Don't like Your Child's Grades? Beat Up His Principal

The Principal of Lombardi Middle School, Ugo Castorina, procured the ire of the family of one of his students. He has been the principle of the school for 22 years, but recently he decided to ban cell phone use on his school's campus. The cell phone ban, along with the sub-par grades issued to one of the school's students, was enough to incite three of the student's male relatives, including his father and grandfather, to go to the school and physically assault Castorina. According to the Reuters reports, the attackers repeatedly kicked and hit the principal.

After the assault, Castorina was taken to the hospital where he was treated for minor contusions. He then received a police escort back to the school. When questioned by reporters, the Principal stated, "Some people may not like it but standards must be set and rules must be respected if a school is to function,"

There has been no word as to whether or not the attackers will face charges.

Though it sounds out of vogue, teachers were respected when I went to school. In fact, I went to one of those "old schools" where our parents actually signed permission slips so that our principal could spank us if we misbehaved. My mischievous brother even got to experience one of these spankings. Sure, we had our complaints against our teachers, but we didn't have children running home to complain to their parents when they felt they were maltreated at school. If they did, they were met with parents who were unsympathetic and would take the teacher or principal's side over their child's.

But times are changing. Now, if you don't like your grades, you can enter an appeals process with the school board. If you were suspended from school or from an extracurricular activity, you can complain to get reinstated. If you tell off a teacher, you may receive no consequences whatsoever. And finally, as this case demonstrates, if you really don't like your situation in school, you can send your loyal family members after your Principal.

My respect for teachers is ever increasing these days. With every report of vandalism, threats or abuse, the realization deepens that teachers do what they do because they have a calling. Even though their salaries aren't as high as they deserve, and the job carries very little respect or even authority, many individuals still dedicate their lives to educating our children.

Principal Ugo Castorina is a great example of this. He didn't go home in fear or quit his job. He stood his ground and affirmed the necessity for rules and standards in his school. May many more teachers and principals be encouraged to be unwavering in their convictions to teach our children with integrity in a society which gives them little in return.