It's bad enough that college students are so offended by people who don't agree with them that they can't listen.
Now the attitude is filtering down to the high school level.
GOP presidential candidate Ted Cruz was supposed to speak at the Bronx Lighthouse College Preparatory Academy day before yesterday but the appearance was scuttled after students wrote a letter to the principal urging her not to have Cruz on campus. The Cruz campaign cancelled the event.
The issue seems to have been Cruz's stance on immigration. The Daily News reports:
"We told her if he came here, we would schedule a walkout," said Destiny Domeneck, 16. "Most of us are immigrants or come from immigrant backgrounds. Ted Cruz goes against everything our school stands for."
Destiny and her classmates communicated that sentiment to Lighthouse Principal Alix Duggins.
“A group of students will be leaving during 4th period, as (an) act of civil disobedience in regards to the arrival of Ted Cruz to BLCPA,” the letter said. “We have all considered the consequences of our actions and are willing to accept them.”
“The presence of Ted Cruz and the ideas he stands for are offensive,” the letter said. “His views are against ours and are actively working to harm us, our community, and the people we love. “
The letter called Cruz “misogynistic, homophobic, and racist.”
It is a great thing when high school students have strong opinions (though one hopes that many of youth's strong opinions will mature). It is further a great thing when they are interested in current events.
But it is not so hot when they call somebody “misogynistic, homophobic, and racist” for the sin of disagreeing with them, or when they are ill-informed about the issues that elicit their passion.
So the principal calmed down the students, discussed with them the importance of cultivating a spirit of free inquiry, and encouraged them to always be sure to get the facts straight before taking a stand, right? Well, no:
“Your points are eloquently argued — in fact, so eloquently argued that upon reading your email, Khori Whittaker, the CEO of Lighthouse Academies has agreed to cancel the visit,” Duggins replied.
Yeah, that's right: Stop up your ears, kids.
I don't blame the Cruz campaign for cancelling–who needs this?
But that ill-argued, emotional tripe is hailed by a school authority as "eloquently argued" and the visit from a presidential candidate cancelled shows just how bad a job schools do with introducing students to ideas.
It probably also shows that Ms. Duggins, rather than being a leader, is scared of her students.