Principal'd

Scott Hardie | June 14, 2008
Is it ok to lie to a child if it keeps them from doing a dangerous activity? What about when the child is a teenager, and the lie is traumatic, and you're a high school principal? A California high school arranged for state troopers to tell classrooms that some of their students had been killed in drunk-driving accidents that weekend, a lie to scare them straight. (link)

Naturally, the students, being high school kids, say this lie is a Very Big Deal, and maybe they're on to something. It was designed to cause emotional trauma, and it was applied to everyone, not just the at-risk kids. I wouldn't demand the principal's resignation if I was one of their parents, but I do suspect he didn't quite think this plan all the way through.

Anna Gregoline | June 14, 2008
Interesting. I don't know how to feel about that.

Amy Austin | June 14, 2008
Ditto. Though I think I tend to lean slightly in favor of the kids. I agree with what Scott said, though -- not enough reason to demand a resignation -- but I am a little surprised that no one has yet... this being the age of unreason and all...

Steve West | June 14, 2008
I also lean toward the children and view the result as mostly an erosion of trust. Time will tell, perhaps.

Jim Kraus | June 15, 2008
Ideally, a principal should be a trusted, authority figure. Kids should at least know that the princpal isn't going to lie to you.

Now what happens if there really is a tragedy at that school? The kids are going to not fully believe it at first cause they've already been duped.

You don't mess with people's emotions like this.

Jackie Mason | June 20, 2008
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Scott Hardie | June 20, 2008
Fueled by media attention and self-righteousness, parents cry wolf so often about the "outrageous" things that teachers and school administrators do to their children that it's hard to decide whether incidents like these truly do cross a line.

Lori Lancaster | June 20, 2008
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Amy Austin | June 20, 2008
Fueled by media attention and self-righteousness, parents cry wolf so often about the "outrageous" things that teachers and school administrators do to their children that it's hard to decide whether incidents like these truly do cross a line.

I *absolutely* agree with this statement and think it to be at the heart of why I wasn't sure how I felt about it... but the erosion of trust in authority definitely makes this a standout. Still don't see any malicious intent or reason to "hang him" for it... but some serious reflection on the matter is surely in order.

Scott Hardie | June 21, 2008
Then again, there are some incidents where teachers sprint madly over the line and never look back.

Amy Austin | June 21, 2008
A pretty clear-cut case of crazy, I'd say...

Tony Peters | June 21, 2008
I think that teach needs to burn on a cross