Kennedy card program segregates students, parents outraged
05 October, 2011
category: Education
It seems like it should be a story out of the Onion, but it’s not. John F. Kennedy High School in La Palma, Calif. has started a student ID program that classifies and separates students based on their test scores.
According to the Orange County Register, students must carry ID cards in one of three colors – black, gold, and white. The black card and the gold card give students special privileges and discounts, while the white card gives students no privileges and forces them to stand in a separate a lunch line.
Parents and students say the cards unnecessarily embarrass and single out students, and remind them daily of how they stack up against their peers, leading to bullying, harassment and intimidation.
The California Department of Education describes cards as inappropriate and a violation of state law. District officials plan to revisit the program and determine if unintentionally, confidential information has been released.
Read the full story here.
