[12ZHeWZa]

Between hassling students for pledges and haircuts when do US schools have time for education?

[sXVUOUVC]

LOS ANGELES - A high school in California was locked down after about 600 students fought in a lunchtime brawl that had to be quelled by police in riot gear.

The apparently gang-related fight started around noon Friday at Locke High School in Los Angeles, school district spokeswoman Nadia Gonzalez said. Four students were arrested. Several students were injured but nobody was hospitalized, officials said.

Music teacher Reggie Smith described to the Los Angeles Times a chaotic scene that made it hard to distinguish between the trouble makers and those trying to avoid the mayhem.

"The kids were crazy, running from place to place jumping on other kids," Smith said. "Some of my kids were crying because they were walking to class with kids and they got jumped. The officers on campus were overwhelmed."

The Times reported school officials separated Latino students from black students.

Campus police were overwhelmed and called on the Los Angeles Police Department for help with security. About 50 Los Angeles police officers, some of them in riot gear, responded to the school.

Gonzalez said students were kept in their classrooms and no parents or outsiders were allowed on campus.


http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/20...526801-ap.html

[casinoboneerer]

Originally posted by Wezil

The Times reported school officials separated Latino students from black students.
No wonder they were rioting

[infollafago]

Yeah, I hate it when lazy kids can't even be bothered to stand for the short pledge. I knew one who was so damned lazy he attached wheels to his chair so he wouldn't even need to stand up to move around. He never could explain why he hated America so much.

[Illirmpipse]

I wonder, if not believing in America would be acceptable reason?

[Ekrbcbvh]

I wouldn't have a prob with liking my country, just that I'm not a fan of silly (IMO) rituals.

[ggdfgtdfffhfyj]

Originally posted by Theben


So far you haven't said anything coherent. It's a gift.

[slarceSelia]

That possible shift was met with disappointment from Olson. While he said he'll fall in line with whatever change may occur, "I still have my beliefs." The kids and their parents dont have beliefs? You like the Pledge so much, you're free to recite every day. And they're free to ignore it and your beliefs. Another patriotic vet who fought for our freedom to do what he says.

Whenever I have debates over the Pledge I'm always told kids aren't punished for refusing.

[Flerdourdyged]

Free speech does not apply in the classroom; this sort of **** disgusts me. Stand up and recite the ******* pledge of allegiance when you're told to...

[fluoxet]

Eighth graders do not have the right to not stand up when told to. It's called 'school', not 'playtime'. Playtime's over.

[Sandra_18X]

Originally posted by Kataphraktoi
I agree with snoop and not just because im\he's trolling

And if you really cant pledge your allegiance to the country, if not the government, then revoke your citizenship and stop enjoying all the benefits You're expecting an honest, meaningful pledge of allegiance from a bunch of 8th graders? People who are too young to drive, too young to vote, too young to work, too young to drink? If anything, reciting the pledge like this robs it of any significance or honor.

Eighth graders do not have the right to not stand up when told to. It's called 'school', not 'playtime'. Playtime's over.

By punishing the students, the schools are simply adding fuel to a fire. Other students will join in for the "rebel" factor, like making cigs illegal to those under 18, or criminalizing marijuana.

[deermealec]

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

I would take offense to the words "under God" and "indivisible". That denies free speech to atheists and regions who want more autonomy.

[Krruqgwt]

If any reference to GOD offends you, move to china. Your tone will shurely change soon after.

Indivisible means the states are apart of the union.. period. They are free to make their own laws (and do)

[mikajuise]

1. Free speech is not applicable in the school. It aint about free speech, its about religious freedom. The state has no business coercing children into pledging allegiance to the state's God.

If any reference to GOD offends you, move to china. Your tone will shurely change soon after. That aint even logical, the Chinese are atheists.

[zueqhbyhp]

Originally posted by Colon™
Uhm, no. You probably should have kept reading that line.

[GAGNAPPEAPH]

Originally posted by snoopy369
1. Free speech is not applicable in the school. While currently true, I find the irony of that truth to be almost overwhelming.

2. They did not require them to say the pledge, just to stand in respect. There will be hundreds of times you have to be respectful when you'd rather not be in life; if this is the worst, you live a rather charmed life Consider it a life lesson. Respect for what? The daily mouthing of enforced hypocrisy. Its a scene from 1984.

3. Regions that want more autonomy are free to secede. Go ahead. Try it. You'll find out that indivisible is a fact, not a belief I've never understood why every american I've ever discussed this with feels this way.

[Efksqhyu]

Uh? I'm pretty sure most countries would have that reaction to a region that tried to secede...

[BonjGopu]

Would your central government really just say "Oh. I guess that's alright" if the Scottish parliament voted to secede?

[Âåðåùàãèí]

Surely you see how that's vulnerable to reductio ad absurdem.

[Vezazvqw]

Can't decide if that is a troll or if Kuci doesn't realise that England doesn't mind being rid of the scots...