IWA For Sunday November 19 2006

Hey folks,

Its’s me again. Have you recovered from the news I’m a Conservative yet? {Smile} Truth is, I have always been a Conservative with Independent views. I vote for the one I feel is best for the job. This will not change.

But it is Sunday, time for the IWA. This one is for the complete lack of intelligence, and completely sexist views of a High School Principle. According to this story from the AP,

AP- "Girl Dismissed From Lifting Class Sues"

"NOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- An Anderson County teenager has filed a lawsuit over her temporary dismissal from a weightlifting class by a principal who feared male students might try to rape her."

Yes you read that correctly. Principal Bob McCracken feels that boys will RAPE a girl if given the opportunity. He actually said,

"McCracken said in a deposition that he was afraid Phillips might be sexually assaulted in the class.

"Having a female with 35 or so male students in an isolated area from the school, it sets a very liable situation in my opinion," McCracken said in the deposition."

Now I think it’s great that Ambrea Phillips wants to be in the weight lifting class. I think it’s great that in this day and age, with so many of our kids being over weight, that a few really want to do this instead of playing video games. I think also that in this day and age, for a Principle to make a sexist statement like this, SHOULD be fired.

Now of course, three days after she was removed from the class, he "Changed his mind" and put her back in. Translation time folks, someone said to him, YOU CANNOT DO THAT!!! Now there is a lawsuit.

"Phillips' attorney, Roger L. Ridenour, said stress from the incident caused the student to become physically ill. He said the handling of the situation by then-principal Bob McCracken is part of a pattern of mishandled sex issues at the high school."

According to this article the lawyer for the school even had to eventually admit that the Principle was wrong,

U.S. Magistrate Judge Clifford Shirley asked Knight if the principal was wrong in removing Phillips from the class.

"She is up there with a bunch of football players, a 24- to 25-year-old coach, the only girl - there is a safety issue there. It was a hard call for the principal to make," Knight answered.

When the judge again asked Knight if McCracken made the right decision, the attorney said he hadn't found another court case that would have given McCracken good guidance on what to do.

The judge said he would rule later on whether the lawsuit can continue.

Now you all know how I feel about stupid lawsuits. But this one? I hope she wins the Million. I also hope that this Principle is dismissed or at least receives some sort of sensitivity training. To ASSUME that if a girl is alone with boys, and even the COACH, that they will rape her, is simply idiotic. So because of this, congratulations Mr. McCracken, you ARE the Idiot of the Week.

Peter