Alexander ([info]raistlinsb) wrote,
@ 2008-03-05 19:08:00
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Current mood: angry

1) Post on Facebook. 2)???? 3) Get expelled.
As some of you know, my sister was enrolled in Mars Hill Academy, one of those snobbish private schools.

Recently, she posted the following on her facebook profile:




FIRST DRAFT-Left up until the second comment from the esteemed Benjamin Liebing.

I just feel like venting.
:O

First, I'm so excited for college. I'm ready for the new challenges that I'll face. I'm ready for the change of scenery. I'm ready for focusing on strengthening skills. I'm ready to learn. I'm just ready.I know that God's will is perfect and that all things work together for good for those called according to His purposes.
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."

Second, I cannot even begin to describe how excited I am to be done with high school. It has been an overwhelming year. For some reason the teachers think that it's cool for school to consume their student's lives. You know what though, it's okay. You just got to prioritize, and realize that school doesn't always come first. Also, we all know that MHA has serious issues. Yeah, for the most part the teachers and administration are condascending, arrogant, judgemental, plain rude, and inconsistent in their treatment of students. But, hey, we all have our flaws.

The answer isn't to rebel, because honestly, it doesn't really help. You can't make them change. You can't make them care about how hurtful they are. You can't make them see their hypocrisy. You can't make them see how they are drowning us in homework. No, instead we have to rise about it all. To love them despite it all. Which, clearly I am not the best at..well...yeah...anyways ... working on it. Stick to your guns on the stuff that really matters. In the end does it really matter that certain students * cough* admin and teachers kids *cough* never get in trouble, and are exempt from the rules? Nah, and anyways it doesn't hurt them if youre bitter and angry.

We just gotta get done, ya know? Get through and leave


SECOND DRAFT-Left up until my two comments were posted.

First of all, I'm sorry I offended all of you. The entire point was that for all the bad things about the school, we all have bad stuff about us too. Hence, the ' But, hey, we all have our flaws. ' I didnt just throw that in there for kicks, I really meant it. I was laying out how I felt the school was behaving and then just encouraging the people I love. I'm not sure I entirely understand why all of the MHA alumni feel attacked and offended..but this is what I meant. The fact is that is the way the school is treating SOME students, clearly not you. This is the way it is. Obviously if we are still at the school we appreciate it to some degree and still believe that it has something to offer. BUT, I will not deny the fact that the majority of teachers and administrators that I have day-to-day interaction with behave in the manner described. You guys were right to call me out on generalizing. I do apologize for that.

And now I'm done. Maybe our life isn't as hard as all of yours at college, but it's not really a matter of how hard things are, more about how you deal with it. Maybe you can't see it, but we are trying to deal with our small little high school drama the best we can.




The next day, she was called into the principal's office and told there would be an "enforced parting of ways" and she should finish the year somewhere else; this facebook post was printed out and used as the reason for this "parting of ways".

She's got a 3.2 GPA, attends school activities, and had 3 months left until graduation. She's been attending the school for 4 years.

Now, she has to attend summer school at Lakota to graduate, in August.

How are they able to get away with stuff like this?

I'm more angry than I can clearly express.



(Read 13 comments) - (Post a new comment)

Letter to the Headmaster
(Anonymous)
2008-03-17 12:36 am UTC (link)
For whatever it's worth, I have sent the following email to the headmaster's email at Mars Hill. Good Luck to your sister and take care!
Mars Hill Administration,
I admit that I have not read your student handbook, but having read the following two postings, I am outraged that any organization whose core objective is the education and enlightenment of young minds would act in such a short-sighted and spiteful manner. Your expulsion of the student in question appears to be not only unethical but detrimental to the welfare and intellectual growth of all of your students.
I certainly hope these articles continue to gain press coverage and that a full inquiry into your educational practices occurs. You have punished a student for succinctly and politely expressing her frustration with the education she is receiving. All you have managed to do is outrage citizens around the world and lend credence to her claims that the school's policies and faculty are unjust. As an educator, I can think of nothing worse than discouraging my students from expressing themselves and exercising their right to think and speak freely. Self expression is a right that should be encouraged, without the fear of punitive and spiteful retribution.
Finally, I was raised attending not only a Christian Academy, but also as an active member of my church congregation, youth group and state youth congress. There is absolutely nothing, in any of the lessons or readings I received that discouraged youths from expressing themselves. I cannot begin to understand how your response is an illustration of responsible behavior, as an educator, as a Christian or as a guide to future generations.
I hope you are embarrassed and ashamed and that you set out to make amends for this egregious behavior.

Sources:
http://awfulmarketing.com/index.php/2008/03/07/private-school-expels-student-for-facebook-posting/
http://raistlinsb.livejournal.com/270377.html

(Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: Letter to the Headmaster
(Anonymous)
2008-03-18 06:40 am UTC (link)
I agree with your letter. I would like to add that since this is a private school and her family is paying for this so-called education, then they have a right to criticize and/or complain about it. Consumer rights!!! You purchase a service/education; you should be allowed to comment and critique it!! Family; I hope you can obtain some great legal minds who can convince them to change this decision. Your sister/daughter deserves to graduate where you have paid for her to attend for the past 4 years!

(Reply to this) (Parent)


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