On Friday, I, along with about 40 other parents, grandparents and siblings, showed up at Southwest Middle School to watch our children perform in a talent show. We were told in no uncertain terms by a school district staff member that we were not invited and that we were not supposed to be there since it was a student assembly. We were told the Southwest gym would be full of students and that there may not be room. We were made to feel like it was a great imposition for us to show up to support our kids.

I talked personally with the Southwest principal and was told basically the same things.

We were grudgingly allowed into the gym, with visitors’ badges, of course, and guess what? There was plenty of room. There would have been room for at least several hundred more people.

I would never have expected to feel so unwelcome for showing up at my child’s school in support of my child, a public school no less, and have this happen.

I understand the unfortunate need to make our schools safe from intruders. Is restricting parents access to school day events the next step?

 

Mike Murtaugh

Albert Lea