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BY JOYCE RUSSELL
joycer@nwitimes.com
219.762.4334 | Saturday, January 29, 2005 | (No comments posted.)
PORTAGE | Portage Township schools Superintendent Mike Berta has reversed the decision of Willowcreek Middle School administrators and lifted a one-day suspension from a sixth-grader who initiated a weeklong protest against a new policy.
"It was the wrong disciplinary action," Berta said.
Students began protesting a new policy that limited students' mobility through the school building both before classes and during lunch hours. Principal Andrew Halaschak initiated the policy to increase school safety.
The policy prompted sixth-grader Tyler Zilz, with the help of his brother, Eric, an eighth-grader, to put together a petition in protest of what students called "lockdown lunch." Zilz called for his fellow students to wear white shirts and blue jeans each day last week to show their opposition to the new rule.
Zilz was given a one-day in-school suspension Wednesday for his actions.
Berta said while he does not agree with the students' position and supports the new policy, he thinks Willowcreek officials should have used the protest as an educational lesson.
"This was the opportunity to teach children about the freedom of speech," Berta said Friday, declining to comment about whether or not Halaschak was reprimanded for giving Zilz the suspension.
Sherry Zilz, the boys' mother, said she was surprised to get a telephone call from Berta on Friday afternoon.
"I was shocked that I got a phone call. I'm happy the suspension was lifted and satisfied to a certain degree," Sherry Zilz said.
She said she agreed with Berta that the incident could have been used to teach children about their rights and freedoms instead of punishing her son for exercising free speech.
Tyler was home ill from school Friday. She said he also was pleased the suspension would be removed from his record.
Sherry Zilz said she remains concerned about future policies the school district may try to initiate and whether or not they could infringe on students' rights.
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