NEWS: Two Padawans suspended for practicing in the Cafeteria *Update* Suspension lifted

by **Andeavor** Tue May 31, 2011 3:11 am

WESTFIELD, Mass. -- A high school prank turned serious in Westfield after a fake fight caused some real problems. Now their principal is forcing them to miss graduation, but some students are coming to their support.

The Star Wars movies are known for its light sabers, which is entertaining for audiences, and the reason two seniors at Westfield High School thought a pre-planned, choreographed light saber battle in the school lunchroom would help them go out with a bang.

"So one kid walked in from one side of the lunchroom and another one to the other side, and he called him out in a fight…And they pulled out their saber toys and in a joking manner proceeded to fight for a solid, like, 30 seconds," said Kevin Carr.
But it was all for show. According to their friend, Kevin Carr. "Everybody laughed at it…gave them a standing ovation. Nobody saw it as a big deal," said Carr.

It's a big deal to administrators. The two students were escorted to the principal’s office, suspended for two days and told they wouldn't be able to walk in their graduation ceremony next Friday. “They very easily could have hit another student they could have started something different…someone could have gotten hurt,” said Westfield High School Principal Raymond Broderick.

The punishment created a force in cyber space. A Facebook page calling for the two to take part in graduation now has hundreds of supporters with a stream of comments about the punishment that many students see as too harsh. "Nobody thought it would be this serious. Nobody else got hurt from it…it wasn’t during the class periods or anything, so I thought it was very innocent…an innocent prank and joke,” said Carr.

The principal says there will be a hearing next week. He has received written apologies from the students. They will discuss then whether the two will be able to walk at graduation.

http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/12004424646676/westfield-students-suspended-for-star-wars-prank/

It's a pity administrative people have no sense of play and fantasy anymore. The students clearly wanted to lighten up the mood and put up a show and nobody got hurt. I understand if they wanted to pretend to have authority and suspend them but making them miss graduation? Come on, they're kids!

Facepalm

UPDATE:

I knew he had to back down:

"Suspensions carry the potential of exclusion from senior activities, including graduation night," the principal added. "These incidents may have been poor choices on their part, but I am comfortable that they will all go forward and succeed and have learned from this."

"These are all great kids with super futures, and they understand the consequences of their action," the principal said.

by **LordRemington** Tue May 31, 2011 11:10 pm

Seriously? I get student safety but come on, that principle needs to lighten up. He/she is not going to win the principle of the year award for stopping a harmless light saber fight in the very unlikely chance someone would get injured from it.

If something like that had happened at my old highschool, I know the teachers and the principle would have recognized it was just a joke and let them do it.

by **Iridescence** Wed Jun 01, 2011 4:09 am

What a joke... Those lightsabers bend if you even hit anyone with them, it's not very likely anyone would get injured by it. And, as said, it was a friendly joke, not during class, or anything. If I had a facebook, I would join the group to let them graduate, even if I didn't know them. What a shame. People who think they have more authority than they do just trying to show it off.

by **UltimateZob** Wed Jun 01, 2011 4:39 am

I agree.
"The caged bird proves nothing but the power of the captor".
Sounds to me like the principal is just being a jerk.

Personally, if I met these "padawans", I would give them high-fives.

by **Red-Indigo** Wed Jun 01, 2011 8:51 pm

Iridescence wrote:What a joke... Those lightsabers bend if you even hit anyone with them, it's not very likely anyone would get injured by it.

After being repeatedly attacked by my 6 year old brother who thinks he is grevious, I can say they are pretty harmless, even in the hands of a child. The worst thing that could happen would be if it went in someones eye. Seeing as it was staged, thats unlikley, unless there was someone very stupid.

I think this was more about showing who had authority, but way to go mr prinicple, now everyone thinks you're a killjoy and an idiot.

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NEWS: Two Padawans suspended for practicing in the Cafeteria Update Suspension lifted