300 Students Suspended For Not Finishing Summer Reading Assignment (Texas)

[matcom]

<snip>

LANCASTER, Texas -- Hundreds of students enrolled in the Lancaster Independent School District were suspended Monday because they did not finish an assigned summer reading project.

Nearly 20 percent, 300 students, were suspended from the high school. Another 450 students, or about half, of the junior high school students also were suspended from classes.

Parents of the students said they were outraged because the assignment and the deadline were changed without proper notice.

"What kind of message are you sending to these children that education is not as important as this project is?" parent Robin Thornton said. "I mean, they're going to miss school because they didn't complete a project that he never received."

Dr. Larry Lewis, the Lancaster ISD superintendent, said district officials realized the mistake and apologized. After meeting with the parents, the superintendent said he told them their children would now have until the end of Thursday to complete the project.

"Parents came back (Tuesday) morning, and then we decided to give the students until the close of school on Thursday to complete the assignments, and they could return back to school (Tuesday) morning," Lewis said.

Some parents and suspended students did not receive notice that the children were allowed back in school Tuesday. According to KXAS-TV, some parents were told their children could not return to class until the summer reading projects were completed.

Lewis said he and other district officials would do a better job next year communicating the details of the reading assignments.

http://www.wftv.com/education/4833309/detail.html

[Shell Beau]

1. WTF?

[Ilsa]

2. And I suppose the project was for a Communications course? eom

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

3. Now I've heard EVERYTHING.

I'm really proud of my newly adopted state!

[Wickerman]

4. THe change of heart had more to do with enrollment numbers

I'll bet. Unless the formula has changed you get school funding on enrollment numbers. Have a whole bunch of kids out for a few days due to suspension and your averages are going to look horrid. You could wind up educating kids next year based on funding for 20% less students than you have. I'll bet the superintendent crapped a brick - and wondered how his principal could do this. :eyes:

[Gidney N Cloyd]

5. They're coloring as fast as they can! Give 'em a break!

[GreenCommie]

6. WTF???

Since when did they start suspending kids for not doing an assignment?

Last I heard, it was a student's right not to do the work. Of course, it is the teacher's right to give them an F, and if bad enough, making them repeat the grade.

[Shell Beau]

8. Really! We always got a big fat zero not suspension.

[shugh514]

7. Shouldn't the district officals

be suspended also for not "communicating the details" correctly?
What's fair is fair. Right?
:shrug:

[LeftyMom]

9. Students shouldn't have assignments over thier break

They need some free time and don't get enough of it as it is.