Obama Meeting Costs High School Class President His Office
It’s a controversy involving a president and a would-be commander in chief.
But the president, in this case, is an 18-year-old Pennsylvania high school student who claims he was forced to resign as head of his senior class because he skipped gym and left school to see Democratic presidential would-be Barack Obama.
Colin Saltry, a Scranton High School senior, and fellow classmate Joey Daniel reportedly bolted school on Monday to catch a glimpse of the Illinois senator during a campaign stop at “The Glider” restaurant, just minutes away from their school.
Saltry and Daniel say they met Obama, snapped photos with him, and even had the candidate sign excuse slips to present to their teachers.
But their decision to skip out did not sit well with school administrators, who said the students broke the rules by leaving school without permission.
Both Saltry and Daniel were issued one-day suspensions. Saltry also claims school principal Brian McGraw told him to “start writing his resignation letter,” according to the Scranton Times-Tribune Web site.
McGraw reportedly denied the claim and said Saltry voluntarily withdrew as class president.
The Obama campaign declined to comment on the controversy. McGraw was not immediately available for comment.
Meanwhile, students at Scranton High School expressed outrage over Saltry’s resignation, posting online messages of support on his Facebook.com Web page.
The group site, which claims to be the official site for Saltry’s future presidential campaign — “sometime in the next 40 years” — was inundated with postings Wednesday by students angered over their classmate’s punishment.
“Help keep Saltry in office,” one statement read. ” Voice your support here on the wall or on his wall…Thanks for sticking by him and let’s rock 2008 right to the very bitter end!!!”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Don’t act like all kids are treated equal at schools. At Liberty High School (near Youngstown, Ohio), kids from upper income families, kids who were outstanding students or involved in student government, and kids from families with influence within the township were never punished with suspension or removal from their offices. These kids were instructed on what to have their parents do to make the situation ok. Poor kids and kids labeled as average/poor students and trouble makers were punished frequently with suspensions and expulsions. I think this kid wanted to be punished and purposely stepped down from his position to bring attention to himself and make some sort of political statement. How did the press get wind of this incident? What statement is the young man trying to make, who knows? He is only 18.
And, this is important why???????????????? Stupid — anything to get Obama in the news!!!!!
Why the big deal ?? He broke the rules he should pay the consequences. Yes he should resign since he is unable to set a good example for his classmates. The school should have made special arrangements for ‘ ALL ‘ the interested students to attend the history making event !!!
I’m glad that the school punished these students. We have far too many young people breaking laws and expecting to get away with it. Many students forget who is in authority. In school, Their under authority not their own. Way to go school for setting an example for the entire United States.
I’m not an Obama supporter but I cannot blame him for signing something. I’m sure he signs a lot of things and does not ask, “What am I signing?” It’s an autograph. The kid was being a wise guy. I know, I have 4 teenagers of my own. The suspension sounds just. The kid claims he was coerced into resigning, the principle says he was not. Who do you believe? Not the kid who just skipped school.
Good for the school to not show favoritism from one student to the next. Skipping class, is skipping class and should be treated as such. If he wanted to see Obama he should have had a parent/guardian sign a note and submit it prior to leaving the school. What about the liability of the school if the student had gotten injured during his absence from school grounds without permission?
He sounds like a great young man, but rules are rules and when broken consequences need to be paid. It was a lesson this young man and the student body won’t forget and may even keep them from doing something really stupid in the future.
After you watch this you will have the whole story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcLKowZCRPk
People. Read my post and that of Larry. They always betray themselves with their own mouth. This is about two students who skipped class and paid the prize for that. All of a sudden Larry- changes the subject and talks about the infidelity of a former president. I guess he wants to vent about the Clintons. As a former teacher he should be using those bad words in a public forum. Shame
Shame on the school for asking this student to resign his office. I suppose if it would have been Hillary he was running out to see they would have overlooked it.
Not a small infraction to leave school, but some common sense should reign here and excuse this young man. What a poor example this principal is making of this student.
When you 18 in most states you are an adult and can sign yourself out.