I think the thing that struck me about Chante's original statement was not that she would make it, but how it stuck out as a personal attack while all the other students' comments were more systemic in nature. I question if Mr. Hermann should have published it the way he did - I immediately saw this as something that was going to be taken personally by the police officer and by the administration of Western. No surprise whatsoever that there were repercussions. A high school student doesn't know enough to ask for anonymity, I think reporters should know enough to encourage it. In my experience principals are not looking for criticism from students or parents, especially if they perceive it as making them/their school look bad in a public forum.

My earlier point exactly! If children are chided, what do you think administrators and above do to truthful teachers and other lowly staff? I have had exactly one principal who was able to accept good news and bad and then act with integrity.Sadly, his goodness,honesty, and servant leadership style has not served him well in the system It seems the more cut throat and unethical you are, the farther you go in BCPS.

Anyone who thinks that any type of negative comment to the press from anyone connected with a school is not met with a reprimand from the principal is soooooooo wrong. Not only are we supposed to remain silent we are not supposed to talk "outside the family." Of course, Chante was pulled in and "talked" to. How dare she say the truth? Whatever was she thinking? Many school police do not do an effective job; some of them are afraid of the students. My school has a couple of great officers who work here but they can't do everything.

Just remember
in baltimore
its is not about the go
its all about the show
Say the right thing and maybe people won't notice all the people on the public school payroll not doing their jobs

My point is that in a public forum you need to phrase criticism in a way that is not seen as an attack. That just brings up defensiveness and in the end nothing positive comes of it. That a high school student doesn't understand that is not too surprising. My comment was to ask if the reporter couldn't have helped Chante learn that by not publishing her statement as a personal attack. How about if the story had said something like "one student noted that the security in her school seemed removed and that more personal contact and interaction would make the school feel safer". An anonymous statement about the problem, not an attack on a specific person not doing their job.

I can't comment about what happened at Western, nor do I know this principal personally, but I have had to deal with several principals who have given me grief (in some cases, very publicly) for taking complaints or problems outside the building. In my current position, even though I work in school buildings, I answer not to the principal but to someone at Central Office (this may change next year), so it's my duty to report these problems to my supervisor. However, this doesn't matter to these principals who chastise me for "going outside the house."

So in short, Chante's story is plausible to me and, I'm sure, to others in my position.

Students often have pretty keen observations, but also frequently have views that are very one sided and immature. Chante has a track record of this, while the Officer she slammed does work hard to keep the school safe. I cannot believe Matthews would have done anything other than try to get to the bottom of the remark, which apparently Chante admitted was incorrect (and/or misstated). I don't think there was chiding or reprimanding-- but we do encourage students to tell the truth in a responsive way, and to know the danger in gossip and slander.

Western Teacher

Children, and thats what they are, often have unfiltered observations of reality. Not shadowed by the "adult" realities of life. To dismiss or downplay a students observation is at best condescending, at worst disrespectful. I don't have a child at this school but even I have heard about some of bad things that go on at this and other "good" schools.

Retribution is nothing need to City Schools and that is why I admire that Dugger guy who continues to speak up at great risk to his career.

The comment made by the teacher about being silenced is so right. This is a county issue too..from the very top down. Fear rules the day.

Sadly, it appears that some of the adults at Western have banded together to discredit not only the student's personal observations, but the student herself. This leads to a question, At the helm, an innovative academic leader preparing young women for roles of leadership or a disgruntled administrator, fearful of critics and change, collaborating with old guard like-minded staff to perpetuate a myth of rigorous and relevant academics ready and willing to assassinate the character of a student stating her personal observations? I believe the answer is obvious. Wonder what actions such a group might undertake to quiet internal or external critics/perceived critics?

I find on a regular basis that administration and teachers don't actually know what school police officers are supposed to do. Discuss their job descriptions with them, you may be surprised to find that they're not hall monitors or administrative disciplinary tools.

If staff can't explain what school police are meant to do, isn't there a chance that students don't really know? What may appear as "doing nothing" could be filling out reports in the office. We have 2 officers at TMHS that cover more than just our school... and they work every minute of every day. That doesn't mean they're in the hallways chasing down hall walking students.

As for the quote being taken at all. Well we teachers aren't supposed to talk to the press at all. I once was repremanded by the school system for talking to Sara here after an open forum... all the information had already been given to AAA and the board and I still got in trouble for telling the Sun what they already knew.

How did your administrator/school system know you had talked to Sara? I thought no one knew when we blabbed on the blog. Sara, are emails or identities of bloggers revealed?

Alrighty Then: No, the commenter talked to me at a public forum. Your identities are not revealed on the blog unless you choose to leave your name. We do not share the email addresses you leave with anyone. Sara