Commentary Magazine


Contentions

‘Hit a Jew Day’

From USA Today:

Several sixth-graders from suburban St. Louis are being disciplined for creating “Hit a Jew Day” and then hitting Jewish classmates.

Four or five students at Parkway West Middle School in Chesterfield could be suspended and undergo counseling for last week’s incident, school officials told the Associated Press. Others who taunted Jewish students or encouraged others to participate face lesser punishment.

Officials said fewer than 10 of the school’s 35 Jewish students were hit. One was slapped in the face and the others were hit mostly on the back of their shoulders…

It began with an unofficial “Spirit Week” among sixth-graders that started harmlessly enough with a “Hug a Friend Day.” Then there was “High Five Day.”

Soon, though, the days moved from friendly to silly. Next there was “Hit a Tall Person Day” and, finally, “Hit a Jew Day.”

Principal Linda Lelonek told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch  she learned about the incidents Monday and called an assembly Tuesday morning.

“What’s tomorrow going to be? ‘Hit A Principal Day?’” she asked.

Yeah. Because ‘Hit a Principal Day’ would be so much worse, wouldn’t it, Ms. Lelonek?

Introducing Commentary Complete

Comments are closed.