Exercising leads to suspension for 11 year-old student
11-Year-Old Girl Suspended For ‘Dangerous’ Cartwheels At School
Updated 26 November 2004: Leland Faegre (Deirdre’s father) has commented, clarifying many of the questions about the cartwheel incident and filling in a great deal of information. His comment, including her statement, has been added at the bottom of this post.
Danger lurks everywhere in today’s schools but dedicated professionals are going above and beyond the call of duty to protect our kids. WAY above and beyond.
Deirdre Faegre, who is a Student of the Month at San Jose-Edison Academy in West Covina was dismissed from the school this week after school authorities warned her for the last time to stop doing gymnastic stunts during lunchtime.
Administrators at the school said they were concerned about safety of their students.
They said gymnastics on the playground creates an unsafe situation.
“I thought they were absolutely weird, because I see other kids playing baseball and soccer and I think that’s more dangerous than gymnastics,” Faegre said.
Sitting on chairs can be quite dangerous as well. Some of those things are more than a foot off of the ground! Just imagine falling from that height. I’ve seen it happen myself and it’s never a pretty sight. Unfortunately the school authorities have not yet made the right choice and restricted the students to only sitting down on the ground during recess. [/end sarcasm]
“I don’t think they care about the children at all,” father Leland Faegre said. “What sort of a parent or administrator would ever enforce a rule that would proscribe a child from using her arms and her legs? We have got to fix this mess because we have to let children be children.”
Her parents said they will home school Deirdre until they find a more “reasonable” school.
Calls to school administrators went unanswered.
I wouldn’t be answering that phone either. How in the world could you justify suspending a kid for doing cartwheels during recess?
(Tip credit to JC, Scott Hannan, David Kane and Rod)
UPDATE
From gymnast’s view
Re “Cartwheel compromise best,’ (Your View, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Nov. 21, 2004):
The reason I refused to stop (doing cartwheels) was because I was not given a designated area even though my parents had asked for it. Also, the school never made it an issue at the beginning of the year. There are many sports out there and you can get hurt by playing all of them, but they did not allow my sport.
My dad helped me because there are many people in the past who made great changes such as Luther and Galileo and Rosa Parks that stood up to stubborn unfairness. If you do not go against something that is wrong how do you expect to fix your problems?
It is a good thing my dad will home-school me because education these days is not as good as it should be. I will not miss my friends because we have one another’s phone numbers and we can see each other any time. Also my dad says that anyone not using the schools should not have to pay for them.
Deirdre Faegre
West Covina
My daughters ‘Letter to the Editor’ addresses every issue here. But for all of those who have taken the time to support another educrat who has exhibited another disgraceful episode of abuse found endemically in Government Schools, how about Luther, Galileo, American revolutionaries or Rosa Parks? Are you generally sympathetic to tyranny and authoritarianism and find child abuse comforting?
Here are the facts and this is the timeline:
09/28
After picking up my daughter, she divulges that she was admonished for doing cartwheels on the playground at lunch. I considered the event anomalous and probably involving extenuating circumstances.
09/29
After picking up my daughter, she explains that she was admonished once again and without leaving the campus, investigated by finding the instructor involved. Learning that such intransigence originated from Patton and finding her gone for the day, I emailed her the following day expressing incredulity at such repressive behavior.
09/30
My wife meets with and electronic mail correspondence sent to Patton
10/25
Nearly a month later, she responds perfunctorily by electronic mail without offering any compromise. A phone call from Patton offers no compromise and I dutifully warn her that I have already alerted the media about this episode.
My daughter begins to receive detention time at lunch for her civil disobedience. A model student and citizen who has never questioned authority heretofore, believes she has a compelling case and dutifully and politely accepts her punishment for approximately two weeks leading up to her suspension on Wednesday, 11/10.
If Patton had Deirdre’s interest at heart she would have found an area that accommodated her passion as any decent person would have if she was sincerely concerned about her safety and others as she claimed. But safety was only a distraction to her predilection towards pathological control of these government coercive, medication, indoctrination and incubation facilities that are known as public schools.
I made one stop to my local newspaper. I never chased or manipulated the development of this international incident. It wrote itself. Deirdre should be insulated from inappropriate content such as this from you, and was, because I also believe in protecting children�s innocence from abusive adults.
This pathological priestess in the tradition of Eva Peron has now been disgraced by her arbitrary arrogance, been forced to recognize Deirdre’s Cause of the Cartwheel for posterity and has, wait for it. Are you sitting down? Set aside an entire football field for her to be herself. Why could that have not been arranged at the end of September? Maybe you should reread the facts stated herein.
It would be easier to compromise philosophy and integrity and gain the notoriety that is claimed here as my purpose. It would be relatively easy to be elected as either a Democrat or Republican; so if this episode was about my Libertarian activism, why is there precious little attention made about it? Because I have insisted to the media that my Libertarianism not be mentioned. This is about children being children and nothing more. I warned Patton in advance that I had alerted the media about her ‘mother may I’ paternalism so that she was well forewarned. She thinks as any government goon; she cares only about her own. It is their school, not ours, as this nanny of nonsense protects her own rather than our own. She is counterfeit.
Free education for all children in public schools
—Plank 10 of the Communist Manifesto
I have never, ever concealed my contempt for the gulags of government education. The commissars of the state indoctrinate these ‘Stepford Children’ to insure their own control of our destiny without the slightest knowledge of the general population which obviously includes this High Priestess of Handstands.
SJEA was heralded as innovative but it has assumed the mantle of the typical incubation centers that have harmed all children to some degree whether their ignorant parents know it or not; and do so with our money. Unfortunately and lamentably, it was and remains our best option though I seek to inform my fellow citizens of a much better way–alas one that is competitive and conducive to greatness and remains beyond the pale of the Federal Leviathan; The separation of school and state. It can be found here: http://www.honested.com
The only relevance of this episode is that my daughter was denied the right to be herself. My daughter was never told to violate this edict. I just never insisted that it be followed. So much for my evil master plan; adherence to and affection for the US Constitution�Article One, Section Eight where no mention of government schools can be found.
As one blogger put it, �Of course, we all know that cartwheels are just a gateway activity to harder actions, such as round-offs. �And another put it so succinctly, “go revolutionary cartwheelgirl…”
“First, God created idiots. That was just for practice. Then He created school boards.”
—Mark Twain
So the next time you hear about something as remotely abusive as thong underwear inspections [in San Diego] or vulva examinations [for genital warts without parental permission in Pennsylvania], I hope you think of me as something other than an irresponsible parent. And if not, please stay home on election day and let me help you with a legal excuse from jury duty.
Seems like the rules just get more and more rigid as well as more and more stupid.
Just when you think, you have heard it all. Safety, has a new meaning today. Just use it for everything.
Understand they pulled this off, because of local and community rules.
Excuse me, but you can be hit in the head with a ball. It happens all the time.
It is time to quit destroying childhood. Especially under the false use of the word safety.
Time for a petition.
Let’s see. Kids are allegedly too fat. They need more exercise. So when one voluntarily does that during recess she is penalized.
This was not during recess. It was during lunch. They don’t tell the circumstances. Was it in a crowded cafeteria?
Also, she was told several times to stop. Disobeying is what got her in trouble. I don’t see this one as a good (bad?) example of zero tolerance.
I saw where they said she was on a playground. It’s misleading to say it was lunch then. It still doesn’t say exactly what she was doing. “Gymnastics” can mean a lot of different things.
I still maintain that it was not following directions that got her in trouble.
[edit]
On to the events chronicled
I read about this earlier.
I believe the offending action was an exotic maneuver called a “cartwheel”. Another that may have been at issue is a dangerous stunt known as a “handstand”. Clearly such irresponsible activity not only mandates expulsion, but also CPS intervention and prosecution to the maximum extent allowed by law.
But we mst always remember this simple(-mindded) truth.
When cartwheels are outlawed, only outlaws will do cartwheels.
Allanque:
She was disobeying an order that the order-giver had no right to give. Sounds like this 11 year old is well-learned in the art of civil disobedience.
I just saw the family interviewed on TV along with the principal. The principal was a former gymnast by the way. She said the girl was doing cartwheels in the hall, not only outside, and apparently, she was seen on one occasion as doing them poorly, almost knocking another student down. I’m with the principal on this one.
Jack - I was always taught that in school, you follow the order, then argue afterwards, unless it was something really outrageous.
*shrugs*
Without the full circumstances, there’s no way to know if it was an acceptable order.
I don’t like the idea that we should follow orders, then question the orders later. If an order is wrong, you have no duty to follow it.
From gymnast’s view
Re “Cartwheel compromise best,’ (Your View, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Nov. 21, 2004):
The reason I refused to stop (doing cartwheels) was because I was not given a designated area even though my parents had asked for it. Also, the school never made it an issue at the beginning of the year. There are many sports out there and you can get hurt by playing all of them, but they did not allow my sport.
My dad helped me because there are many people in the past who made great changes such as Luther and Galileo and Rosa Parks that stood up to stubborn unfairness. If you do not go against something that is wrong how do you expect to fix your problems?
It is a good thing my dad will home-school me because education these days is not as good as it should be. I will not miss my friends because we have one another’s phone numbers and we can see each other any time. Also my dad says that anyone not using the schools should not have to pay for them.
Deirdre Faegre
West Covina
My daughters ‘Letter to the Editor’ addresses every issue here. But for all of those who have taken the time to support another educrat who has exhibited another disgraceful episode of abuse found endemically in Government Schools, how about Luther, Galileo, American revolutionaries or Rosa Parks? Are you generally sympathetic to tyranny and authoritarianism and find child abuse comforting?
Here are the facts and this is the timeline:
09/28
After picking up my daughter, she divulges that she was admonished for doing cartwheels on the playground at lunch. I considered the event anomalous and probably involving extenuating circumstances.
09/29
After picking up my daughter, she explains that she was admonished once again and without leaving the campus, investigated by finding the instructor involved. Learning that such intransigence originated from Patton and finding her gone for the day, I emailed her the following day expressing incredulity at such repressive behavior.
09/30
My wife meets with and electronic mail correspondence sent to Patton
10/25
Nearly a month later, she responds perfunctorily by electronic mail without offering any compromise. A phone call from Patton offers no compromise and I dutifully warn her that I have already alerted the media about this episode.
My daughter begins to receive detention time at lunch for her civil disobedience. A model student and citizen who has never questioned authority heretofore, believes she has a compelling case and dutifully and politely accepts her punishment for approximately two weeks leading up to her suspension on Wednesday, 11/10.
If Patton had Deirdre’s interest at heart she would have found an area that accommodated her passion as any decent person would have if she was sincerely concerned about her safety and others as she claimed. But safety was only a distraction to her predilection towards pathological control of these government coercive, medication, indoctrination and incubation facilities that are known as public schools.
I made one stop to my local newspaper. I never chased or manipulated the development of this international incident. It wrote itself. Deirdre should be insulated from inappropriate content such as this from you, and was, because I also believe in protecting children�s innocence from abusive adults.
This pathological priestess in the tradition of Eva Peron has now been disgraced by her arbitrary arrogance, been forced to recognize Deirdre’s Cause of the Cartwheel for posterity and has, wait for it. Are you sitting down? Set aside an entire football field for her to be herself. Why could that have not been arranged at the end of September? Maybe you should reread the facts stated herein.
It would be easier to compromise philosophy and integrity and gain the notoriety that is claimed here as my purpose. It would be relatively easy to be elected as either a Democrat or Republican; so if this episode was about my Libertarian activism, why is there precious little attention made about it? Because I have insisted to the media that my Libertarianism not be mentioned. This is about children being children and nothing more. I warned Patton in advance that I had alerted the media about her ‘mother may I’ paternalism so that she was well forewarned. She thinks as any government goon; she cares only about her own. It is their school, not ours, as this nanny of nonsense protects her own rather than our own. She is counterfeit.
Free education for all children in public schools
—Plank 10 of the Communist Manifesto
I have never, ever concealed my contempt for the gulags of government education. The commissars of the state indoctrinate these ‘Stepford Children’ to insure their own control of our destiny without the slightest knowledge of the general population which obviously includes this High Priestess of Handstands.
SJEA was heralded as innovative but it has assumed the mantle of the typical incubation centers that have harmed all children to some degree whether their ignorant parents know it or not; and do so with our money. Unfortunately and lamentably, it was and remains our best option though I seek to inform my fellow citizens of a much better way–alas one that is competitive and conducive to greatness and remains beyond the pale of the Federal Leviathan; The separation of school and state. It can be found here: http://www.honested.com
The only relevance of this episode is that my daughter was denied the right to be herself. My daughter was never told to violate this edict. I just never insisted that it be followed. So much for my evil master plan; adherence to and affection for the US Constitution�Article One, Section Eight where no mention of government schools can be found.
As one blogger put it, �Of course, we all know that cartwheels are just a gateway activity to harder actions, such as round-offs. �And another put it so succinctly, “go revolutionary cartwheelgirl…”
“First, God created idiots. That was just for practice. Then He created school boards.”
—Mark Twain
So the next time you hear about something as remotely abusive as thong underwear inspections [in San Diego] or vulva examinations [for genital warts without parental permission in Pennsylvania], I hope you think of me as something other than an irresponsible parent. And if not, please stay home on election day and let me help you with a legal excuse from jury duty.
Wow… home run! Way to stick up for what’s right.
Shame on the father for using his child to further his non-mainstream beliefs! His ranting comments show that! Thanks for sharing them with us. As one reader pointed out — we don’t have all the facts. Cartwheels in a crowd of kids is different from cartwheels on a playing field where there is plenty of room.
I would love to see the Principal’s response, but then by Law she cannot share information with us. A students’ record is private, as it should be. This is a “non-starter” as the Brits say.
barry
I dunno, Barry. Judging by the responses here and out and about in general I’d say the mainstream is pretty solidly in the Faegre’s corner.
The child seems to share the father’s “non-mainstream” beliefs as well. The father didn’t force the child to do cartwheels.
Barry, I could understand you making that ocmment BEFORE Mr. Faegre posted his clarifying remarks. To believe as you do AFTER such clarification raises serious doubts in my mind as to your sanity, common sense, and the safety of allowing you around children.
LETTER OF ETERNITY
I don’t think this LttE will ever be topped. Jim Peacock includes it in an update to an earlier post. Click over and read this wonderfully snarky anti-g-school missive….
Do American parents still have the right to raise their children with non mainstream values?
As moral creatures parents have both the right and obligation to teach their children to do what is right. We are not lemmings, we shouldn’t just follow the crowd. If mainstream values start to become wrong, as true citizens parents should teach their children to stand for what is right.