Students don't learn their lessons

Some students’ idea of a senior prank, designed to shut down Mountain View High School for a day last December, is far from funny, especially in the aftermath of expulsions and subsequent clearing of their school records.

But at least three of the parents of the four boys who were caught and initially expelled are looking to have the last laugh.

The Santa Clara County Board of Education overturned the expulsion that was appealed and ordered it expunged from the student’s record - which led to the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District’s rescinding all four expulsions and clearing all four records. Now, at least three of the parents want to adjust their children’s criminal records to show only a misdemeanor. The students are charged with felony vandalism after applying graffiti to the copper facade that faces into the Mountain View High quad and gluing shut some 80 locks on classroom doors.

The district says the damage to the new campus facilities cost the district - and taxpayers - $2,000. Yet the county board overturned one expulsion on a procedural technicality, saying the district was wrong to expel that student without proving that he was a danger to himself and others. The county board has emphasized that overturning the expulsion and clearing the student’s school record were not an exoneration. Nevertheless, the district responded last month by rescinding all four expulsions, giving all four students permission to return to Mountain View High and restoring their senior privileges.

This case contains two disturbing elements. First, these students, who were caught red-handed, were let off the hook. Second, the parents of these students are bent on clearing charges so that their children can go on as if nothing ever happened.

Where is the accountability here? Where is the valuable life lesson that, if you commit an offense, you pay the consequences? That’s not even an issue, sadly. As one dad said, “I’m more concerned about my son’s college admission than anything else.”

What message does this send to other kids? That they can commit similar misdeeds and get away with them?

Parents said the district was overly harsh and was making an example of their students. That’s because they were caught and others were not. It does not mean they are less guilty.

Where do we go from here? The district needs to tighten its “procedure” to ensure such expulsions in the future cannot be overturned. It should continue to take a hard line on such actions and not back down.

As for the students and parents here, the only thing they appear to have learned is that if you go on the offensive and engage an attorney, you can wiggle out of the problems you create. No one forced the students to glue their classroom doors shut or deface a wall. The students obviously missed an important life lesson here.