The Huffington Post is reporting that the McCain campaign bussed in 4000 kids from the Defiance, OH School District and those of neighboring school districts.
The kids attended the rally in which McCain famously asked his "Where is the Rest of Me?" Joe the Plumber question. According to Huffington:
But that rally featured another embarrassing moment, one that illustrates a far more troubling dynamic for the Republican ticket. The McCain campaign actually had to bus in school kids from the surrounding area in order to fill the event. As reported by MSNBC:
A local school district official confirmed after the event that of the 6,000 people estimated by the fire marshal to be in attendance this morning, more than 4,000 were bused in from schools in the area. The entire 2,500-student Defiance School District was in attendance, the official said, in addition to at least three other schools from neighboring districts, one of which sent 14 buses.
This happened -- as if a reminder were needed -- less than a week out from the election, when the heat of the campaign should be drawing record crowds.
Watch:
Wow, that's some young voters there.
But wait, is that legal? Taking kids from school to attend a partisan political rally? Is that something the School Board endorses?
According to the Defiance City School District Bylaws and Policies, Administrative Guidelines, um, no.
3231A - POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
One of the primary purposes of the school is to create an environment that will permit students to grow and develop. To be of maximum effect, this environment must extend to both the formal academic program as well as to the many extra-curricular activities sponsored by the school. Because of the ages of the students and the significance of the task, it is important that this environment be protected from interference by external, sometimes coercive or disruptive, forces and influences that do not substantially contribute to the learning process.
Nonschool related activities, including political activities, do not contribute to a positive learning climate and may be disruptive, divisive and distracting. Therefore, such activities are not appropriate within the school setting. It is the Board of Education's intention to regulate such activities on all Board owned or used property, within all school buildings, and at all school sponsored activities.
Specifically:
A. Literature supporting or opposing one or more candidates, issues, or a particular point of view; commercial literature; and other nonschool related literature shall not be distributed on or in Board owned or occupied buildings or grounds, inside of school buildings or on school buses immediately before or after school or while school is in session. (The distribution of materials to students by other students is governed by the regulations contained in Board Policy).
B. Literature supporting or opposing one or more candidates, issues, or a particular point of view; commercial literature; and other nonschool related literature shall not be distributed at school sponsored extra-curricular activities or athletic events wherever they may occur. This regulation shall not prohibit the distribution of literature outside of the entrances and exits of athletic events provided that any such distribution does not interfere with the ability of individuals to freely enter or leave the facility, is not disruptive, and does not take place when school is in session.
C. Nonschool related, political, and/or commercial literature, or campaign posters supporting one or more candidates, issues or a particular point of view shall not be displayed within the schools or on school owned or occupied property, unless done as part of an approved teaching unit.
Revised 10/06
Interesting. There's more.
1200 - ADMINISTRATOR ETHICS
The proper performance of school business and administration of an effective educational program requires the services of individuals of integrity, high ideals, and human understanding. To maintain and promote these essentials, the Board of Education expects all administrators to maintain high standards in their working relationships, provide professional leadership in the District and community, and in the performance of their duties, to:
A. recognize basic dignities of all individuals with whom they interact in the performance of duties;
B. represent accurately their qualifications;
C. exercise due care to protect the mental and physical safety of students, colleagues, and subordinates;
D. seek and apply the knowledge and skills appropriate to assigned responsibilities;
E. keep in confidence legally-confidential information;
F. ensure that their actions or those of another on their behalf are not made with specific intent of advancing private economic interests;
G. avoid accepting anything of value offered by another for the purpose of influencing judgment;
H. refrain from using his/her position or public property, or permitting another person to use an employee's position or public property for partisan political or religious purposes. (This will in no way limit constitutionally or legally protected rights as a citizen.)
The home page of the Defiance Ohio School District posts pictures of today's rally with the following information from their website:
John McCain Visits Defiance
October 30, 2008
Defiance students were extremely fortunate to see our political process in action when Presidential Candidate John McCain visited our city. Every child had the opportunity to attend the rally held in front of the Middle School/Junior High Complex. These pictures are in no particular order. We wanted to get them online asap!
Now, as you see from this first pic, the rally was held at the Defiance Community Auditorium
But the Middle school/Junior High Complex? Is that where we see McCain's "Country First" sign?
And what about teacher salaries, buses, and personnel used to get this rally done? Does that qualify as personal property or property of the School District?
While I appreciate civic education for students, I wouldn't want my kids attending a political rally with the school. I'd want them in school I'll take them to rallies, if I think it's appropriate.
The question for me? Did the School District violate their administrative guidelines by allowing school property to be used for a partisan political event?