Students stage walkout protest at Dallas school

[TexasStooge]

Good thing I graduated from Irving ISD where the schools are more suitable.

Group marches to DISD headquarters, say they are upset with principal

By DON WALL / WFAA ABC 8

DALLAS, Texas - Students at North Dallas High School walked out of class on Thursday morning in a show of dissatisfaction with the school's principal.

More than 200 students from the school, among DISD's lowest-performing campuses, left the building and marched peacefully several blocks to DISD headquarters to complain about their principal Dina Townsend.

"No more Ms. Townsend," they chanted.

"She yells at us," said student William Sanchez. "We have to ask her to go to the nurse; we have to ask her to go to the restroom."

"She screamed over the intercom," student Rachel Gandara said. "She's unprofessional ... she screamed in front of students, in front of other people."

District officials invited the students into an auditorium, where they voiced their concerns.

In a letter addressed "Dear Parents," students complained about Townsend's strict rules about hall passes. They also alleged that she is verbally abusive, is trying to disband the mariachi program, and has ignored two cases of sexual harassment and one case of racial discrimination.

Their complaints are being heard by DISD administrators.

"We're going to try to address them as fairly as we can, so that we maintain order in the building, but also find a win-win solution for these kids," said district spokesman Donald Claxton.

DISD officials said they believe the principal has done nothing wrong, but she was upset during final exam week when students crowded the hallways and the school nurse's office, 30 to 40 at a time.

After lodging their protests, the students were bused back to school.

Townsend was not available for an interview. She is being counseled by district administrators, and spent the day in meetings with students, teachers, and parents.

Claxton said the students will not be punished for walking out of school.


Photo by Howard Wells / WFAA ABC 8
North Dallas High School students crowd the entrance to DISD's administration building on Thursday.

[depotoo]

my dear mother would roll over in her grave if she heard this! it's her alma mater! she loved that school!

[kevin]

Send those kids to live with the eskimos!

[TexasStooge]

Send those kids to live with the eskimos!