-
Mar 29, 2006 5:58 pm US/Eastern
-
Digg |
Facebook |
E-mail
|
Print
Students Walkout Over 'Insensitive' Principal
by Christine Sloan
MAPLEWOOD (CBS) ―
Chanting "We Need Change," hundreds of students today walked out of their classes at Columbia High School in Maplewood because they say their principal is racially insensitive.
"Our principal is unfit to serve as our principal," said the organizer of the walk-out.
It all started after one student says principal Renee Pollack asked her to give an oral presentation about her family for a Black History Month assembly.
"It was about my father leaving my house and she asked me to perform it because it showed the struggles in black homes and how homes are fatherless," said Karissa Merceus, who says she performed the monologue, only realizing it was offensive later on.
Another student tells us she was so offended she approached the principal.
"I asked her what kind of message was she trying to send to our students...that's not African-American history...and she said it's a statistic the majority of African-Americans are fatherless," Leah Richard said.
"What concerns me is how a story gets developed and built," said Peter Horoschak, the Superintendent of Schools.
He says the principal's words have been taken out of context.
"I believe what she said (to me) that she did not say black children don't have fathers," the superintendent said.
Students and parents also protested a number of other issues, including security.
"On Oct. 21st my son was mugged in this high school," said Janet Bustrin, a parent and teacher.
Bustrin doesn't want the school to lay off security guards. School officials say they have no choice.
Officials say they will be hiring an outside contractor to provide security because the district faces a huge budget deficit.
"The schools are dirty, we're concerned about health issues," said Jamal Hardy, a student.
The students also invited a controversial former poet laureate to speak at their rally but not everyone walked out.
Close to 1500 students stayed in their classes and some of them told us off-camera they felt Pollack was being unfairly treated.
Either way, a new Black History Month assembly has been scheduled for next month.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)