Posted by Gunn Junior, a resident of the Greenmeadow neighborhood, on Nov 6, 2009 at 8:52 pm
I'd like to respond to Kathleen McCowin's letter.
I agree that kids should be able to have fun. Water balloon fights are great, as are leaf fights.
But for others? Gunn student were the ones who had to walk across the parking lot the day after and step over hundreds of smashed eggs. Had to watch feasting birds. Had to play on a field with egg shells on it. Not my idea of fun.
I have no problem with Paly's egg fight tradition. But it was really bad judgment to hold the fight on Gunn campus. I think the administration's final decreased punishment was perfectly reasonable.
Posted by Paly Parent, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Nov 7, 2009 at 12:00 pm
McCowin's letter to the editor is an embarrassment to everything palo alto stands for and i am ashamed for McCowin with her rogue comments.
I applaud McEvoy for her actions and all of my daughters friends parents agree. It is against the law to pelt others with frozen eggs. Those vandals are lucky PAPD did not get involved.
Posted by eggsactly, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Nov 8, 2009 at 10:43 pm
"Ms. McEvoy has suspended the rule of reason in persecuting students for the innocent Paly tradition of egg tossing among willing participants."
Dear Ms. McCowin,
Innocent to begin with maybe but more than a few students caused permanent damage to the Gunn facilities. Over 50 eggs were smashed on a brand new track that was installed for use September 2009. The residue from those eggs is there to stay. Maybe you are right that the Paly administration was not equipped to handle such acts of vandalism. They probably should have handed it over to the police. California law states any vandalism over $400 could lead to a year in jail. Next time, maybe that is what the administration should do so that people without the facts could read the facts in a police report.
Posted by Kathleen McCowin, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Nov 12, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Given the recent tragedies of students under way too much stress from Palo Alto schools, my children and I will happily hose down our yard this time next year. As suggested by the anonymous letter writer, I am offering to have the traditional Paly egg-toss at my house. Yes, even if it means fifty eggs on the driveway.
Paly students were weeping publicly about being suspended for tossing eggs, because it would effect their chances of getting into that all-important “right college”. Besides suggesting that we return to traditional out-of-class academic work loads to lower student stress, I’m willing to clean up the mess so kids can have a little fun without the Principle coming down on them inappropriately.
In response to the contributor who suggested criminal prosecution of these kids and a year in jail-are you from the Singapore Government? Are you thinking any graffiti artists should be subject to public lashing? Students, I promise not to bring in the police when you do the toss at my house next year.
Posted by Are you sure?, a resident of the Fairmeadow neighborhood, on Nov 12, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Kathleen - I think it is great that you are willing to host the egg wars next year. Be warned it will be more like 2500 eggs - not 50. Hosing down won't work, so be prepared to refinish your driveway and the paint on your house. Although I am not sure I agree with suspension of these students, it is equally important that the students understand that what they did was wrong. No one can deny that they damaged someone else's property and I don't believe that this is acceptable behavior.
Posted by Kathleen, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Nov 12, 2009 at 6:18 pm
On “bringing up the recent tragedies“, this was actually the case made to me by a Paly administrator for suspending the Paly students! This person’s view was that the eggs at Gunn would potentially cause Gunn students to be pushed over the edge. A more likely contributing factor is the lack of sleep from the 24 7 work ethic pushed on our students: non-stop homework to the wee hours, and on every weekend and holiday.
Posted by eggsactly, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Nov 14, 2009 at 11:18 pm
"In response to the contributor who suggested criminal prosecution of these kids and a year in jail-are you from the Singapore Government? Are you thinking any graffiti artists should be subject to public lashing? "
Kathleen,
You are the one suggesting that the administration did not know how to handle vandalism so the next best thing is the police who would be compelled to follow the law. This is taken from the CA Penal Code directly this is not a made up punishment or from another country. Once again, shooting from the hip without the facts does not flatter the author of this post.
From a legal site:
Vandalism: Throwing eggs or any other item at cars, homes or other personal property, smashing mailboxes, putting shaving cream on cars or garage doors can all cause permanent damage, and are considered more than just a prank by police. Retribution can include community service or repaying monetary damages that can add up to thousands of dollars.
Posted by Paly Parent, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Nov 15, 2009 at 9:37 am
[Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
I am friends with many Gunn parents since our kids went to JLS together. They, as parents, were very insulted by the damage done to their new pool and field by our Paly kids. I am also friends with a Gunn teacher who is struggling with everything from these past months. She saw the egg damage that day and called me from her cell, upset at the kids who did this. The vandalism did upset the Gunn community. Do not think that it didn't.
This has nothing to do with blowing off steam or being stressed about a homework load either. [Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
Posted by palo alto mom, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Nov 15, 2009 at 11:08 am
The Paly admin over-reacted as they always do. A five day suspension for vandalism is of course too much. But to call this harmless fun is also wrong.
The Paly students parent's reaction was also out of line -sending their attorney to talk to the principal is out of line for something where the students were clearly violating both school rules and the law.
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