We want to believe our children could never do anything wrong

Published 6:18 am Wednesday, April 15, 2009

By Staff
To the editor:
I awoke with the urge to write this letter today, it has to deal with the recent firing (lynching) of Robert Smith the assistant principal at Niles Sr. High School. Maybe the word lynching is strong but it is what it is.
Three years ago when my son was given a suspension by Mr. Smith and I didn't agree with him. Not my child, oh no, he couldn't have done that. Like most parents I wanted to believe that my child wasn't deserving of the action of suspension. Yes, I was upset I went to the school ready to give this man a piece of my mind (jump the gun as most parents do). When in reality if I would have been doing my job at home my son wouldn't have been in Mr. Smith's office to begin with.
The Niles School Board recently made a decision not to renew Mr. Smith's contract.
They knew that there was no way that they were going to renew his contract last May when they told him that they were going to evaluate him.
I find that disturbing because they said that he failed to meet the expectations of the community and he didn't meet with some of the leaders. Is the principal Mr. Knoll meeting with the leaders? What about the other assistant principal Mrs. Brawley – is she?
Or how about any of the other administrators I haven't been told about or attended a meeting with any of them.
I would have assumed that the students would come first in all of this. When you are the one that hands out the disciplinary actions you will never be liked. Because you will have parents who won't like what decision you make because there son or daughter has been in your office to many times. You can't please everyone.
Mr. Law and the Niles School Board, who is responsible for the low graduation rate of the students, or the high drop out rate at our school. This sir is a failure to the community.
Mr. Law who was it that you had with you when you met with the community leaders in hopes of getting a millage passed (Mr. Smith)? Was this done as a ploy? What was the motive Mr. Law?
Niles I would like to ask how many African American administrators are in the Niles School System? How many teachers? What is going to be done to change this? Or is it going to be business as usual?
This letter may seem strong to some but I believe that it is time to be said.
I hope that the Niles community realizes that what was done was not for the betterment of the students or because of job performance, but it was done because some people just had a vendetta against Mr. Smith.
Mr. Smith you didn't fail the community, the community failed you.
Niles