Bastions of Political Correctness

This essay regards Clayton principal steps down; singled out Latino students, By S.A. Reid & Anna Varela. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, published on: 11/11/06

Principal Delphia Young of Forest Park High School may be out of work. She had real problems facing her that affect the school campus, its safety and environment. Those same problems are reflected in the community, yet there is no support for resolving and correcting the issues. Principal Young probably mishandled her approach and method, but for me she is a hero seldom seen in a public school setting.

The existence of gangs has long been reported in Clayton County. We all know their destructive impact on neighborhoods, communities – and the schools. Without discipline there can be no enforcement of order. Safety of regular folks, and school children on campus, must be someone’s responsibility. The more I consider the fate of Principal Young, the more I see a failure of the community, local government and the school board.

Health, safety and welfare of the citizenry are the first and primary responsibilities of government. That includes governmental agencies such as school boards. No lines in the sand and no enforced prohibitions mean tacit approval. In every aspect of society we see that lack of enforcement turn into abuses against the system and our communities.

Had Principal Young not gathered the 9th and 10th grade students for a showdown… Had she not used the “scared straight” method… Had she thought out the nature of the problem and devised an approach including local law enforcement, the school board, parents and the press… There is no excuse for intimidating kids, and she has apologized for taking that approach.

Unfortunately, Principal Young called the school’s Hispanic ninth- and 10th-graders to a meeting in the cafeteria earlier this month. Students reported that Young accused some of them of being gang members responsible for recent off-campus fights and said she told them she would call police and immigration officials into the school the next time a Latino student caused a problem.

Invoking immigration officials appears to violate the spirit of a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that guarantees immigrant students, including illegal immigrants, the right to attend k-12 public schools. Under the ruling, known as Plyler vs. Doe, schools are barred from seeking information about a students’ legal status or taking other action that could “chill” an immigrant student’s right to attend school. (AJC)

The ruling says nothing about gangs, discipline, safety or the educational environment. Those issues are better left alone, ignored, by boards of education. And that is exactly the position - Don’t ask, don’t tell – that every school system faces from illegal aliens and out of district students. My gripe is there is no accountability in regard to local taxation and funding regarding the costs incurred by the systems. Until the Supreme Court ruling is challenged… Until school systems lose their fear of the ACLU… Until taxpaying, legal American citizens are truly represented by school boards… this type of liberal thinking will continue.

The list of facts the AJC did not report would tell a different story. What is the true record of gang activity in the community, and specifically at the school? Is that gang activity limited to Latinos? Forest Park High School is 60 percent black, 20 percent Hispanic, 9 percent Asian and nearly 8 percent white. What discipline problems have been documented? What is the demographic breakdown by ethnic group? What methods have been tried toward enforcing safety and discipline that have not worked? What, if any, support is provided by local police or the INS?

In the same edition of the AJC we saw articles Clayton tries new tack to combat teen crime , and Growth of Hispanic population another challenge for Clayton schools. From 2000 to 2005, the number of Hispanics in Clayton rose by roughly 10,600 people, according to Census Bureau estimates. That may not sound like much, but it marks a 60 percent increase in the Hispanic population countywide. Such numbers are also reflected in Georgia’s statewide influx of Hispanics – the largest percentage in the nation. One can only surmise a corelation between changing demographics, teen crime and burdens on school systems.

Across the country eleven cities have enacted specific ordinances targeting illegal aliens. Fines for employers and landlords are on the agenda, even in Georgia’s Cherokee County. (AJC: Cherokee holding public hearing on landlord crackdown, 11/21/06) Since the federal government, bent on amnesty and open borders, remains mute on the subject, localilities are forced to act unilaterally. Court challenges are flying and some will surely rise to the Supreme Court. Citizens are saying, “If you are illegal you do not belong here,” and “We have an opportunity to stand for the rule of law.” At some point, somehow, we must believe that Americans will be represented by Congress. We must believe the Supreme Court will apply protections heretofor denied.

AJC Links:

• Clayton principal steps down; singled out Latino students: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/clayton/stories/2006/11/10/1111metprincipal.html
• Clayton Tries New Tack to Combat Teen Crime:
  http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/clayton/stories/2006/11/17/1118metcodered.html
• Growth of Hispanic population another challenge for Clayton schools:
  http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/clayton/stories/2006/11/19/1120metclayton.html
• Cherokee holding public hearing on landlord crackdown:
  http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cherokee/stories/2006/11/21/1122cheroimmigration.html