LA HABRA : Students Start Drive to End Suspensions
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Students upset over the suspension and arrest of four classmates last week at La Habra High School have started a petition drive to pressure administrators into lifting the suspensions.
Three students were suspended for “inappropriate behavior” after they would not agree to detention for moshing, or slam dancing, during an assembly Friday where a rap band was performing. The fourth student was suspended when he protested the suspension of the others.
After being suspended, the four male students--one 18, two 17 and one 16--staged a demonstration in which about 100 classmates walked out of their classes. Police were called and the four suspended students were arrested on suspicion of trying to incite a riot and trespassing.
Three students have been released to their parents’ custody, but one was still in Juvenile Hall Monday because his parents were out of town and could not be reached, authorities said.
The students collecting signatures said Monday they had gathered 120 names on the petition, which demands that the suspended students be allowed to return to class before Friday. The petition will be turned over to administrators this week.
Jacki Jones, 17, who signed the petition, called the suspensions unfair.
The students “were just moshing,” said Jones, a senior. “If it had been something like the waltz or the Charleston, I’m sure there would be no problem.”
Steve Desmaretz, 17, a senior who also signed the petition, said that “everyone has a different type of dancing. I think it’s pretty sad when kids get suspended for dancing.”
Many students, even those who had not signed the petition, agreed that the suspensions were too harsh and that administrators should reconsider the punishment.
Principal Patricia Howell said she will not give in to the students’ demands.
“I think it’s getting blown all out of proportion,” Howell said.
“Unfortunately, they have to suffer. We’re in the business of education. We still have a school to run, and that’s what we’re doing.”
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