I read Concerned Parent’s letter in the May 15 issue and definitely agree with him or her: Yes, it is very sad how the once great Sandy Creek High School has deteriorated.
I am the parent of a child who attended and graduated from Sandy Creek in the mid to late ’90s. Back then when it was a state of the art school in technology, we really wanted our child to attend it and made special efforts such as a car pool because we felt it offered so many more advantages over the other high schools.
Back in those days that seem so innocent now, discipline was very strong and a smart remark could give a student detention. Threats could give them suspension.
I remember when a student carried a machete (a form of knife) to school in his vehicle and forgot and left it there. He got into serious trouble and the police were called in.
He had a legitimate reason for having it in his vehicle, was not a troublemaker and had it covered, but the cover accidentally came off, another student saw it and jealously reported him to the school.
The law and the school gave him a grilling and a lot of trouble before his name was cleared, if it ever was. I do not remember. That’s the way Sandy Creek used to be.
I remember when the term zero tolerance was the buzz word and it was strictly enforced. It means absolutely no tolerance for disobeying the rules of the school.
Now it is just the opposite. Does zero tolerance exist anymore? Apparently not. Now I hear of fights and trouble in the school halls. Male students harass female students. I know of a case where a female student was so harassed by male students that the parents took her out of Sandy Creek and set her up in a condo in an area where she could attend her desired high school.
Now we live in a such a politically correct environment that everyone is so afraid of offending someone (and the subsequent lawsuit everyone today fears) that no one does or says anything. That is a frightening state of affairs.
It reminds me of the old saying, “Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything.” It definitely has the noxious smell of intimidation. I put a lot of blame for this sad state on one-world globalism ideas promoted by liberal left wing politics and the bedazzled liberal media who support and defend these ideas/causes.
We have to have our head in the sand not to know that the demographics of Fayette County have definitely changed in the past 10-plus years. Look at the crime at Fayette Pavilion or other Fayette locations. It is becoming more daring, riskier and done by younger and younger people.
Whereas in the past I had no fear of shopping at the Fayette Pavilion or other areas, now I give going over there a second thought. Gangs and drugs are commonplace to our youth. Thugs are thugs, regardless of their money or political connections.
However, to some susceptible people, being in a gang is some type of honor or award. Morality to a certain group will always just be a word in the dictionary tossed about by older affluent Americans.
Recently I attended a concert at Sandy Creek, which was really great. I didn’t see a name on the administrative plaque that I recognized, so I can’t give an opinion on the administration and what is wrong with it other than the fear of going against the “god” of political correctness.
I walked the familiar halls and looked again at all the great trophies and awards of the school encased behind glass and felt sad and nostalgic. The sports mural my child helped paint is still there. I met some great and wonderfully talented actors and musicians (students).
It grieves me to think that they could not have the freedom and peace to study, do art and make music.
Apparently athletes have all the freedom at Sandy Creek. Thugism is not acceptable in civilized societies, especially not in schools. Regardless of money they have, how big their house is, how flashy their car is or what race, religion or politics they have, people and children have to be responsible for their behavior.
And I used to be a teacher, but I am not anymore. I know a little of what I speak. We once had an alternative school in Fayetteville. Has it gone the way of zero tolerance?
Another Concerned Parent
(Name withheld by request)
Fayetteville, Ga.
