Suspending students for biking to school

[Serge Issakov]

[Sending this to SD, CABO and BD forums - delete as appropriate if reply-alling and you don't belong to all forums to avoid bounce messages]

This should go viral.  

A high school principal in Michigan has suspended students for biking to school.

Students suspended for biking to school

Here is the principal's email address, hint, hint:

kpenn...@khps.org

Serge

[Serge Issakov]

The "prank" was riding their bikes.    It shouldn't have been called a prank.  It shouldn't have been seen as a prank.  This is the statement issued by the school:

"At 7:00 am this morning, the High School Principal was made aware that approximately 60 seniors were riding their bikes and a golf cart to the high school. While we believe the intention of the students was not malicious, this activity was disruptive to the beginning of the school day as some students and staff were late due to the traffic congestion. It was also potentially dangerous due to the traffic lanes that were used for the activity. Administrators learned 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.
The High School Principal met with the students involved when they arrived to school. She expressed her disappointment in their decision, and outlined the danger in which they put themselves. She also dismissed them for the remainder of the day.
Seniors who were not involved in this prank participated in the tradition end-of-the-year Senior Walk this afternoon, their last day of school. Additionally all seniors are welcome to participate in the Senior Walk through the school on May 30th, along with Commencement rehearsal. All seniors who meet graduation requirements will be allowed to walk in commencement." 

Link:  http://www.fox17online.com/news/fox17-more-than-60-kenowa-hills-seniors-suspended-for-bike-prank-20120522,0,2030012.story 

Same ol' b.s.:

1. Bicycling is bad because it slows down motorists ("some students and staff were late due to the traffic congestion.")
2. Bicycling is bad because it is dangerous (" It was also potentially dangerous due to the traffic lanes that were used for the activity")

Imagine!  They rode bikes in traffic lanes!  Bikes!

Suspending students for cycling to school is stupendous stupidity.

Serge

On Tue, May 22, 2012 at 3:39 PM, jimbaross <jimb...@cox.net> wrote:

Exciting... But the punishment wasn't so much about bicycling as about performing a "prank" - an apparently explicitly prohibited action.
The parade shouldn't have to be defined as a prank, but more appropriately, a demonstration/celebration.

Jim Baross
San Diego, CA
Sent from hard-to-type-on smart phone.
: -)

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[Sauerwald Mark]

My understanding is that the police cruiser was not dispatched to follow the students, but that the students had notified the police in advance of the 'prank' and the police cruiser was leading the parade as an escort.   In addition, I believe that the mayor was in the cruiser as well...

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

The activity by the students was clearly sanctioned by the police and local government, it is the principal of the school who flew off the handle....

Mark

---

From: Serge Issakov <serge....@gmail.com>
To: jimbaross <jimb...@cox.net>
Cc: SD Bicyclist Forum <San-Diego-Bi...@googlegroups.com>; Cabo Forum <cabo...@googlegroups.com>; BicycleDriving <bicycle...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 3:55 PM
Subject: Re: [CABOforum] Suspending students for biking to school

[Serge Issakov]

What specific action taken by the students do you believe was apparently explicitly prohibited, Jim?

[Tim Oey]

Serge,

Thanks for sharing. Yes this should go viral. The principal's actions
are atrocious -- a perfect example of narrow-minded micro-management
that misses a great opportunity at teaching kids only to teach them an
altogether different sort of lesson. I've shared this with all my
friends on Facebook.

-Tim

[Fred Oswald]

Hi All,

Per an appeal from the Michbike forum, I sent the following message to the principal at  kpenn...@khps.org 

So far, no answer.  But perhaps others here might send something similar.

--- Fred

I was appalled to learn that you have suspended several students for riding their bikes to school.  I believe that you owe these students, their parents and your community a sincere apology. 

You should also learn something about bicycle operation.  I strongly suggest that you take a road cycling class so that you do not make such a mistake again.  http://www.pedalgr.com/smartcycling/

Fred Oswald, PE (Professional Engineer), Cleveland

bicycling safety instructor