Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

The fifth graders did not get to march in the homecoming parade. I interpreted that as some sort of discrimination.

I went to the grade school to talk to someone. I was told that several of the fifth grade class were involved in other activities and were not available to represent their class in the parade.

It was left to the discrimination of the teacher to march or wait. The teacher decided to have his students stand and wait there on Main Street.

I strongly disagree with that decision. The weather was cool and misty. At 12:30 p.m., the temperature was 37°.

The students would have been warmer walking instead of standing around in the cold. I was present at the parade line-up in hopes of having an opportunity to photograph my granddaughter when the class began to march.

I turned 83 in June. I might not be around for Homecoming next year.

The students were ready and raring to go. Their signs were floppy from the moist air, bur their school spirit was sky-high.

They cheered as the folks began to go by, but they had been told to stand and wait. I waited with them and there was no grumbling that I heard. Obviously they were disappointed.

The fifth grades had missed their opportunity to shine. The cheers of the crowd would have lifted their spirits even more.

Certainly they would have represented their school well. There were 15 or so students waiting.

For grade school students, the Homecoming parade is the main event of Homecoming. They should have marched regardless of the number available. In my opinion, holding a class back in this manner based upon less that 100% of the class present is wrong.

I maintain that the fifth graders were victims of discrimination.

Don Stoner