From MCHS Principal TJ Jumper –
In a leadership position there are times when tough decisions must be made. Sometimes, these decisions are debated by others. People offer his or her opinion based on his/her perspective. As a school, we have to take the perspective of the whole. Sometimes this leads to decisions that a group may feel is not in their best interest or they may not agree with. The school must look at all students and their well-being. This last Saturday’s dance is unfortunately overshadowing a great homecoming week, we should be emphasizing the outstanding school assembly and the student participation. We have wonderful kids and sometimes as kids they will make mistakes or poor decisions.
When this occurs it is vital for us as adults to assist them in learning from those mistakes. As adults we also must model this idea of learning from mistakes and always trying to improve as an individual or in the school’s case as an organization. For those wondering, the administrative team has reviewed the occurrence several times to reflect on how this could have resulted in a better ending. For instance, during the week leading up an announcement could have been made reviewing the rules of the dance (especially since it was the first dance for freshman), the sequencing of events could have gone better, we could have had the check-in table closer to the cafeteria so that the administration could respond quicker, and an administrator could have been on the microphone to inform the students of expectations.
The lessons that students can take away are that if a staff member or adult asks you to do something you should comply, there is a proper way to form a complaint before reacting, mob-like mentality is inappropriate in the school setting, and destroying property is not acceptable. All of these fall under the category of respect.
I would be remiss if I did not mention that not all students who left were disrespectful or destructive. Some left quietly. Also, we have heard from multiple students who stayed that they had an awesome time and cannot wait for the next dance.
Deep down, I know that if I would have had the opportunity to talk with students before they reacted angrily and left the situation it would not have escalated. In further reflection we as adults will not be around for all the situations that our young people are confronted with. It is the hope of all of us that we have taught them how to respond appropriately in those situations and they apply it. Hopefully, we can use this situation as a learning lesson.
Furthermore, the school having a dance or extra-curricular event for students is a privilege. This privilege is created by adults and student volunteers so that students can have a fun safe gathering and build school spirit. When an event is school- sponsored all school rules apply. Grinding is against the rules and will be enforced at all dances. From the school’s perspective it is inappropriate as private body parts are being rubbed up against another person. In order to move from inappropriate to appropriate we are only asking for there to be a little space between the two people or group. Plus it is a major safety concern when multiple students are compacted tight in a ball. If an emergency would occur it would be nearly impossible to respond too and for supervision purposes an adult cannot see what is going on in the middle of that group. This is a standard the school district has set and will be followed. Students have the right to decide to attend or not attend, or leave. Our next dance is Friday, October 12 after the varsity football game. If students decide to grind those particular students will be asked to leave. The students have been informed that is a probationary dance to determine if future dances will be held. We are in hopes that they will.
Again, there are many of us spending a great deal of time and energy on this one topic. There are many great things our students do every day and we have an outstanding school. One that has been recognized multiple times over for athletics, music, and academics. We need to be spending the time uplifting our students and giving our time and energy to those positives and not debating the one negative situation. It would also be great for us to come together with our time and energy to continue to support students in their path of learning. As a community we can have a major influence on our children, we can decide to be divided, or we can choose to unite with a focus on academic achievement.
Sincerely,
T.J. Jumper
Director of Secondary Programs
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I don’t get why they made such a big deal about it. I graduated almost five years ago, and we couldn’t grind while I went there either. And everybody I talked to about it back then was happy because honestly, we find it pretty disgusting.
There’s a difference between dirty dancing and just pretty much dry-humping on a dance floor. The kids who walked out are weird and the kids who trashed the decorations are assholes. What a ridiculous thing to get riled up about.
Has anybody heard the saying, “Do the crime, do the time”? Those kids who did the destruction at the school should be punished, whether they are football players or not.
However, that being said, perhaps those kids who were grind dancing, thinking they were cool, would have made better choices if their parents had taught them manners and how to act properly in public. In the real world, you can’t throw a tantrum like they did by destroying the decorations, and then walk away and not expect to have consequences for their actions.
I would like to set one fact straight as I was in the middle of the hallway at the time of “destruction” of the decorations. There were 4 students that tore down decorations, not all were from the football team, and obviously that means that only 2% of the people that left (approx. 200) did any damage. The hallway rang with people yelling STOP. I just wish the authors of both NIT and Globe Gazettes articles would have asked for both sides of the story. Either way, no issue would have been made if the 4 students would have left quietly. Thanks for your time,
MCHS Student
If the destruction at the dance was caused by unhappy football players, and yes people know their names, what is their punishment?
Legitimate question. This e-mail looks to be the same song and dance that was sent out over the week-end. Disrespect is the issue at hand.
After some time to think about how they are handling this I’m thinking this is becoming a Scatter gun approach We don’t want to punish the football players because then we won’t be able to attend the totally awesome football games where they are currently 0-5… and their parents are inattentive because they are presidents of banks, lawyers, business owners,etc. Instead, we’ll create a “probationary” dance and threaten to take away the dance from all students because of a few stupid fools, who we know their names, where they live, and have their parents cell phone numbers in the file. But, we’ll have to make a really big deal out of it and put press releases everywhere.
Not having kids in school I am probably talking out of turn here and as my wife would tell me, times have changed but, it seems like these kids (at least the ones who walked out) have no respect either for themselves or authority. This does not surprise me very much in this day and age. Howevr, it is my opinion that the ones who caused the problems should be identified, called in to the office and should be informed in terms they will understand that behavior like this will not be tolerated and that a recurrance will result in disciplinary action. It is not fair to the good kids to let this slide. I do not have a college education but was appaled at the letter by the priciple.
I chaperoned many a HS dance and MS dance. There was one guaranteed thing. There would be a bunch of bad apples trying to disrupt it. When you have 3-400 kids with hormones raging, it’s not easy to be everywhere and catch every thing. My observations were that the most disruptive were usually D,F students. The same students that you never saw their parent(s) at PT conferences or returned a phone call.
There was a time in my youth that the worse sin you could commit was acting out in school or in public. This would reflect back on your parents and retribution was in order. Unfortunately this is not an Ozzie and Harriet, Beaver Cleaver world anymore. Take some time and spend it in a HS/MS office when school is let out. Listen how they speak to their parents and it will take all your will power not to smote them.
Apparently only dirty dancers are D and F students, right ? Wow, what a one sided observation when 300-400 students were in attendance.
Let me tell you something how do you know who the D and F students are? I can remember when I was in jr. high and when we got report cards and one of my classmates seen mine they were shocked that I got A’s and B’s. Didn’t anyone teach you not to judge a book by its cover!!!
Just Sayin, I said nothing about the dancers, you came up with that on your own…How? Only you know.
Hi J I had most of those students in class or had colleagues that did. I was privy to their grades. My observations were only anecdotal and not based on any scientific data. I also stated Most, not All. I still believe that true. Most of the vandalism, pulled fire alarms, bomb threats, threatening staff, etc. Were students of this caliber. I never was at a dance where there was never any trouble makers that weren’t removed. I’ve always believed that anyone with 2.5 GPA and above have earned the right to attend dances and event. I also believe that should also be tied to Driver License as well, to receive one before 18.
Here we go, you have one person that doesn’t have a clue whats being talked about (where you been the last 4 days) and you have another person thats getting to much information. I as a parent want to know what my child is doing in school, good, bad, and indifferent. If it is something that I don’t approve of, I’ll handle it at home. The school, on the other hand is an institution that sets rules for it’s students to follow while in school, and in some cases while out of school. I as a parent can take my children to churce every sunday, teach them what I believe to be right, and how to respect others, and the golden rule. But, when my children go out the front door, it’s another world. I can only hope they remember what they have been tought in school and at home about respect and doing the right thing. Sometimes peer pressure has alot to do with it. Your not cool if your not a James Dean type of person. But you can still be cool without going that far. I’m glad that the principle wrote this and I hope he will stand his ground.
I have nothing to say about the content, but I sure wanted to take a red pen and edit the heck out of the grammatical errors. I got a headache reading it. “People offer his or her opinion”. HELP!!! Try “people offer their opinions”. People is plural, so everything that follows should be plural! And that was just the first paragraph. No wonder our kids can’t write. What a shame.
Katie, etc, please give it up on correcting the grammer and spelling errors on this blog site. We all make mistakes sometimes in our lives. If you can read my blogs with all the grammer and spelling mistakes and understand what I’m trying to say, then good. I for one, am probably not as smart as some people think they are. I’m not going to change now, so save your time correcting blogs, and please stick to the story.
Pay attention and focus please. Katie is pointing out a pretty bad grammatical error from a MCHS principal no less. I personally do expect more from a school leader. That’s kind of a shocking error for someone with a college degree that is involved in education to make. It’s not a typo buddy. IMO she is pointing to a bigger story. Why would someone write a public article like this and not have someone with skills he is lacking look this thing over and proof it?
Thank you @ Education is Critical. I’m glad someone understood the important point I was trying to make.
John, please at least learn how to spell grammar for God’s sake! The way we write gives clues to our intelligence and how credible our opinion is. Take Mr. Children, the Op-Ed writer on NIT for example… very poor grammar, complete lack of credibility. Please, don’t write like Children! (pun intended!)
CC, I spelled it that way on purpose, to see if anyone would catch it, you did, good job. I still stand by the point that I was trying to make, even if you don’t get it, sorry for hurting your feelings.
Good observation. I have read all of his letters that NI Today has published, and it appears that Mr. Jumper should have asked the district to hire him a publicist, proofreader, speachwriter… whatever. Hope he expects more out of his graduates than what he is modeling.
I agree with the stand the staff took at the school. I think his ego is a little big thinking he could have stopped it. Makes it sound like the adults there weren’t competent enough. It reminds of the school dance we once had at the country club and the popular kids were so drunk that they couldn’t even stay for any of the dance because they were so sick. I felt bad for the partners that didn’t drink and spent all the money and and time getting ready for a great night they couldn’t even enjoy. Their is a price to pay when you don’t follow the rules.
Would have been nice if the writer had explained what happened in the first place…what are they talking about????
Wow if only YOU been there YOU could have diffused the situation. What an ego, let’s not forget the dress code rule YOU also put in place even though a certain person held dance classes in the MCHS lobby. Where her and many participants were wearing clothes along with some of dance/workout moves that would at best be called sleazy! But that’s OK??? Practice what you preach!!!
“Dance” classes held in the “lobby” are not school sponsored. Maybe you need to get some exercise….just sayin…..
Are non-school sponsored dance classes being held at the school? Who is responsible for the liability insurance coverage? Does the school rent space out to private entities for stuff like that? How much do they charge? What is the criteria for selection? Who okayed the dance classes? Did the dance class business profit from this? I’ve heard of opening school facilities to the community to use like for the gym but usually I don’t see businesses profiting from it. Hopefully the school profited from this endeavor as you have utility expense for lights and heat, janitorial expense in cleaning if needed and locking up the building. Plus once you start letting businesses do this where does it stop?
Plus the liability issue is interesting. If someone gets hurt in any of these activities the attorneys will go after the entity that has the biggest insurance policy coverage so who all are we going to let in the school to use it? Just curious.
There were students and staff in the building for practice, games etc that had to pass by the “lobby” so who sponsors it is irrelevant its still on school property with that logic anything goes on the campus!! Maybe you should maybe take a reading or ethics course? ……..Just saying”………
Wow! Was just coming back to comment on this story after I received the e-mail from TJ. Geez, you guys at NIT are fast. Lol.
I guess I’m one of the few who believe that some lessons are better learned at home. My kids would never act this way in public because they are taught from childhood that this is not the way to act in public. I know I’ll get some pushback on this, but I also believe that sex education belongs at home and not at school. I somewhat resent that the school feels they need to handle this for me as a parent. However, I also realize there is no magic wand to force parents to sit down and talk with their kids every night.
While I don’t agree with the extreme amount of attention this is getting through e-mails, letters home, press releases to all media, etc. I do agree with the school’s stance on this topic.