Amid the outcry against the administration's to push-back against ’s at least one former teacher says he agrees with the punishment.
Like many others around the nation, Paul Guerino of Elmhurst, IL read the stories about high school senior James Tate having his over a creative date proposal deemed violation.
But while tens of thousands of people joined Facebook groups in support of Tate and hundreds more commented on, emailed and called Patch to express their disappointment in Shelton High Headmaster Dr. Beth Smith, a different opinion that Smith had done the right thing came from Guerino.
Guerino is a retired teacher. He taught in the Chicago area for 45 years and is currently vying for a seat on the local public school board. Over the years, he said he has seen many accidents and injuries in schools where the blame wrongly falls on administration.
“Several of my friends were sued because children have been injured when they’ve been theoretically under the supervision of a teacher,” Guerino said.
He recalls one incident where a student slipped on grass while running during physical education class, landed on broken glass and suffered minor cuts. The child’s parents took legal action and won.
“Why these parents support these kids when they sue if the kid got hurt on no one’s fault absolutely blows my mind,” Guerino said.
In Tate’s case, Guerino feels the no-prom punishment is warranted because the student’s actions were “very dangerous” and posed a risk the school could be held accountable for, even if no teachers were involved.
“I figured he was at least 20 – 30 feet off the ground,” Guerino said. “If he fell he could have been seriously injured, had head trauma or even died. The teacher’s punishment sets a good example because she is looking to protect students. And all these people are saying she’s evil and in the wrong? I don’t get it.”
Guerino said it is hard to be an administrator in a public school, because oftentimes officials worry about appeasing taxpayers at the expense of student safety.
“When that happens there becomes no consequences – kids do stuff and experience no repercussions,” he said.
Dr. Smith has yet to comment on James Tate’s situation, and Guerino expressed that he “feels sorry” for her. However, he applauds her for being no shrinking violet, even as other students prepare to create for Tate himself.
“What this principal did was right. Not popular, but right. She’s got a backbone and that’s rare for administrators these days,” he said.
Chin up, James: My children go to Shelton High and support you fully. Also, anyone I know who's attended the Shelton prom says its highly overrated.
Mary, Please stay away from children. … Seriously! I sure hope you are not affiliated with the Judicial System.
Yeah, maybe she should be the Head of ALL PRISONS, then maybe people would be less likely to commit their crimes. Knowing the pit pull is on the other side.
If you have completed school you should try another round, if not, you'd better stop flapping off and get to work because so far you are the moron. I can applaud your apparent knowledge of old Stallone movies but if you put that kind of energy into school perhaps you'd have a good job instead of spending your days online ranting. Although nowadays I suppose your generation does this from work since I'm sure you expect that it is your "RIGHT" to be paid to surf the internet. You kids are a sad display and I am just happy that your grandparents don't have to see the miasma you spew online. If they aren't dead yet it would be enough to kill them. When we were kids this wouldn't be an issue because nobody would dare do such a stupid thing.
There are few things I have no tolerance for in this world. People who abuse children, people who abuse animals. And bullies, which is exactly what Dr Smith is. There is no SPINE needed for what she did. Oh yea bring on all the SPINE in the world when your talking about a situation like the one you personally dealt with. But bring on the understanding and a little decency when your dealing with a young man hanging up a sign asking for a damn date!
1. Is Dr. Smith so entrenched in her own thinking that she can't back off? 2. To those who say that James knew the rules, I counter by saying that he didn't know that what he did would be considered a breach of school rules. If someone can show me the rule he broke, I will admit to being wrong. Is there a rule about suspension for trespassing on school grounds after school hours? Is there a rule about erecting removable signs? We all know the answer to both questions is no. Therefore, what James did was an offense because the headmaster decided it is an offense. We grant headmasters authority, but not absolute authority. 3. The superintendent needs to show some character by either speaking firmly in support of the headmaster or by saying that he cannot support her. 4. The "April 1" rule is crazy. Do you mean that if James had done the exact same thing on March 31, he would be attending the prom? How does this make sense? 5. Dr. Smith is doing much to embarrass both her school and herself. To date, she has offered only broad generalizations and "it is our policy" as the reasons for her decision. Surely she can explain her actions better than that. Or can she?
"let the punishment fit the crime". Had a more moderate consequence been selected (ie NOT banning this student from the prom), the desired outcome would have been achieved on all fronts and it would not have created the media frenzy that ensued. Now the headmaster has been forced into the unenviable position of having to recant her decision, creating the impression that if you protest enough and get many others to protest on your behalf, you can escape consequences. This is definitely NOT the message that parents,teachers and even other students want to hear. By being more reasonable about the punishment for this misdeed (misguided as it was) the message would be :"this will not be tolerated without some kind of consequence" reinforcing the authority of the school administration in these matters. I think Mr Tate should also be required to make a public apology and give a short talk to fellow students about the dangers of his actions and what alternative behavior he could have chosen to create a novel prom invitation to his friend.
was going in public with that hairdo one of them?
Though a small symbol here...it sure makes me smile! There is no comment a nay sayer can make here any more...that has valdidity. You WON buddy...and just by being a a darn good guy and a truly creative original soul!