More questions than answers for family of teen killed by LMPD officer

Several young people have posted to another local forum stating that the teachers and administrators of Fern Creek Traditional are trying to stifle outward expressions of grief over Evan Harlow. Students apparently have been forbidden to write about Evan in class assignments, to wear R.I.P. Evan t-shirts, or to lament his passing in the school paper.

I understand the administration's dilemma. How do you acknowledge the passing of a former student who had left Fern Creek some time ago without upholding the very bad choices he made in his life? Frankly, I think the administration has to be very careful in any observance they might make of Evan's passing because it might lead young impressionable people to think that his lifestyle is worth emulating.

Part of the fault for the students' eagerness to write off Evan's criminal acts and focus on his good points is the gangsta rap that many of the students have been exposed to. Living your life as an outlaw is held out to young people as something great. Evan tried to be a gangsta and it didn't work out for him. I can understand those who knew a better side of Evan but I don't understand their willingness to excuse his mistakes.

How can you tell kids that they can't mourn,celebrate or however you want to look at it, a friend of theirs? I don't think they should be pretending like this like never happened. It sucks and it's a horrible thing--you can't just hide from it. Ok so Evan made some not so great decisions in his life, but that doesn't mean that his life isn't worth celebrating. He's still a person who lots of people loved.

quote:

Originally posted by Kayla G:
How can you tell kids that they can't mourn,celebrate or however you want to look at it, a friend of theirs? I don't think they should be pretending like this like never happened. It sucks and it's a horrible thing--you can't just hide from it. Ok so Evan made some not so great decisions in his life, but that doesn't mean that his life isn't worth celebrating. He's still a person who lots of people loved.

They should stay home and do it. The school doesn't want the GLOOM hanging over their heads when they are trying to move on. Nobody said to forget him. They want their students to concentrate on SCHOOL while IN SCHOOL. I don't think that's too much to ask and if it is then the parents should send them to counseling.

I don't see those kids who thought it was ok to shoot up their school being honored at school. There's NO difference to me.

Isn't it ironic how public displays of sorrow have become so common place. It is no longer a personal and private matter but one in which you must go to the media with your story, have t-shirts printed, posters made,etc.
I would think that under these circumstances, if it were my family, I would want to keep it as quiet and low key as possible.
There are great humanitarians who have not gotten the attention that this criminal did....
What a perverted society we live in.