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.
I think the decision by the school board was way out of line and should have accepted the excuse slip signed by Senator Obama because this is a once in a lifetime experience for the Class President.
If this student was class president why didn’t he have enough respect for his school and fellow classmetes to go according to rules.
Is accountability not in practice anymore? He should have been punished because that is a learning opportunity. I hope he doesn’t get elected to anything because we have enough of that kind of leaders.
“Rules are rules”. Where did I hear that before? Senator Obama should not have condoned this by writing excuses for the young men. Breaking the rules have consequences, just ask voters in Michigan and Florida. On the serious side though young people must learn to follow the rules. In all walks of life rules apply. Politics, school, work, sports, church, home, the law of the land etc. The school handled this incident appropriately.
If something had happened to the students, say an accident, while they were off campus, would anyone have looked at the policy of the school concerning student oversight before school was dismissed? You can bet yer waffles they would have been. Thank God they were held accountable and going to see the “political messiah” was not used to excuse their poor judgment.
One day suspension was adequate punishment…Forced resignation (if indeed it was forced) is patently stupid.
For crying out loud, the kid is obviously mentally unhinged….he’s an Obama supporter!!!
Peace!
Does anybody see the irony here? The President of a High School is supposed to be held accountable for is actions, while the President of the United States isn’t supposed to be held accountable for his?
Welcome to the real world, the world that has rules! What a poor excuse of a Class President, to think that he can do as he wants and not face the music.
personally I’m not for Obama but say that I was. What would happen to me (have to be a big fan though). I would probably get hyped up like a crazy son of a gun. So tell me. I mean honestly, should he really get cut by the throat by public criticism? If you say yes your not someone I would want to be around, your an hole for that is truly cruel. So think a minute, put on his shoes, then tell us what you think.
That’s how it should be. As class president he should set an example of good behavior. Skipping class certainly proved his delinquent behavior/attitude and undermining authority certainly not a qualification for leadership.
Not a good excuse for breaking the rules; If excused it would set a precedent and students could begin skipping for practically any reason. Administration needs to stick to it’s policy, if it is policy.