School Realignment: Do 'Those Kids' Comments Cross the Line?

Several parental concerns have accompanied Plymouth-Canton Community Schools' looming realignment plans. The district's school board members will adopt one of two plans March 27 that will close two elementary schools.

One plan would close and elementaries; the other would close Fiegel and . Additionally, Tanger and alternative education programs would move toward the center of the district.

The district has held several community forums to allow input on the topic and parents have weighed in on transportation, class sizes, neighborhood impact and the changes' effect on students. One topic raised by some parents, however, has drawn sharp criticism from others in the district: Mixing students from different social and economic backgrounds when the district's borders are redrawn with the realignment.

Emily Florence of Canton heard these comments at forums and a school board meeting and, strongly opposed to such rhetoric, said in a letter to the editor that she is "both embarrassed and appalled by this ignorant display at these meetings." She criticized the parents' complaints that "those kids" would be mixed with their students.

"'Those kids' are just that, kids, and they need and desire a top-notch educational opportunity as much as any other child in this district," she wrote. The letter drew several responses on both sides of the argument.

Lisa Hodges, a parent in the district, wrote in a story comment that such parents "just want the best for their children" and said she now is considering private schools for her students. Hodges wrote that she purchased her house six years ago based on her local school's MEAP scores. Florence responded in a comment that she bought her house because of what the district offered, not because of MEAP scores.

"I find it heartbreaking that Fiegel kids are being hung out to dry," she wrote. Parents are stating publicly that they are unwanted in their schools. How insulting to those families and to the teachers there."

Heidi Nicholas also was critical of the tone used to express concern about the effects of realignment.

"It is getting very ugly, and I hope none of the children will learn from the example that some parents have been setting recently," she wrote in a comment. "Voice concerns, try to get results, present facts calmly, whatever it takes... but be respectful please. Imagine you are one of 'those kids'' parents."

Jodi Wilkowski, a mother of a student with special needs, said she finds it "appalling" that such students are being targeted.

"My son has autism, which some people erroneously believe means that he has no empathy," she wrote. "But let me tell you, he shows more empathy on a daily basis than the parents who are raising a stink about the redistricting."

Michael Pare said the debate over placing the students has brought a bigger issue to light.

"The last few months have been a real eye-opener for me about the community I live in," he wrote. "There is so much hot air being aired about things wrong with the school system, most of them overblown, but what is becoming increasingly clear is that there is nothing wrong with the school system, but there is something wrong with some of the parents."

Hodges later responded that her comments were not intended to offend other families. "My point above is that the Board of Education needs to do a better job of making the redistricting more balanced to ensure that schools aren't being labeled and that every child gets the same chance at having the best education possible," she wrote.

How do you feel about the debate surrounding this issue? Do you see the tone becoming increasingly negative toward students with special needs or from lower-income families? Has the issue been made a bigger deal than it should be? Let us know in the comments below.