NationStates Jolt Archive


Education system just so enlightened

Greater londres
03-04-2006, 19:39
A HIGH SCHOOL marching band has been banned from taking part in a London festival — because education officials in Florida fear they may be caught in a terrorist attack.

The 140-member band from Fort Myers High School was forced to turn down an invitation to take part in London’s 2007 New Year’s Day parade after their school chiefs ruled that they would be “safer in America”.

Herb Wiseman, high school consultant for Lee County, Florida, pointed to the July 7 Underground bombings to counter protests from students and parents who argued that Britain was no more dangerous than the US. “What happens if kids get on a train that blows up? We don’t have trains blowing up in America,” he told the Fort Myers News-Press.

“We’re leery of loading 140 students onto an aeroplane and flying across the ocean to London where they just had a terrorist attack. We don’t think that it’s worth the risk.”

James Browder, Lee County’s district superintendent of schools, was also involved in the decision to ban the £150,000 trip, though he has approved a trip by Fort Myers High pupils to Atlanta — scene of the 1996 Olympic bombing that killed two people and injured more than a hundred.

Organisers of the London parade, who have invited groups from all over the world, offered to fly both men across the Atlantic to put their minds at rest, but they refused. Bob Bone, the parade’s executive director, said: “Here is an educator that seems to delight in the knowledge that he is ignorant of the facts. London is not a city under siege.”

He added that Fort Myers — a seaside resort visited by 80,000 British tourists a year — was not exactly a safe haven itself. It had an above-average crime rate and was prone to catastrophic hurricanes and other severe weather. “Fort Myers’s murder rate is several times higher than that in London and you are three times as likely to be the victim of rape or violent crime in Fort Myers,” Mr Bone said.

Jeb Bush, the Governor of Florida, has also joined the row — on London’s side.

The US State Department does not warn Americans against travelling to Britain, he said. “I wouldn’t want to have kids in London that were going to come participate in some kind of festivity in Florida be told that it was unsafe. It’s a two-way street. If you believe in travel and if you believe in tourism in your own state, you shouldn’t be using it as (an excuse) unless there’s a legitimate concern — and I’m not aware of any.”

The ban has angered pupils, who had started fundraising for the trip. Ethan Lapham, said: “It’s more probable to be struck by lightning or be murdered in your sleep, than to fall prey to an attack by al-Qaeda terrorists. There is no better time to show these terrorists that we have no fear of them. Instead we are forced, through the cowardly acts of our superiors, to hide in shame.”

FORT MYERS

Population 52,162
Total reported crimes 4,710 (9,029 per 100,000 population)
Murders 15 ( 28.8 per 100,000)
Rapes 40 (76 per 100,000)
Robberies 302 (579 per 100,000)
Aggravated assaults 619 (1,290 per 100,000)
Weather Hurricanes batter Fort Myers every decade — and it is getting worse. Hurricane Charley hit in 2004 and Hurricane Wilma in 2005

Sources: Fort Myers Police Department 2004 crime figures

LONDON

Population 7.2 million
Total reported crimes 1,022,329 (14,199 per 100,000)
Murders 196 (2.7 per 100,000)
Rapes 2,427 (33 per 100,000)
Robberies 38,998 (541 per 100,000)
Aggravated assaults 200,820 (2,789 per 100,000)
Weather London features in the Met Office’s records of extreme weather.
In a month in 1890 the Borough of Westminster recorded no sunshine at all

Sources: Metropolitan Police Feb; Met Office
Tactical Grace
03-04-2006, 19:42
Herb Wiseman, high school consultant for Lee County, Florida, pointed to the July 7 Underground bombings to counter protests from students and parents who argued that Britain was no more dangerous than the US. “What happens if kids get on a train that blows up? We don’t have trains blowing up in America,” he told the Fort Myers News-Press.
:rolleyes:

1) America doesn't have much in the way of trains because public transport smacks of socialism.

2) The guy is an ignorant dumbass.
Ilie
03-04-2006, 19:43
Yeah, my parents are worried about me traveling 2 hours away to Philadelphia...you never know when the terrorists will try to crash a plane into the Liberty Bell.
Cabra West
03-04-2006, 19:45
Is it just me or does that sound like something straight from the Simpsons?
Timmikistan
03-04-2006, 19:51
“What happens if kids get on a train that blows up?


the guy shouldnt really be worried then if he doesnt know whats goin to happen. they might turn into marshmellows ......
Katurkalurkmurkastan
03-04-2006, 19:57
we got a trip canceled to London after 9/11. no matter where the terrorism apparently, London gets screwed.
Hiberniae
03-04-2006, 20:44
Yeah and my three chances to go to italy during highschool were ruined because our school board thought along the same lines. Then they started the trip right back up the year after I graduated. Those sons of bitches.
Megaloria
03-04-2006, 20:57
Turns out stupid people can be paranoid too.
San haiti
03-04-2006, 22:49
“What happens if kids get on a train that blows up? We don’t have trains blowing up in America,”

Haha, classic.
The Alma Mater
03-04-2006, 22:52
“What happens if kids get on a train that blows up? We don’t have trains blowing up in America,”


Indeed. Just famous landmarks. So lets have an excursion to one of those.
Bolol
03-04-2006, 22:52
Did anyone mention to the guy that London had bounced back VERY well after the bombings?
Teh_pantless_hero
03-04-2006, 22:53
"Consultants" and superintendents are just bigwig assholes who don't give a rat's ass about schools other than how much money they are bringing in and how much they cost. Trip to London = expensive, I know, blame terrorism and cancel it!

This reminds me of a letter to the editor I need to write - there was an article in the paper about how some schools are getting electronic "white boards" that are basically huge ass, usually touch-sensitive, computer screens by themselves. This is of course while schools can't afford to fully fund this or that department.
Biosphere Belisle
03-04-2006, 23:01
Is it just me or what Herb Wiseman said sounds more like a line someone in the daily issues might say? It sounds so stupid it could have been invented, I even checked the date to make sure it wasn't posted on April 1st...
The Infinite Dunes
03-04-2006, 23:05
Bah, this isn't about their 'safety', the Principle is just looking to try and save $150,000.

whoops, my pov had slready been expressed. Too bad though.
Ravenshrike
03-04-2006, 23:26
No no, in this case the problem is they're taking advice from someone named herb.
CSW
03-04-2006, 23:29
"Consultants" and superintendents are just bigwig assholes who don't give a rat's ass about schools other than how much money they are bringing in and how much they cost. Trip to London = expensive, I know, blame terrorism and cancel it!

This reminds me of a letter to the editor I need to write - there was an article in the paper about how some schools are getting electronic "white boards" that are basically huge ass, usually touch-sensitive, computer screens by themselves. This is of course while schools can't afford to fully fund this or that department.
Smartboards are the bestest ever.
Tactical Grace
03-04-2006, 23:39
The ban has angered pupils, who had started fundraising for the trip. Ethan Lapham, said: “It’s more probable to be struck by lightning or be murdered in your sleep, than to fall prey to an attack by al-Qaeda terrorists. There is no better time to show these terrorists that we have no fear of them. Instead we are forced, through the cowardly acts of our superiors, to hide in shame.”
That's an excellent point actually. Have the students tried to organise a petition to the school board protesting the official's lack of patriotism? Much as I hate political slurs, a bit of whispering about his political integrity could work wonders.
The Infinite Dunes
03-04-2006, 23:40
Smartboards are the bestest ever.I've only seen an electronic white board used effectively by one person. Most teachers/lecturers either like them, but can't use them well, or are distrustful of technology and won't even use OHPs. No point spending lots of money on the equipment if you don't spend on the training as well.
Boonytopia
03-04-2006, 23:47
Stupidity combined with ignorance. I fear for the standard of education these students must receive at this school.