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My name is Merle Travis Rutledge Jr. I read a horrifying article in which a student was required by the state and your schools to play a slave. It is understandable that students would be hesitant and even terrified about taking a active ro...le in re living such a nightmare in our history of when people was treated to such barbaric treatment. I am writing personally to say that this practice should stop or be opted out. It has lead to bullying and name calling on this young man that would have never happen if this was never taking place in the school. Even as a teacher, this type of academics and lessons should have been questioned and made as a requirement that should have never been made active. It is shocking that it has become a requirement in the classroom without hesistation or a second look to see how it affected pupils in the classroom trying to become anything but a part of such a system. This young man had every right to protect without penalty from the state or your city for not wanting to participate. It clearly may be a form of freedom of expression, but it is also a anthem of continued oppression. I hope your city, the schools, and the state revisit this decision in light of these views. It should never be a practice, policy, or custom that allows for a wide spread pattern of continued discrimination based off race, and be judge by the preception of making how they look or treated in the future "must" still face such redicule. As leaders, we must take a look and end this practice. This is another form of oppression of the mind for all students to go around thinking its ok because the state says its ok, and it is clearly not ok. The day we force participation in acts that threaten equal liberties, than we all take place in history repeating itself. It may not be added on physical abuse, but in a society with so much mental illness as well as emotions that the safety and protection of a free mind should be priority. I am very dissapointed in the decision a student clearly invoking their right to peaceful protest even though it goes against a policy that was clearly a "practice" of discrimination. But overall, it should not be tolerated. Ill make sure to forward my concerns to the school board, department of education local, state, as well as federal government. It is a huge question of whether this child and other civil rights have been violated. Thanks for your time and I hope in the very near future that their has been changes made to make sure schools are in compliance in the advancement and not the downgrade of all students. Below in the following paragraphs was just alarming, shocking to the conscious, and down right wrong. If you dont find it wrong, than it is clear it is time for a community in City of Gahanna, Ohio to let you know its wrong. I'm all the way in Virginia and took the time to write you first, and hope you taking a active role in questioning policy. "After school that day, Nikko went home and told his mother who immediately complained to the school. The most shocking part of this story is that Nikko's mother was told that this activity was apart of the state's required curriculum!". This is happening in the State of Ohio in the United States of America. This is what I call prior and constructive knowledge. Merle T. Rutledge Jr 5602 Norfolk, Va 23504See More
3 hours ago · LikeUnlike
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Merle Rutledge The mayor emailed me back with this response
35 minutes ago · LikeUnlike
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Merle Rutledge ---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Becky Stinchcomb
Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2011 01:31:12 -0500
Subject: Re: Complaint about the City of Gahanna, Ohio
To: MERLE RUTLEDGE
Dear sir:
I will forward your email to the superintendent of schools. In our city, the mayor has no say or control over our schools. The district is run by a separately elected school board.
I first heard about this incident in the news. It was certainly a serious lapse of good judgment and I am embarrassed that this incident is connected to our city. I hope the school board takes appropriate action.
Becky Stinchcomb
35 minutes ago · LikeUnlike
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