Rantburg

Today's Front Page   View All of Wed 04/24/2024 View Tue 04/23/2024 View Mon 04/22/2024 View Sun 04/21/2024 View Sat 04/20/2024 View Fri 04/19/2024 View Thu 04/18/2024
2019-04-14 -Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
Epping principal issues apology after student was told to cover Trump shirt
[UNIONLEADER] The principal of Epping High School has apologized after a freshman was told to cover up her “Make America Great Again” Trump T-shirt earlier this week during the school’s America Day.

In a letter addressed to the school community on Friday, Brian Ernest admitted his mistake when Ciretta MacKenzie was told to cover her shirt.

Ernest said he met with Ciretta’s family and offered his apologies.
But NOT his resignation
“We have begun to draft a plan to move forward to promote civil discourse and diversity in our schools. In retrospect, I want to fully acknowledge my error in judgement (sic) and sincerely apologize if my actions were misinterpreted and offended anyone. That was never my intention,” he wrote.
“We have begun to draft a plan to move forward to promote civil discourse and diversity in our schools. In retrospect, I want to fully acknowledge my error in judgement (sic) and sincerely apologize if my actions were misinterpreted and offended anyone. That was never my intention,” he wrote.
The thing is, the actions were correctly interpreted — that’s why your student, her parents, and vocal others made their displeasure widely known, Principal Earnest.
The apology followed sharp criticism over the decision to prohibit the shirt on Monday, which was a day when students were encouraged to wear red, white and blue to show off their patriotism.

Ciretta, who will turn 15 next week, said she wore the Trump shirt to school, but was called to Ernest’s office where she was told she would have to cover it up. She said Ernest told her that Trump was a controversial President and that he didn’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable if she wore it.
Barack H. Obama was a controversial president as well. Did you make students wearing his t-shirts cover them up at the time?
In an email sent to Ciretta’s mother, Rose MacKenzie, after she expressed concern about his decision, Ernest wrote, “I explained that we need to separate political views from patriotism. In today’s climate it is important to not mix church or state.”
Unless all political views are banned, none can be.
Ernest has come under attack by many who felt the incident wasn’t properly handled, that it suggested intolerance for opposing political views, and that it violated Ciretta’s First Amendment rights.

The controversy over the shirt grabbed national headlines after it was first reported in Thursday’s New Hampshire Union Leader.

In his letter Friday, Ernest defended his work at the school.

“I have worked in the Epping School District for the past five years. During this time, I have always promoted tolerance, acceptance, diversity and civility. Since the event of April 8th there has been a multitude of responses, some of which have fact-based information and other responses less factual. I have always been respectful and sincere in my approach to promote civil discourse and free speech/expression. I want our students to be free thinkers and be able to express their opinions in a respectful manner,” Ernest wrote.
Posted by Fred 2019-04-14 00:00|| || Front Page|| [14 views ]  Top

#1 "Oops! I am deeply sorry I got caught"
Posted by Frank G 2019-04-14 07:35||   2019-04-14 07:35|| Front Page Top

#2 SCOTUS has already ruled on the issue. We don't need 'plans' or other smokes screen to hide behind when you are caught red handed.

But NOT his resignation

Well, the school year is about over. The contract is up. It's the school board that heat needs to be brought upon. Simply point out cost avoidance in not renewing against a known losing hand in any court action predicated upon established law.
Posted by Procopius2k 2019-04-14 08:33||   2019-04-14 08:33|| Front Page Top

#3 I'm old enough to remember when there were far fewer lefty moonbats in New Hampshire.
Posted by Raj 2019-04-14 10:37||   2019-04-14 10:37|| Front Page Top

#4 To be perfectly honest, a principal would have to have been in far bigger trouble to offer resignation. This man has offered a simpering, false apology, and expects the rest of us to buy it, or pretend to, while he moves on to his next victim in the culture wars. His superiors and underlings will accept his apology with a wink and and a nod and nothing will change except for this individual school for the remainder of this individual year. Schools are run by scumbags. Especially but not exclusively public schools. Even this much was more than I expected, but far less than needed to happen.
Posted by Vernal Hatrack2366 2019-04-14 11:38||   2019-04-14 11:38|| Front Page Top

#5 Ban the guy from voting or contributing to any political campaign for 10 years (guess you'd have to impound his union dues) because his "political statements" might offend sombody. See how he likes it...
Posted by M. Murcek 2019-04-14 11:54||   2019-04-14 11:54|| Front Page Top

09:18 ed in texas
09:16 ed in texas
09:15 ed in texas
09:12 ed in texas
09:08 ed in texas
09:07 ed in texas
09:04 ed in texas
09:02 Whiskey Mike
08:45 Besoeker
08:34 Skidmark
08:32 MikeKozlowski
08:28 Cesare
08:26 Besoeker
08:23 Warthog
08:21 Warthog
08:16 Grom the Reflective
08:11 Skidmark
08:01 alanc
07:59 Skidmark
07:56 Besoeker
07:53 Besoeker
07:50 Skidmark
07:49 Procopius2k
07:46 Skidmark









Paypal:
Google
Search WWW Search rantburg.com