Cephalopod
11-12-2008, 10:09 PM
REXBURG - Controversial words spoken by kids on a school bus have some Madison County parents concerned.
Matthew Whoolery and his wife aren't blaming the school district for what happened on the bus but they do think all parents need to be careful about what they say and teach their children.
Whoolery and his wife couldn't believe it when their second and third graders got off the bus last week and told them what other students were saying.
"They just hadn't heard anything like this before," said Whoolery. "They were chanting on the bus, 'Assassinate Obama. Assassinate Obama.' Then adding in a name sometimes of a classmate on the bus, 'Assassinate Obama and Kate.'"
The Whoolery's explained to their kids what assassinate means then contacted the school about what was happening.
"I think the thing that struck us was just like, 'Where did they get the word and why would they put that word and that person together?'" said Whoolery.
It's not that the Whoolery's are big Obama fans they just don't like people joking about a serious matter concerning any leader of the country.
"I'm assuming if it were, 'Assassinate McCain' you'd feel the same way?" asked reporter Nate Eaton.
"No question about it," replied Whoolery.
After the incident, the Madison School district superintendent sent an email to all teachers, principals, and bus drivers saying that all students should show proper respect for elected officials.
If a student does say something inappropriate, the adult is to calm them down and tell them the behavior is unacceptable.
"I don't think that the majority of people in Rexburg have extreme ideas like that but we were just surprised that it would go that far," said Whoolery.
The Whoolery's moved to Rexburg a year ago. They came from the Middle East where they lived for three years.
In all their time living there, they never heard any comments similar to these about any leaders there or here.
http://www.2news.tv/news/local/34274374.html
Matthew Whoolery and his wife aren't blaming the school district for what happened on the bus but they do think all parents need to be careful about what they say and teach their children.
Whoolery and his wife couldn't believe it when their second and third graders got off the bus last week and told them what other students were saying.
"They just hadn't heard anything like this before," said Whoolery. "They were chanting on the bus, 'Assassinate Obama. Assassinate Obama.' Then adding in a name sometimes of a classmate on the bus, 'Assassinate Obama and Kate.'"
The Whoolery's explained to their kids what assassinate means then contacted the school about what was happening.
"I think the thing that struck us was just like, 'Where did they get the word and why would they put that word and that person together?'" said Whoolery.
It's not that the Whoolery's are big Obama fans they just don't like people joking about a serious matter concerning any leader of the country.
"I'm assuming if it were, 'Assassinate McCain' you'd feel the same way?" asked reporter Nate Eaton.
"No question about it," replied Whoolery.
After the incident, the Madison School district superintendent sent an email to all teachers, principals, and bus drivers saying that all students should show proper respect for elected officials.
If a student does say something inappropriate, the adult is to calm them down and tell them the behavior is unacceptable.
"I don't think that the majority of people in Rexburg have extreme ideas like that but we were just surprised that it would go that far," said Whoolery.
The Whoolery's moved to Rexburg a year ago. They came from the Middle East where they lived for three years.
In all their time living there, they never heard any comments similar to these about any leaders there or here.
http://www.2news.tv/news/local/34274374.html