Posted on 11/08/2005 12:58:38 PM PST by day10
A dozen Tri-state high school students made quite a scene at the school halloween dance when they put on Ku Klux Klan outfits.
Students and administrators in Rising Sun, Indiana, say they're upset it happened and shocked the students would do it.
The principal made the students take off the outfits right away, but the damage was done.
9News learned the students were told they have to go through sensitivity training or risk suspension.
People in the community are also being asked to reach out to each other.
"I think you're surprised if one person shows up [in KKK garb], but sometimes good people, whether they're adults or kids, do things that aren't the best and make bad decisions and that's what we had. We had about 12 individuals make a very bad decision," said Superintendent Steve Patz.
The superintendent says neither he, nor any administrators, heard rumblings this might happen.
The students, all boys, came to the dance wearing sheets, dressed as ghosts and pulled out hoods a little later.
Students didn't want to talk on camera, but said they were surprised -- even offended.
The students involved will do civil rights research and write papers and the staff will work to improve the way the school teaches issues of tolerance and sensitivity.
The superintendent knows that everyone knows what happened in the small town and everyone knows who's involved. That's why he wants the community to help with the solution.
"I think it gets back to the education we need to do not only as a school but as a community about why these things are unacceptable," said Patz.
Church leaders are being asked to use their influence.
"As a pastor, I care about all the people in this community, regardless of race, and we want to be able to reach out to bring some understanding of what happened and probably some education needs to take place," said Dan Hunt of Bethel Unity Baptist Church.
There was one African-American girl at the dance, 9News learned.
Although the superintendent says he's under the impression the act wasn't done maliciously, it doesn't matter.
He says this kind of action regarding race, religion, cultures -- just can't happen.
Part of becoming a responsible adult is having respect for other people.
Why do people who like to swear have to "tiptoe" around my kids and not use foul language in front of a 3 year old?
There's no law that says they have to - it's called common sense.
Check back in when you get some.
when 'hangin with her peeps in whatever local Rap joint'?
For all you know, she spends her spare time at church functions and bible study.
Unlike the little mutants in the sheets.
Oh, I guess I'm a "racist" now, huh?
I condoned NOTHING. It's called "perspective."
Neither criminals nor bad drivers in general make an ideological point of murdering black people for the imagined crime of being black people.
The KKK are an ideological organization and wearing their gear sends a very specific ideological message.
WOW! Like the answer... motorists. Yep. What link did you find that on?
LMAO!! I am torn between laughter and embarrassment for our state. Of course, anyone who drives through the state knows why he is elected.
The kids knew they were doing something in bad taste or they would have walked in wearing their costumes, not changing them after they arrived.
Ditto. I have nothing but contempt for the KKKlowns and any kid who came to my home dressed as one would get a history lesson and a severe talking to.
My point is that there is a perceived threat (a bunch of one-toothed losers dressing in bed sheets and babbling about their "Invisible Empire") and there is a real threat (gangbangers who kill every day).
Dad [me] can say, I want to speak to KKK.
TRUE...
Life imitates South Park again.
Condemn both. Surprised?
I wonder how the thread would look had the students dressed as suicide bombersm or the throat slitting brethern.....
so I suppose wearing a mask with one eye with a hatchet in the head and fake blood drooling down is just a walk in the park.....
That blacks aren't welcome and that lynching was funny.
I live right up the road from Rising Sun. Many of my co-workers live there.
The following is what I was told by one of them - I cannot vouch to it's authenticity:
It is my understanding that in this group of freinds is one black kid. He was, apparently, going to go to the dance with this group and wear a noose around his neck but changed his mind at the last minute.
I guess some folx just have to get their digs in no matter what.
Utter nonsense.
My point was to point out the miserable PC that infects the MSM. I did nothing to "change the subject" or "focus."
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