FORUM > SKATE > SCHOOL OVERREACTING?

School Overreacting?

southaus_skate
southaus_skate 16:23 02/Dec/08

I live in the town of Maitland in rural SA, it is a medium sized country town with an abundance of spots but no skatepark, the lack of a decent park has come from local organisations etc. not getting off their asses to help.

One of the spots frequented by not only skaters in maitland but all over the Yorke Peninsula reigon is the Maitland area school, the school has perfect 8, 6, and big 3 stairs all with perfect rails, ledges, manual pads, the lot. The school is often a bust though, even though they are fine with cricketers practicing in their nets or footballers having a kick on their oval. Anyways, today i was sent home a letter from the school that read as follows.



Dear Andy, Monica and Jacob

I am writing to express our concern regarding the ongoing problems that we are having with Jacob riding his skateboard on our school grounds.

As you are aware it has been clearly stated by signage and in our school newsletters that ‘No skateboards, rollerblades or bikes are permitted on grounds after school hours’. It is disappointing to note that 2 of our signs have been removed from the front entrance and the staff car park; however these will be replaced shortly.

We are concerned firstly for Jacob and his friend’s safety and also the damage that is being caused to our seat benches. Running skateboards along the side of the benches has caused these to splinter and now need to be repaired to ensure our students safety. It is also dangerous when benches are being placed on walkways. Should Jacob have an accident after hours we are concerned that there is no-one available to assist him should he required assistance.

We have spoken to Jacob and his friends on numerous occasions and requested that they leave the grounds. You stated in the local Yorke Peninsula Country Times that students have been requested to leave the school grounds but we continue to have this problem. As a member of our staff we would appreciate your support in this matter.

You are officially advised that if Jacob and his friends continue to enter the school grounds and use their skateboards the Police will be contacted.

Yours Faithfully

Ian Burman
Acting Principal

28 November 2008


I believe the school is overreacting compared to schools in wider populated areas who simply ring the cops anyway or just learn to put up with it. I am intending to reply with a formal letter back to the school and would like your input on what i should do. Any thing i should put in there in particularly, any thing in the letter that is incorrect, or maybe even if it is possible a breach of harrassment by the school by targeting myself namely among other skaters frequenting the school (i was the only one recieving a letter) i may possibly even print pages of the thread and hand them to the school.

Your help would be greatly appreciated guys

<-Ben->
<-Ben-> 16:25 02/Dec/08

no, they are completely in their rights to do that.

jelly 16:28 02/Dec/08

at the end of it,
say something witty and/or insulting
or find some dirt on the principal.

" in future i will be more careful choosing the spots i skate, but... i thought kissing other teachers during school was illegal"

and the desired effect will be no principal harrasing you.


monkz 16:30 02/Dec/08

What a fucking cock sucker!

Why dont you try and come to some sort of agreement where you get to skate the benches and stairs whenever the fuck you like and he agrees to suck sperm from your cock when you have finished and your all sweaty. Sounds fair to me!

Seriously though, have a meeting with this cock muncher and tell him you will put metal edges on all the benches you have been skating to stop them from getting ruined.

potii 16:30 02/Dec/08

tell them to step off

*Nosferatu* 16:33 02/Dec/08

Last name Burman, surely he should be more understanding! But nah, If you want to continue with skateboarding, I suggest you move out of that hole. They are completely in their rights, it's their property!

Mr Fox
Mr Fox 16:51 02/Dec/08

"As a member of our staff.."
So the teachers boy gets special treatment eh. Stiff shit. Your mum probably cops shit at work everyday because of you.

"the lack of a decent park has come from local organisations etc. not getting off their asses to help."
Get off your own ass and do something.

You could at least put the benches back where you got them from.

"...even though they are fine with cricketers practicing in their nets or footballers having a kick on their oval..."
Sounds like the jocks are doing the right thing and doing their activities in the allocated areas. Maybe you could take a leaf out of their book?

timwhy take two 16:56 02/Dec/08

are you kidding, there is nothing possible you could write that would ever make them say " yeah fuck it let them skate it" your lucky theyre giving you fasir warning. what would you write on the letter anyway " hi mr priciple, can i please continue to completely wreck your school benches and possibly break an ankle and sue you?"

original RANGsta 17:02 02/Dec/08

u should just shoot the board out at their ancles or sumthing and tell them to piss off and mind their own bussines

A.Walker 17:04 02/Dec/08

Hey Jacob, that sucks. Sounds like you're going about it the right way writing back.

Ask them to see it from your point of view and let them know the entire situation. If it's all in writing hopefully they'll read it and take it in.

Suggest things like metal edging, even if it's only on a few benches. If not try suggesting designated benches that you can store somewhere. That way only the skaters are using them and they are put away afterwards.

Highlight all the double standards when compared to other sports and that they no doubt contribute funds towards those, yet do nothing for skating.

Make a petition and get signatures from all the skaters and especially any parent or adult support you can get.

Hit me up over email or when you're down next if you want more help.

Good luck. Hope you can sort something out.

alex'
alex' 17:09 02/Dec/08

‘No skateboards, rollerblades or bikes are permitted on grounds after school hours’

do it during school hours?

skim the fat 17:10 02/Dec/08

Just skate it at times when no ones ever there, saturday arvos/sunday mornings/nights or whatever. It's not like they'd have proof it was you skating there then.

jelly 17:15 02/Dec/08

skim the fat

17:10 02/Dec

Just skate it at times when no ones ever there, saturday arvos/sunday mornings/nights or whatever. It's not like they'd have proof it was you skating there then.


dude,
unblock

or do you hate me!

TFI 17:21 02/Dec/08

Dear Ian,


I believe we can come to an agreement in relation to the matter of me skateboarding on school grounds.

Are you familiar with the act of 'mutual masturbation'?


Kind Regards,


Jacob

LEEDOG 17:52 02/Dec/08

eally accuse them of over-reacting if they have given you warnings. He is acting from a duty of care for not only you, if you get injured, but also for the rest of the students. You need to consider that in this day and age, if someone got injured because of your actions (e.g. got a splinter from one of the benches you've been grinding), that could come back to bite him if he didn't act. We're a society that is quick to sue at the slightest opportunity.

Rather than feel bitter towards him for his actions, try approaching him and asking him for some help to find a solution to the problem. You might find a powerful ally that could provide the tipping point for you getting a facility.

And don't blame the local organisations if you've done nothing to help get a facility for yourself but complain about being a victim of circumstance. Get out there and get it started.


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School Overreacting?
FORUM > SKATE > SCHOOL OVERREACTING?

School Overreacting?

southaus_skate
southaus_skate 16:23 02/Dec/08

I live in the town of Maitland in rural SA, it is a medium sized country town with an abundance of spots but no skatepark, the lack of a decent park has come from local organisations etc. not getting off their asses to help.

One of the spots frequented by not only skaters in maitland but all over the Yorke Peninsula reigon is the Maitland area school, the school has perfect 8, 6, and big 3 stairs all with perfect rails, ledges, manual pads, the lot. The school is often a bust though, even though they are fine with cricketers practicing in their nets or footballers having a kick on their oval. Anyways, today i was sent home a letter from the school that read as follows.



Dear Andy, Monica and Jacob

I am writing to express our concern regarding the ongoing problems that we are having with Jacob riding his skateboard on our school grounds.

As you are aware it has been clearly stated by signage and in our school newsletters that ‘No skateboards, rollerblades or bikes are permitted on grounds after school hours’. It is disappointing to note that 2 of our signs have been removed from the front entrance and the staff car park; however these will be replaced shortly.

We are concerned firstly for Jacob and his friend’s safety and also the damage that is being caused to our seat benches. Running skateboards along the side of the benches has caused these to splinter and now need to be repaired to ensure our students safety. It is also dangerous when benches are being placed on walkways. Should Jacob have an accident after hours we are concerned that there is no-one available to assist him should he required assistance.

We have spoken to Jacob and his friends on numerous occasions and requested that they leave the grounds. You stated in the local Yorke Peninsula Country Times that students have been requested to leave the school grounds but we continue to have this problem. As a member of our staff we would appreciate your support in this matter.

You are officially advised that if Jacob and his friends continue to enter the school grounds and use their skateboards the Police will be contacted.

Yours Faithfully

Ian Burman
Acting Principal

28 November 2008


I believe the school is overreacting compared to schools in wider populated areas who simply ring the cops anyway or just learn to put up with it. I am intending to reply with a formal letter back to the school and would like your input on what i should do. Any thing i should put in there in particularly, any thing in the letter that is incorrect, or maybe even if it is possible a breach of harrassment by the school by targeting myself namely among other skaters frequenting the school (i was the only one recieving a letter) i may possibly even print pages of the thread and hand them to the school.

Your help would be greatly appreciated guys

<-Ben->
<-Ben-> 16:25 02/Dec/08

no, they are completely in their rights to do that.

jelly 16:28 02/Dec/08

at the end of it,
say something witty and/or insulting
or find some dirt on the principal.

" in future i will be more careful choosing the spots i skate, but... i thought kissing other teachers during school was illegal"

and the desired effect will be no principal harrasing you.


monkz 16:30 02/Dec/08

What a fucking cock sucker!

Why dont you try and come to some sort of agreement where you get to skate the benches and stairs whenever the fuck you like and he agrees to suck sperm from your cock when you have finished and your all sweaty. Sounds fair to me!

Seriously though, have a meeting with this cock muncher and tell him you will put metal edges on all the benches you have been skating to stop them from getting ruined.

potii 16:30 02/Dec/08

tell them to step off

*Nosferatu* 16:33 02/Dec/08

Last name Burman, surely he should be more understanding! But nah, If you want to continue with skateboarding, I suggest you move out of that hole. They are completely in their rights, it's their property!

Mr Fox
Mr Fox 16:51 02/Dec/08

"As a member of our staff.."
So the teachers boy gets special treatment eh. Stiff shit. Your mum probably cops shit at work everyday because of you.

"the lack of a decent park has come from local organisations etc. not getting off their asses to help."
Get off your own ass and do something.

You could at least put the benches back where you got them from.

"...even though they are fine with cricketers practicing in their nets or footballers having a kick on their oval..."
Sounds like the jocks are doing the right thing and doing their activities in the allocated areas. Maybe you could take a leaf out of their book?

timwhy take two 16:56 02/Dec/08

are you kidding, there is nothing possible you could write that would ever make them say " yeah fuck it let them skate it" your lucky theyre giving you fasir warning. what would you write on the letter anyway " hi mr priciple, can i please continue to completely wreck your school benches and possibly break an ankle and sue you?"

original RANGsta 17:02 02/Dec/08

u should just shoot the board out at their ancles or sumthing and tell them to piss off and mind their own bussines

A.Walker 17:04 02/Dec/08

Hey Jacob, that sucks. Sounds like you're going about it the right way writing back.

Ask them to see it from your point of view and let them know the entire situation. If it's all in writing hopefully they'll read it and take it in.

Suggest things like metal edging, even if it's only on a few benches. If not try suggesting designated benches that you can store somewhere. That way only the skaters are using them and they are put away afterwards.

Highlight all the double standards when compared to other sports and that they no doubt contribute funds towards those, yet do nothing for skating.

Make a petition and get signatures from all the skaters and especially any parent or adult support you can get.

Hit me up over email or when you're down next if you want more help.

Good luck. Hope you can sort something out.

alex'
alex' 17:09 02/Dec/08

‘No skateboards, rollerblades or bikes are permitted on grounds after school hours’

do it during school hours?

skim the fat 17:10 02/Dec/08

Just skate it at times when no ones ever there, saturday arvos/sunday mornings/nights or whatever. It's not like they'd have proof it was you skating there then.

jelly 17:15 02/Dec/08

skim the fat

17:10 02/Dec

Just skate it at times when no ones ever there, saturday arvos/sunday mornings/nights or whatever. It's not like they'd have proof it was you skating there then.


dude,
unblock

or do you hate me!

TFI 17:21 02/Dec/08

Dear Ian,


I believe we can come to an agreement in relation to the matter of me skateboarding on school grounds.

Are you familiar with the act of 'mutual masturbation'?


Kind Regards,


Jacob

LEEDOG 17:52 02/Dec/08

eally accuse them of over-reacting if they have given you warnings. He is acting from a duty of care for not only you, if you get injured, but also for the rest of the students. You need to consider that in this day and age, if someone got injured because of your actions (e.g. got a splinter from one of the benches you've been grinding), that could come back to bite him if he didn't act. We're a society that is quick to sue at the slightest opportunity.

Rather than feel bitter towards him for his actions, try approaching him and asking him for some help to find a solution to the problem. You might find a powerful ally that could provide the tipping point for you getting a facility.

And don't blame the local organisations if you've done nothing to help get a facility for yourself but complain about being a victim of circumstance. Get out there and get it started.


Log in to comment

shop@skateboard.com.au · 1800 034 588·