I am writing this article concerning the SouthWest Edgecombe High School varsity basketball team. By now, I am quite sure that everyone knows of the alleged breaking and entering and taking of items from a concession stand by some members of the boys’ basketball team. Letter to editor by Robert Cordell retired educator. (More)
Response: First of all it is not about emotions when it comes to this incident however for me it is about policy and procedures. I hope the parents have looked at the policies and procedures and have tried to deal with this issue from a school standpoint policy and procedures and then from the law enforcement standpoint of what the law says.
I have followed these guys over the years videoing them and it hurt the hell out of me when I heard about what happened. But having a child in middle school and played basketball there, I videoed his games on Monday and Thursday and the high school games on Tuesday and Friday, I am very much sensitive to this issue however I refuse to make it about my emotions.
Mr. Cordell I respect your letter however I am addressing you as a community leader and to let you know that without the parents calling a meeting with the community there is nothing I can do. I can not do anything, I only know about the incident from what I have read in the newspaper and from what I have heard in the street. I have not spoken to any of the students nor any of the parents except one called me and left a message on my cell phone that she didn’t think it ought to have been in the newspaper because they had not killed anyone. I did not return the call because the parent seemed to be more focused on the newspaper than the real issue at hand.
As it relates to you bringing up the Faith Christian Academy incident, I mentioned that in a comment in this newspaper online and in my blog. Reason being is because some folks had said that the SouthWest incident was in the paper just because they were black. They also talked about the charges. I mentioned the article because the boys were white and also the charges were a felony charge and their bonds were $25,000 and not $500. and a misdemeanor charge.
Sir have you met with the parents and the students to talk about this issue?
As a community leader I have not been invited to a meeting. You are a retired educator and you know that only parents can handle personnel issues as it relates to their children unless they go through the policies and procedures where by others can be at the table with them. Been there done that as I have been an advocate for education since the early 90′s but I know my role.
One thing I do is study the policies and procedures to make sure those I am challenging follow their own. If I find out they followed them and if I don’t like the policies and procedures then I seek to get them changed. However I am not ignant to the facts that are in place and do not get off on emotions because that will not change the facts, policy and procedures and the law.
Sir call me if you would like to discuss this issue because I will talk to you and anyone about it and give my personal opinion. You have my telephone number.
Note: I, along with my wife and son attended the Schools-to-Prison Pipeline on the Campus of North Carolina Central University this past weekend Friday March 2 – 4.
Curmilus Dancy II (Butch)
Community Leader
See related:
