Carver Students Speak Out in regards to the "Alabama Highschool Brawl"!

This incident has been all over the news, the internet, everywhere! ...and of course it happened right here in my backyard. I got an email today where the students are asking for forgiveness and a little bit of justice? What are your thoughts?

Here's some easy-to-find video of the recent brawl in ASU's Acadome:



CNN Talks about Fight:

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To Whom It May Concern:

Over the past few days a lot of negative publicity has come upon us and not only are we hurt by it, we are down right angry. Yes, there were some bad things that happened, that should never happen, but they happened and we must learn and grow from it. The superintendent has said in today's paper that, "we are going to take a bad situation and turn into a teachable moment. They made a mistake and will have to pay the consequences for it. These are students who need guidance." Well, where is the teaching in this situation? This was truly a teachable moment and as an educator what are you teaching the students, that there is no reward for doing the right thing. Oh yes, that's right no one has publicly stated that there were students who did the right thing. That has not been mentioned in any form of the media except for in the Montgomery Advertiser and not on the front page has a headline because it doesn't sale papers. There were approximately 9-10 students on Carver's bench while the "brawl" as it has been coined, was going on.
All you've heard is that the benches were cleared. Did anyone mention that this was not Valley's first altercation at a basketball game this year, yet they were allowed to participate in post season play? Where is the precedent for fighting with the AHSAA? We must always make an example out of Carver High.

Where is the superintendent, the principal, the assistant principal, the AHSAA saying, "Thank you students, who did what we taught you to do?" Where is the reward for doing the right thing? Yes, basketball is a team sport and we must do things as a team, even suffer punishments, but can anybody say something positive, just one thing?
Superintendent, where are you guiding us, to the streets? You have said you want us out of your school system and go where? We are young black men; about to graduate from high school and start college careers, is our proposal for expulsion going to help us succeed in life? Is your point to teach us that in life no one shows mercy? Is this the type of guidance you are offering? We are products of a school system that you lead and you are saying we need guidance, where is it or is the escort out of your school system and into the streets the guidance you are offering? Who is speaking for us? Does the punishment fit the crime? If this fight would have taken place in Carver's hallways or gymnasium, our punishment would have been a maximum of five days suspension. That is what your school code of behavior states as the consequences for this type of altercation? By the way, at this "school sponsored event" where were the required number of chaperones?

We, who don't have the track record for what happened, that has met AYP for the last few years, who have the highest graduation rate among traditional high schools in your school system, who have been recognized nationally for academics, who have students from other high schools come to "our" teachers for tutoring, deserve the punishment that you are offering? We are hurt, disappointed and just plain disgusted in the lack of support you have shown us publicly and the quickness to rid yourself of the shame. Don't you think that we are embarrassed of the negative public attention that we have received? Can we use this same stage to talk about all the good that goes on at Carver High School?
Just like with any child that you mentor, give birth to or claim their successes, you are not always proud of the choices or the decisions that they make, but you love them through it, you don't just throw salt in the wounds and say live with it, you will know better next time. Don't tell me it could have been a lot worse, what's worse than the people who harp on "One focus, preparing students for life" when the life they are preparing you for is a life that doesn't offer second chances.

We need just one person, one somebody to believe in us and show us some support. If you support us and think that this is an injustice, call the superintendent, John Dilworth at (334)223-6710 or fax (334) 269-3076, the principal, Gary Hall at (334)269-3636 fax number (334) 262-2440, the assistant principal, Michael Gibbs at (334)269-3636 or Executive Director, Steve Savarese at the AHSAA at (334) 263-6994 fax number (334) 387-0075, tell them you support the students and that they are overreacting with there desire to make an example out of us. Thank you so much for giving us a stage to voice our concerns. We know someone in the world still believe in the PRIDE of Carver High School.

Respectfully Submitted,
The Ones Most Affected By This Travesty of Injustice
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