Saratoga News

Letters

Students should learn from incident

I moved to Saratoga for the peaceful neighborhoods and the fantastic schools. So I have been following the recent local story concerning the streakers and graduation, and I find most peculiar some parents' reactions.

I have some sympathy for those who think the school board's policy is a little heavy-handed. It is not unusual for teenagers to try pranks like the streakers did. Outrageous activity happened when I was young, obviously it still occurs, and I'm sure it will continue long after my girls graduate.

But as a parent, I depend upon two things. First, that I teach my girls to be responsible and moral people. Second, I hope that the community and institutions around me don't undercut those values.

To this end I am proud that Dr. Skelly is the principal at Saratoga High School.

He sends a positive message to our kids. The anti-streaking policy was put into effect by the entire school board because of community outrage at just such an occurrence a few years ago. Unable to prevent what the kids did, Dr. Skelly showed that there are rules and obligations and that students must respect these.

If he decided to bow to parental pressure and ignore the district's policy, what kind of message does that send?

Most "un-Saratoga-like" is the reaction from a very few parents. I think that we could spend our time and money better than to have lawsuits to force these kids back into the graduation ceremonies. Worse is when I heard a parent shout profanity at Dr. Skelly in public because of all of this. I have to explain to my girls why they should act like adults even while adults act like spoiled children.

I think that this immature display of profanity finally pushed me to write my first open letter. I hope that there are parents who will speak up and show that there is more at stake here. In how our community supports (or not) Dr. Skelly, we risk sending a message to future school personnel that they might have to fear retaliation if they take a hard stand and act like the role models we parents ask them to be.

Martin Minjoe
Alta Vista

Discovery Shop gives big thanks

A big thank-you from all the volunteers at the Discovery Shop to the community. You helped us overcome the slow start we made after opening because of repeated street repairs and next-door construction. Both of these made our across-the-bridge location something of a mystery for several months.

Thanks for the support you showed by attending our first anniversary Mad Hatter's Tea and Designer Night. Thanks for the increase in your donations of clothing and household items. Thanks for the growing number of you who come into the shop, friends in tow, to browse, buy and tell us what a pleasant place it is.

We're on our way because of you. But please remember, continued success needs continued support. To fill our shelves with the items that bring you into the store, we rely on those contributions of gently used clothing and household items you bring in.

Shirley Newsom and other volunteers
Discovery Shop

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