Since I posted, more information has been made available about the hazing incident in Northbrook. I’ve seen footage of it on the TV, and listened to commentary on the radio.
\nIt seems the girls organized this activity on their own, without the sanction of the school. It took place off the school grounds, and <u>legally<\/u> is not the school’s responsibility. At one time, this type of activity was allowed, but the school ended the practice when it became too rough.
\nThe senior girls ordered yellow sweatshirts for themselves, and white ones for the juniors, and then invited the juniors to participate at a cost of $35-40. The principal wondered why anyone would accept an invitation to be hazed. I wonder why they stayed and put up with it when it got bad.
\nThe juniors were huddled on the ground , surrounded by a circle of seniors, being smeared with all sorts of offensive things, and struck. Several people video taped the entire episode!
\nThe best of the comments that I have heard so far have to do with responsibility. The KIDS should be held responsible for their actions , and so should their parents, since the girls are still minors.
\nThe school had both the students and their parents sign a code of behavior at the start of the school year that would preclude behavior like this. While the senior girls will not be suspended, they have been banned from extracurricular activities. I bet the next howl we will hear will be from the parents of the girls who will not be allowed to go to prom!
\nA more militant opinion was that the police should have been called, and this should have been pursued legally. It would surely give other students pause for thought.
\nI don’t know yet how aggressively I’d pursue this. We need to work with younger children to instill respect for their classmates, rather than putting out fires in high school. And I STILL think hazing should be banned!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Since I posted, more information has been made available about the hazing incident in Northbrook. I’ve seen footage of it on the TV, and listened to commentary on the radio. It seems the girls organized this activity on their own, … Continue reading