Letter: 'Tebowing' in school hallways

Regarding "Suspended for 'Tebowing': Really?" [Letters, Dec. 26], in large high schools like Riverhead, as many as 3,000, 14- to 19-year-olds spill into narrow hallways every 45 minutes. They have four minutes to get to class. Disciplinary statistics consistently show that a large majority of infractions occur during these frenetic four minutes.

When students fall to one knee and block the hallway, they absolutely deserve to be suspended. The only problem with the recent "Tebowing" disciplinary decision is that the suspension should have been for five days. Gross insubordination, after you've been personally warned by the building principal, is not a trifling matter.

Along with encouraging academic excellence, the No. 1 priority of school administrators is to ensure the safety and security of students and staff. It is very sad that many parents no longer want high school students held accountable for their actions.

Don Murphy, East Quogue

Editor's note: The writer is a retired principal of Longwood High School.
 

Would the administrators have been so quick to suspend the pair of brothers if they had laid down a Muslim prayer rug? I think not, but a Christian act is always fair game. How sad!

Robert Perlow, Hampton Bays