Skip School to Protest - Earn Extra Credit
A Washington area school is offering community service credit to student who take part in protesting the immigration bill. What's next? Gym credit for running away from the truant officers?
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The Montgomery County schools' decision to grant students community service credit for attending Monday's immigration rights protest is raising concern among some parents as well as activists who say officials should focus on education, not political advocacy. Montgomery is the only Washington area school system offering students credit for taking part in the event, to be held on the Mall -- a decision Superintendent Jerry D. Weast said is consistent with how the system has operated. "This is nothing new,'' schools spokesman Brian K. Edwards said about the decision. "Advocacy is allowed." |
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content...
I've always felt that part of protesting and civil disobedience is taking the risks that come along with it. If something is important to you, make personal sacrifice for that cause. But I guess this is what happens in a society completely lost on the concept of sacrifice.
Update 4/11: This topic has stuck with me for a few days now and I can't seem to shake it. I can understand a school wanting students to be involved in issues, but when you give credit for such involvement it is essentially advocating the issue. Would a student receive credit for participating in a neo-nazi rally? How about a (now hide the children) a Republican rally?