Post by RPankn on Feb 4, 2005 18:42:41 GMT -5
Manual High group was protesting time given to get to classes, saying it's inadequate.
By Kim L. Hooper
kim.hooper@indystar.com
February 4, 2005
A peaceful student sit-in turned unruly at Manual High School, and school police used a chemical spray to disperse the crowd Thursday afternoon.
Duncan Pat Pritchett, the Indianapolis Public Schools superintendent, said it appeared officers overreacted by using the spray.
"Students do have First Amendment rights," he said.
About 100 students were in a hallway when police sprayed several bursts of the chemical in the air to disperse the crowd. No injuries were reported.
Those students had been among about 400 protesting the lack of time they have to pass between classes before being marked tardy. Students now have five minutes to change classes.
Construction in some areas of the Southside high school makes it difficult to get from one side of the building to another.
Students caught in hallways after the late bell are written up; three write-ups result in a one-day in-school suspension.
Three students alerted school officials about noon that others were planning the first-floor demonstration.
The sit-in started after the 1:40 p.m. bell. When school officials began writing up stragglers, most students proceeded to class.
But police said one group became disruptive, using profanity, banging on the school office doors and knocking over trash cans. It was then that the chemical spray was used.
Pritchett and Manual Principal Kenneth Poole said if students' concerns were valid, they would be willing to adjust passing times, which vary from four to seven minutes, depending on the school. The issue will be discussed with the school's Student Council.
Call Star reporter Kim L. Hooper at (317) 444-6494.
www.indystar.com/articles/2/219711-9452-103.html
By Kim L. Hooper
kim.hooper@indystar.com
February 4, 2005
A peaceful student sit-in turned unruly at Manual High School, and school police used a chemical spray to disperse the crowd Thursday afternoon.
Duncan Pat Pritchett, the Indianapolis Public Schools superintendent, said it appeared officers overreacted by using the spray.
"Students do have First Amendment rights," he said.
About 100 students were in a hallway when police sprayed several bursts of the chemical in the air to disperse the crowd. No injuries were reported.
Those students had been among about 400 protesting the lack of time they have to pass between classes before being marked tardy. Students now have five minutes to change classes.
Construction in some areas of the Southside high school makes it difficult to get from one side of the building to another.
Students caught in hallways after the late bell are written up; three write-ups result in a one-day in-school suspension.
Three students alerted school officials about noon that others were planning the first-floor demonstration.
The sit-in started after the 1:40 p.m. bell. When school officials began writing up stragglers, most students proceeded to class.
But police said one group became disruptive, using profanity, banging on the school office doors and knocking over trash cans. It was then that the chemical spray was used.
Pritchett and Manual Principal Kenneth Poole said if students' concerns were valid, they would be willing to adjust passing times, which vary from four to seven minutes, depending on the school. The issue will be discussed with the school's Student Council.
Call Star reporter Kim L. Hooper at (317) 444-6494.
www.indystar.com/articles/2/219711-9452-103.html
