Student Arrested After Returning To School To Protest Remote Learning

Topline

A high school senior in Suffolk County, New York, was arrested Thursday morning while attempting to attend in-person classes, after having been previously suspended earlier in the week for violating the district’s hybrid learning plan, and the school is now threatening to shut down in-person learning for the “foreseeable future.”

Key Facts

Key Background:

Per their district’s directives due to pandemic protocols, William Floyd High School instituted a hybrid model for the fall semester, which consists of students attending in-person classes for two days each week and three days of virtual learning. District officials said Wednesday that the hybrid schedule was needed for students to practice social distancing, and if Stow wanted to protest, he should direct his grievances toward state elected administrators. School officials also claim Stow was “insubordinate” to several staff members who asked him to leave the campus Wednesday, and at one point, “squared up to a district official” and said he would have to be forcibly removed. “Mr. Stow continues to display irresponsible and selfish behavior with today’s latest publicity stunt,’ school spokesman James Montalto said. “Mr. Stow’s rights as a student do not surpass the rights of any of our other 8,799 students; they should not have to come to school to witness this circus atmosphere each day. Most of our in-person classes at the high school are at maximum capacity according to the square footage of each classroom.” Stow said he didn’t plan to protest on Friday, the anniversary of 9/11, but said he would resume picketing outside the school on Monday.

Crucial Quote: 

“I have mixed feelings truthfully, I’m beyond proud of my son for standing up for what he believes in and defending his right to an education,” said Nora Kaplan-Stow, the teenager’s mother. “I also, I’m a little upset that it has come to this point where the school had to arrest my son for wanting to go to school. I just, I mean I understand they’re trying to abide by whatever rules and regulations and laws that they have to follow, but I think it’s a very sad day when a student gets arrested for wanting to be in school.”

Further Reading:

Student arrested in remote-learning protest at William Floyd High (Newsday) 

Suspended student arrested after returning to school in protest of remote learning (News12)

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