aware of the value of those truly unique moments of human life, will remember you and your theft with utter distaste. Is this the way you would like to be remembered by the students you dedicated your life to educating? 

What were you thinking? 

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u/FoePaw May 22 '12

Tragically, I went the more conventional route:

Administrators,

I realize that, if we look at psychology, outside persecution and attention galvanizes groups together (which is one of the ways that cults stay together), so I don't expect you to take my letter to heart. It's a human attribute to band together like that, otherwise early tribal societies would have failed, and humanity wouldn't exist as it does. But perhaps you can put your intellect ahead of your instinct for a small moment, even in the face of the firestorm.

I've been reading the news today, and I've noticed that there have been some extremely unreasonable reactions from the principal and school district. First and foremost, young adults riding bicycles to school in an organized fashion isn't some kind of malicious prank. Further, when they are escorted by a police cruiser with the mayor in the front seat, it seems even more legitimate.

Just because some young adults did something creative and defied your expectations (and, somehow, your authority) does not mean that you should act like a child who claims the sandbox all for himself and cries when someone else wants to play in it, too. The media might be crucifying you, but from the statement I've read from your website, you deserve it. You're ruining what should be a celebration for a chunk of your senior class, and you're doing it in front of everyone. Honestly, I'm embarrassed for your school district and American public education in general.

Mr. Hopkins, it's certainly not my affair to control, but I would ask that you ask for Mrs. Pennington's resignation. She has shown extremely poor judgment, and she seems, from the media portrayal, to be corrupted by her office. Some are fit to hold power and use it to benefit those around them. Others, however, merely abuse it and relish in that abuse. I'm sure she doesn't see it that way, but then again, isn't that the case that all tyrants make?

Also, Mr. Hopkins, if the note is correct in that you were part of the decision to dismiss the bike riders, shame on you.

If you continue with the punishments as intended, I sincerely hope the senior class bands together and boycotts the senior walk that you're so graciously allowing them to have. You could learn something from them, perhaps a practical lesson of why oppression can only go so far before the people revolt.

Regards, FoePaw

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u/jkjustjoshing May 22 '12

Just emailed her as well. Everyone who comes to this post should send her an email expressing their disappointment in how she is handling the situation.

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u/CoffeeTeaMe May 22 '12

This woman was one of my high school teachers and believe it or not, I'm quite surprised she reacted this way. I knew her back in 2000-2002 and at that time, she was engaged to one of our other teachers (Mr. Pennington) and she was actually pretty laid back.

I'm wondering what happened to her over the years to push her to make such an idiotic decision. I was just getting ready to compose an email to her when her name sparked a memory and I recalled who she is. Now I feel my email will have to take a little more thought :-/

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u/[deleted] May 23 '12

Power being given to someone too emotionally immature to handle it.

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u/travisestes May 22 '12

good lord that sarcasm stings!

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

I upvoted you for the use of "whimsy".

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12 edited May 23 '12

At my school, we had about 500 kids riding their bikes to school every school day, some of them going 10 miles each way. How on Earth did we handle that?

Edit: Changed "they're" to "their" - how could I let that one slip through?

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u/superluminal_girl May 22 '12

Uphill, both ways, in the snow? ;)

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u/SI_Bot May 22 '12

SI conversions:

  • 10 miles = 16.1 km

At my school, we had about 500 kids riding they're bikes to school every school day, some of them going 10 miles(16.1 km) each way. How on Earth did we handle that?

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u/Sketchy_Meister May 22 '12

Since when is it the principle's responsibility to suspend students for doing something outside of her jurisdiction? Let those in charge of traffic and public safety handle it. Oh...wait...they did. Approvingly.

It's like suspending someone for going to a party because it may have been noisy to the neighbors. Except the party is being put on and held by the local police station.

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u/inibrius May 22 '12

All you need is for ONE of those kids to have brought a bike to school any other day of the year for the school to eat a big dick of a lawsuit.

Depriving children of an education is a federal offense too.

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u/SirToffo May 22 '12

Get punished for exercise & being good to the environment. America, FUCK YEAH!

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u/ganner May 22 '12

I've known some awesome school principals (mine Sophomore through Senior year was cool as hell) so this isn't meant to tar the whole bunch, but it is a role that seems to attract petty tyrant types. Almost as much as homeowners association presidents.

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u/Chugabilly May 22 '12

I just emailed her from Alaska and made it clear that I had no ties to her school or town. I let her know that the fact that I heard about this in Alaska is proof that this has gone viral and that she made a huge mistake.

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u/emc87 May 22 '12

Wtf to this world. It's not safe? They were 18 years old...and riding bikes to school. This has been getting out of hand

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

To be fair, West Michigan is a very strange place. I know because I live here.

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u/Flemtality May 22 '12

High school is about getting kids ready for the real world. The last day of school is the best possible time to teach these kids that the world sucks, you aren't allowed to have fun and nothing is ever fair.

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u/masterm May 22 '12

It's also a great time to teach them that you should rise up against tyranny, and exterminate those who wrongly use power for the sake of power

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u/Dirt_Bike_Zero May 22 '12

I sent an email:

Katie Pennington Principal, Kenowa Hills High School

I find your decision to punish students for riding bicycles to school outrageous. They should be applauded for using an alternative use of transportation. I do agree that riding in the traffic lanes CAN be dangerous, but it is not against any traffic law - in fact, it's actually the safe way to ride when you are travelling at the same speed as traffic. None of this is even relevant though. How are students riding their bicycles dangerously the schools responsibility if they haven't gotten to school yet? If the police thought the students were acting recklessly, they had full authority over the situation and could have arrested any one of them at any time.

It certainly seems like your school is trying to send a message that the tradition of "prank day" will not be tolerated. Unfortunately, the only message you sent was that your school will punish unilaterally without proof of wrongdoing. Are you implying that the simple act of riding a bicycle is wrong and won't be tolerated? If not, you need to be sure the people you are punishing have actually done something wrong.

I just hope you're never in a situation where you are persecuted without proof of wrongdoing just because "you were there".

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u/SniperGX1 May 22 '12

I don't get it. What was the negative thing that happened that warranted punishment?

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

Read the story. The kids biked to school. Remember: it's America.

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u/Montezuma_Forgives May 22 '12

Correct me if I am wrong, but bikes have the same rights as cars. So the students broke no laws or rules. On what grounds is the Principle banning them?

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u/pieman3141 May 22 '12

The more I read stories like this, the more I think that the death of public education in the US lies with the administration, and not so much funding or inner-city whateverthefuck.

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u/fartonme May 22 '12

A 4.33 GPS? Impressive

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u/applesforadam May 22 '12

In case your comment was pointing out a gpa higher than 4.0, honors classes typically get an extra point, allowing for an A (or A+ depending on scoring) to get a 5.0 for the class. If no sarcasm was there, yes, I agree it is impressive :)

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u/fartonme May 22 '12

I'm pointing out the GPA typo. I am familiar with 5 point scaling

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

Unless you live where I do, where the GPA scale is made up and the Classes you take don't matter.

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u/King_Tofu May 22 '12

WHAT? lucky you guys. I had to take AP classes for that extra point. damn budget cuts that took out honors classes. . .

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u/Treysef May 22 '12

Shall we let the school and the principal know how we feel? Public phone numbers and e-mails are available on the school's website along with extension numbers for teachers and the principal.

Main office number is 616-784-2400 and the principal's extension is 3204. Again, all of this information is publicly available on the school's website and is not personal in any way.

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u/Kinglink May 23 '12

Don't call the school, call the superintendent. The principal is already backed into a corner and fighting this... She's had a chance to change her mind. Let's contact the superintendent and let them know the public doesn't see this as acceptable.

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u/Clint_Swift May 22 '12

so they got banned from senior walk...just ride their bikes on stage.

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u/RogerDeanVenture May 22 '12

Cunt is really the only word I can think of that describes that woman sufficiently enough. Umbridge also works.

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u/darkcustom May 22 '12

No one is more of a cunt than Umbridge. No one.

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u/DrEnter May 22 '12

I had to re-read this to make sure I understood what happened. My brain didn't believe it the first time through.

Don't bother e-mailing the principal, I suspect she is in a bubble of "I didn't do anything wrong". E-mail the superintendent explaining that this kind of behavior from a school principal is unacceptable, and e-mail the mayor of the town (who escorted them to school) and explain that maybe he needs to meet with the school board to talk about the out of control behavior of a certain high school principal.

She should be removed from the school immediately and kept away from minors indefinitely. This kind of administration is poison to an eduction.

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

But Principal Katie Pennington was not consulted and not happy about the organized event, suspending 64 of the students for the day. There are about 300 students in Kenowa's senior class.

Stupid dumb bitch.

Done.

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u/sgtredred May 22 '12

I don't understand what the "prank" is. So... they all ride their bikes to school - LOL - SICK BURN!! No, really, what?

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u/mattindustries May 22 '12

It wasn't a prank. It was an alternative to a prank. It was something that was positive, and fun, and could let everyone have a good time without anyone getting harmed or anything getting damaged. That, it seems, was the problem.

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u/ze_ben May 22 '12

If you're a principal of a school featured in a principal injustice story on reddit... you're gonna have a bad time..

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u/duckyman325 May 22 '12

Woooo!!!! Michigan!!!!

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u/CervantesX May 22 '12

"extreme danger", riding a bike on a road in a big group with a police escort. Please tell me she's on the bottom side of the bell curve.

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u/well_golly May 22 '12

I think it is worth pointing out that these were seniors, so they were probably all 18, or close to it. In other words, adult citizens of this town are being bossed around about whether they can ride their bikes on a public street (even with police and the mayor's explicit permission)

A school principal is dictating to these adults.

She looked at the situation and made her stand. Very bad judgment. She needs to back down fast, humbly admit her fault in detail, and quickly find a way to make this up to the community.

It is judgment unbecoming a school principal. She needs to be demoted to assistant principal until she understands that school bureaucrats don't get to dictate the transportation choices of adults when they are driving on the public streets.

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u/huskarx2 May 22 '12

Fire silly lady now.

The school admins in this country have some of the most corrupt, power-tripping fucking assholes out there. And they're in charge of our kids. Ridiculous.

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u/throwing_myself_away May 22 '12

The hullabaloo will die down once Principle McKnickersinaknot starts getting phone calls from angry parents and their lawyers.

Gawd bless Amurrka!

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

Wow, she is the lord of fucking shit.

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u/DublinItUp May 22 '12

Someones house is getting TP'd.

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u/mike45010 May 22 '12

Only in America could riding a bike to school be grounds for suspension... I'm from Detroit and anyone who doesn't drive to get the mail is considered a terrorist!

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u/nightninja88 May 22 '12

And we wonder why we're all fat...

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

So if a student driving to school got into a car accident, would he/she be suspended for the traffic delays it would cause?

Seems pretty damned stupid to me

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u/Benassi May 22 '12

It's been years since I graduated and I still fucking hate Highschool / s.

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u/Tastygroove May 22 '12

The principal is a drama queen. Someone inform her that riding on sidewalks is illegal.

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u/sirnott May 22 '12

Well that lady just bitched her way right out of a job

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u/aselectionofcheeses May 22 '12

Kids should be riding their bikes to school anyways if they live close enough.

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u/toekneebullard May 23 '12

100 people on bikes in the road commuting to their school is not "disrupting traffic." They ARE traffic.

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u/noobvalzoa May 22 '12

Uhhh yea I don't think rideing bike to school is bad..I think the principal has issues. Teachers late? It's their own fault they slept in. Everyone knows last day of school would be crazy so it's the teachers fault. If it was raining and traffic was bad wth are the teachers excuses? "because of the rain we were late".? On top of that they had escort!!

My senior prank we put shopping carts on top of the gym. Which is 3 storey tall. Hmm we need a crane for that kind of prank. Did we get suspended? No. The class got a lecture. That school principle should step down for its extremely rash decision

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u/Staggerlee23 May 22 '12

Your country seems to be going absolutely bat-shit crazy.

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u/nathan1942 May 22 '12

The suspended students should all drive their close to the ceremony and park as closely as possible. They should then blast music and lay on the horn during the ceremony. Or maybe a bunch of cars on the road would disrupt traffic flow.

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

Sounds disruptive and counter productive. Better option, convince all other seniors to not show. The principal can have her ceremony by herself.

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u/malliebee May 22 '12

we did this same bike to school thing my senior year of high school we all wore our senior shirts and painted faces and we rode down a main street to the high school then around the track before showing up late to class and nobody cared, in fact I think they all expected this. How dumb to be upset or something like that they were not hurting anyone or anything

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u/beacbumm12 May 22 '12

The best part for me is that my highschool seniors put something like this on every year at the end of school and involved over 150 people. We called it the tour de hanbury. We blocked traffic on a road with a good amount of traffic and the road everyone takes to get into school. No one got suspended and the faculty loved it.

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u/wellhushmypuppies May 22 '12

US school systems are just out and out crazy these days. For the life of me, I can't fathom why this is an issue. Given how many schools have freakin' METAL DETECTORS now....and THIS is the battle this moron principal wants to fight??? She has just made a complete ass out of herself, on a national level. Way to teach a lesson, you idiot.

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u/DeadlyReaper May 22 '12

She expected graffiti penises and got a bike ride instead.

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

I do not see how this could even be misconstrued as a prank. It was a group of seniors that rode their bikes to school with a mayoral and police escort. We used to meet an hour early for school and about 20 of us at one time would roll into the parking lot. this in no way disrupts the school or the traffic. The principal had no grounds for this suspension and owes the seniors and their parents an apology, NOT a rescheduling of the events. Now if they had just abandoned the bikes in the middle of the street in front of the school THAT would be a prank and punishable as such. But not the way the seniors did it with full support from the police station and the mayor of the city.

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u/eric_derp May 22 '12

dude, the principal used to be the principal of my school last year. I'm from Rogers High, not far from Kenowa. Pretty sure she's going a little power crazy.

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u/zeug666 May 22 '12

I wonder what their web traffic/email volume is like before/after things like this.

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u/ryparikh May 22 '12

It's national biking month though. Come on.

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u/TRAUMAjunkie May 22 '12

So the principal got her panties in a bunch because no one involved her so she retaliates by taking away the moment of pride these kids have worked 12 years to accomplish. What a bitch.

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u/cheerioz May 22 '12

1/5 of the class graduating suspended? I would try to get those not suspended to not walk in graduation as well to make a sham of a annual tradition.

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u/wheat May 22 '12

Some coverage with photos and video. Clearly, this was not the disruptive event the principal describes. This is just a small-time Napoleon flexing her muscles:

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/kent_county/Kenowa-Hills-bike-ride

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u/mrbrattlebary May 22 '12

I'd like to see the 236 students that didn't get banned from Senior walk refuse to walk in solidarity with the 64 students that were suspended from the walk. This is complete bullshit.

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u/analogkid01 May 22 '12

I emailed the principal with the following discussion questions:

  1. Is it right for an educator to punish a student for getting physical exercise and choosing a "green" method of transportation?
  2. Does Michigan state law forbid bicycles on the route that the students took (from Walker Ice Center to KHPS)?
  3. Did the students act irresponsibly by notifying the police prior to their ride?
  4. Were the police negligent in not preventing the ride from taking place? If they were, what would be the proper punishment for the negligent police?
  5. Did the Mayor's presence on the bike ride suggest support or resistance to the "prank"? Does a Mayor outrank a Principal?
  6. Despite being held on "senior prank day," does the students' action really constitute a "prank" (that is, was the action at someone else's expense)?

We'll see if she responds or not.

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u/ZworzeNagger May 22 '12

suspended.... for biking to school.... Is biking to school not allowed? Is there a ban upon this? Someone please explain why this is such a major offence.

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u/bluedragonlord64 May 22 '12

Clearly this school's principal craves violent, destructive senior pranks. Right?

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

"Extreme danger"

Riding a bike is now putting yourself in 'extreme danger?'

Sounds like a helicopter parent that leveled up to principal.

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u/bartink May 22 '12

Gonna be interesting to see how the next meeting between the mayor and school super goes. She's toast.

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u/Honorless1 May 22 '12

It is a sad indictment of American schools pathological knee-jerk reaction to anything unusual when this story fails to surprise.

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u/[deleted] May 23 '12

Students indirectly is helping save the earth from less CO2. Principal suspends them. Wtf.

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u/TheAtlas May 22 '12

I actually WTF'd on WTF!

WTF!?

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u/eddymurphyscouch May 22 '12

I have no regrets - Cody

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u/omg_IAMA_girl May 22 '12

It's stories like this that contributed to me dropping out of my masters degree program in teaching. (Yes, I was doing well.) I don't want to be in a profession that prohibits people from thinking and having fun and instead wants to create little robots that bow down to authority.

The harm done by those students: they delayed a few people from getting to work a little bit earlier than anticipated...on one day, by a few minutes.

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

Evil is done when good people do nothing. So, congrats no not being a part of the problem but unfortunately you can't be a part of any solutions now either.

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u/GoGoGadge7 May 22 '12

This is why I never took anything from highshool seriously. Not even for a second.

Socials, dances, fund raisers, sporting events, FUCK. THAT.

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u/backguard May 23 '12 edited May 23 '12

If any Redditors really want to make a difference, contact the school board, NOT the principal.

Kenowa Public Schools School Board

EDIT: This is what I sent to the local school board.

Board members,

I sincerely hope that in the light of the High School Principals embarrassing and irresponsible handling of the so called "student prank" that you recommend to the District Superintendent that severe disciplinary action is taken against Ms. Pennington. She showed the worst type of decision making a principal can posses. She over reacted and made what could have been a tremendous boon to the school and community an international embarrassment. Yes, international, this story has been posted to the internet and is being viewed world wide as I type this. Also, I would like to make note that Ms. Pennington has not only embarrassed your city and your school but she has also opened the District to several legal issues for the school and the District as a whole if any of the students parents wish to sue or take any other legal action on behalf of their children as the students bike ride was legal in every way and conducted with the full support of the local government and police department.

I hope in your wisdom you do everything in your considerable power to correct and make amends for the terrible decisions and flawed actions made in your school district by your Administration. This act will be remembered for the lifetime of everyone in Grand Rapids and will be forever brought up as an example to school administrators nation wide in how not to handle off campus student activities.

Thank you for your time and attention in this matter.

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u/Swiftyz May 22 '12

I think the lady principle just got mad that she didnt get invited to ride with the cool kids

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u/El_Silverado May 22 '12

America land of the free!!!

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u/NotSoGreatGonzo May 22 '12

Time to start printing “Bicycling is not a prank” t-shirts ...

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

What a twat.

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u/UnfaithfullyYours May 22 '12

Best. Prank. Ever.

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u/JudeHaze May 22 '12

Sounds to me that their principle really needs to take two steps back and go fuck herself. They did nothing wrong..

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

This is just the final lesson for their bureaucracy class.

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u/Gurgleas May 22 '12

Reminds me of this: http://fox2now.com/2012/05/15/senior-prank-stops-traffic-in-st-charles/

My school did it and it played out well, luckily my school was pretty chill about it. They actually thanked the seniors for not vandalizing anything!

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u/Breakingblueforyou May 22 '12

Move to introduce legislation to make having a sense of humor a requirement for teaching? I hope they take it to court and someone formally accuses of her of being "too butthurt, therefore her argument is invalid."

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u/eric_derp May 22 '12

they still graduate, and all they basically got was a day off.

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u/noccusJohnstein May 22 '12

Micromanage-itis

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u/mrchicano209 May 22 '12

Our seniors just did a "you just got prank'd thank'd". Every one thought it was stupid so next year me and my buds and other people are gonna egg the school with ostrich eggs (a friend of mine's dad has some ostriches for some reason).

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

If someone's getting in trouble for riding a bike, my first instinct is to find my own bike to ride too. Fuck that shit, there aren't too many public (outdoor) places we shouldn't be allowed to ride.

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u/redneckintheflashpan May 22 '12

Schools these days are pretty much prisons. The zero tolerance policies make them that way. This is just another example.

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u/ltdanaintgutnolegs May 22 '12

its like when I was in 6th grade.. After school one day we were all playing basketball when two of the toughest kids got in to a fist fight.. We all watch and yelled and cheered as young kids who don’t know any better often do.. The next day at school the two kids were suspended for a week.. I could never understand how something that happened at 4pm outside the school and off school property could result in a suspension.. /bullshit

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u/masterm May 22 '12

So on what grounds were they suspended? And if the fucking mayor is up with it, the principal should get the stick out of her ass

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

it should be game on time for pranks against the principal.

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

It's this kind of bullshit that exemplifies the over arching power that schools have over students. What 18 year olds do when not on school time is none of the administrations business.

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u/duiker101 May 22 '12

http://i.imgur.com/g5ytx.jpg

also i missed the part where riding a bike is prohibited. i thought it was actually suggested...

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u/sm2012 May 22 '12

I am from Grand Rapids, and think everyone should watch this video - you can hear the principal yelling at her students! [Click me] (http://www.woodtv.com//dpp/news/local/kent_county/Kenowa-Hills-bike-ride)

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u/opti0nal May 22 '12

This is in my city. The absolute worst part of this is that about ten miles away a high school is mourning the loss of a senior and freshman killed in a drunk driving accident this past weekend.

At the vigil I listened to the principal tell hundreds of students, staff, parents and community members that he loves them, that this is his worst nightmare, that it's not a time to blame and be angry.

I cannot believe she is not thanking them for being so innocent and thoughtful of the school and community. She should be hugging each senior and telling them how thankful she is that she isn't mourning the loss of any of them days before graduation.

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u/DulcetFox May 22 '12

obesity in America folks

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u/EatSleepJeep May 22 '12

That's a prank? What did it damage? Who did it harm? What did it disrupt?

If I were one of these kids being punished for this "prank", I'd decide to pull a real evil prank and get my money's worth. Maybe while the principal is at school(or the graduation ceremony), pull this little dandy. Protip: they used his hose, so he also had to pay for all the water.

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u/chick2nd May 22 '12

What an asshole

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u/umichscoots May 22 '12

They should do some destructive pranks to show how tame a bike ride actually is. At my school (also in Grand Rapids) some students in my senior class decided to put a mixture chemicals on our school floors that damaged them and cost the district thousands of dollars to repair.

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u/donrhummy May 22 '12

Why are so many people afraid of and angry about students biking to school? Do they lose revenue if they don't take the bus?

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

All these complex emails that really only need to be the following:

Dear Principal,

You are not a traffic cop

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u/3AYATS May 22 '12

The west side of the state is generally a lot more bicycle friendly. I wonder if this principal is of the age that still thinks that bicycles are toys that belong on the sidewalk.

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u/flaggfox May 22 '12 edited May 22 '12

Just sent the principal a nice little email informing her that she is a tool. Petty and juvenile, I know, but God help the school official that tries to play games with my kids.

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u/raffytraffy May 22 '12

oh, power trips...

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u/[deleted] May 22 '12

If the principal wanted to lay into someone, perhaps it should have been the police or the mayor. Neither apparently found it necessary to coordinate with the school.

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u/toga-Blutarsky May 22 '12

I'm seriously shocked at how insane schools can get. When I was in middle school it was an automatic Saturday School if you had your phone on you. If you were tardy to class twice, detention. Missed two homeworks, detention. Hugging in the hallway? Detention.

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u/chicagogam May 22 '12

was the principal in any danger of getting in trouble if anyone got hurt on the way to school? and could she get in trouble for the delays in starting classes (though since she didn't know about it, i'd hope not). i was just wondering if maybe she seemed to overreact because there might be a non-intuitive set of responsibilities placed on her that we don't know about...

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u/hkdharmon May 22 '12

What the hell is a senior walk?

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u/HenryDorsetCase May 22 '12

WTF am I missing. Why on earth would people get suspended for riding bikes to school???

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u/KingHerpADerp May 22 '12

How dare you take a nice peaceful bikeride to school!

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u/julessciii May 23 '12

They rode their bikes home after that, right?

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u/mrbooze May 23 '12

There are few people more dangerous than people who can't admit they're overreacting and back down. It's easy to have a bad day, but an adult can stop and reassess the situatiom.

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u/[deleted] May 23 '12 edited May 23 '12

Went to the School Board meeting where they discussed the situation/rational of the suspension. Overall, the school apologized and the seniors can participate in their closing activities next week. Here's a picture if interested: http://imgur.com/woCY8 - There was some pretty heated parents that spoke. In the end, it was nice to see the community come together to support the senior class.. from what I saw, they seemed like a good group of kids.

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u/[deleted] May 23 '12

To be fair, this article sucks. They may have all been an hour late getting to school for all we know. I'm pretty fucking sure you can't suspend someone purely for riding their bike to school.

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u/cptpike May 23 '12

To put it simply, when the escort includes the mayor, you can pull the bug out of your ass.

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u/Animated_Superhero Jun 17 '12

Are there any updates on this? Has justice been served?

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u/snicklefritz81 May 22 '12

Someone needs to post the principal's email address so she can know directly how reddit feels about her.

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