Saturday, August 18, 2007

Student Militia at Manzano High School?

The following allegation has been reported to me by a person who comments anonymously on my blog. I have no first hand knowledge.

Principal Tim Whalen, or anyone else from the APS may post a rebuttal if they so choose.

It was last year, or the year before, there had been a number of fights during lunch time at Manzano High School.

Vice Principal Tony Carrillo told the basketball and football teams that it was their duty to stop fights because they were role models; and that MHS did so much for them, they should give something back to MHS.

A few days later, Principal Whalen got on the loudspeaker during announcements and said basically the same thing.

Student athletes were uncomfortable and asked this teacher a number of questions:

  • "Can we get in trouble if we don't break up fights?"
  • "Can we get in trouble for fighting if we break up fights?"
  • "What if they have knifes or weapons?"
  • "Are they gonna train us for this?"
  • "Are we expected to put ourselves in danger?"
  • "Should we get involved if adults are already there?"
  • "Should we help the adults with fights?"
  • "How will they know if we're fighting or breaking it up?"
  • "Do we leave the class to break up a fight outside?"
I would like to know if students at Manzano High School are, or ever have been asked by the administration to break up fights between other students.

I would appreciate a candid, forthright, and honest answer.



If any other teachers from Manzano, or other schools have first hand information on this issue; you may contact me with absolute anonymity through a comment on this post. I moderate comments, so you can still us the comment option even if you do not want your comment posted. Just let me know.

A link to this post has been sent to Monica Armenta for rebuttal.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lets ask Cordova's son, he was a "student" athlete at Rio. I'm sure he will give you an honest answer. LOL

Joseph Lopez said...

I believe students shuld be able to defend themselves from those attacking them. I think they should tryo to go get adult help or a security or cop when they see a fight. Kids should feel that they can intervene when a life threatening action to another human is happening, but they should call for help first.

Football teams and other athletes make crappy, untrained and hormonal security officers. It is true that many of the people on the teams will become cops, but they get in depth training on how to diffuse and take care of violence, and even THEY get killed by people sometimes. (King, Smith...)

Really horrible idea for kids, whose brains don't fully develop until they are 25, (some education whiz HAS to know that as MHS)to do your security for you, Timmy.