Reply to Do Students Run the Show at Sidwell Upper School?

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[quote=Anonymous]A few general thoughts on this thread--some factual clarification along with some opinion:

1.  As bad as the poem was (and it was bad, as described), it was not read nor distributed in the Quaker Meeting.  I believe an earlier poster said the tradition was to read it at a concert.  Believe me, it shouldn't have seen the light of day anywhere, but it is not a Meeting issue.
2.  From what I understand, it is a tradition (maybe since late 80s, early 90s?) for seniors to sing Jingle Bells at the end of the last Meeting before winter break, and for a "Santa" from the senior class to throw out candy.  Two things were different this year.  First, they did their singing early on--not at the end of meeting--and walked out and left and Meeting continued.  Second, apparently some seniors threw candy forcefully AT administrators--not assault, but pretty disrespectful under the circumstances.  The Headmaster stated this later in the Meeting, from what I'm told, so he at least was pretty sure this had occurred.
3.  I agree with those who say to give the school a chance to respond.  Anyone who has been involved with schools a good deal would, if honest, concede that poor behavior can happen even at the "best" schools.  It might be a permissive environment and years of blurred lines, or maybe a bad dynamic in a group of kids or an entire grade--don't know which might apply at Sidwell.  But talk to a high school teacher and I bet they will say things like "that was a great graduating class' but also "that was a bad graduating class."  In other words, those schools without sin cast the first stone!  Landon had its problems; last year there was a string about rude and disrespectful behavior by St. Albans boys at their graduation in the National Cathedral; Choate expelled a group of girls for nasty posts on Facebook; etc.

I do think what is important is what the school does, and hope Sidwell will try to take some meaningful action, if nothing else because it is sad that kids at what is supposed to be a progressive place in the Quaker tradition would think their poem was funny, or that it is hilarious to anonymously pelt adults with candy from the safety of a crowd.[/quote]

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