Notice: Undefined index: HTTP_REFERER in /home/stparch/public_html/headmid_temp_main.php on line 4394
Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
HOME Browse Search List Of All Titles New! Global Image Search
Free Search  Subscribe  Sign In
August 24, 2023     Shelton Mason County Journal
PAGE 4     (4 of 40 available)        PREVIOUS     NEXT      Jumbo Image    Save To Scrapbook    Set Notifiers    PDF    JPG
© Shelton Mason County Journal. All rights reserved.     Upgrade to access Premium Tools
 
PAGE 4     (4 of 40 available)        PREVIOUS     NEXT      Jumbo Image    Save To Scrapbook    Set Notifiers    PDF    JPG
August 24, 2023
 
Newspaper Archive of Shelton Mason County Journal produced by SmallTownPapers, Inc.
Website © 2025. All content copyrighted. Copyright Information
Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Request Content Removal | About / FAQ | Get Acrobat Reader




Page 4 — Shelton-MasOn County Journal — Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023 ‘You Can’t Prove I Did Anything Wrong!’ one-scene play t’s late afternoon in a principal’s office at an expensive private middle school. In attendance are the principal, an 11-year—old boy, and the boy’s mother and father. The boy faces possible expulsion for sev— eral alleged oilenses. PRINCIPAL: Let’s get to it, shall we? We’re all here to figure out what will be most helpful SON: I didn’t do it! What- ever they say I did, I didn’t do it. They’re liars. You can’t prove I did anything wrong! MOTHER (patting her son’s knee): Now, now. I’m sure you didn‘t, but let’s hear what your principal has to say. FATHER (staring at his son): You need to shut up. PRINCIPAL: OK, let’s calm down. (Looking at the parents) Your son has been involved in several incidents lately that are forcing us to consider the possibility of a one—week suspension, which is SON: I FATHER (balling up his hand and staring at his son): Shut it. Now. You’ll speak SHELTON-MASON COUNTY USPS 492-800 POSTMASTER; Send address changes to Shelton-Mason County Journal, 90. Box 430, Shelton. WA 98584. Published weekly by the Shelton-Mason County Journal at 227 W. Cota St, Shelton, Washington. Mailing address: PO. Box 430, Shelton. WA 98584 Telephone: 36042641412 Website WNW.masoncountycorri Periodicals postage paid in Shelton, Vi/ashington. when I say you can. (Looking at the principal) Continue. PRINCIPAL: Ahem. As I was saying, a one—week suspension is the second— most severe punishment we can take here at Kew- Forest School. If we have to go down that. road and your boy’s behavior doesn’t im- prove, we’ll he talking about permanent expulsion from our school. MOTHER (touching her necklace): Oh, dear. What on earth are you accusing my boy of doing? PRINCIPAL: We’ve re- ceived quite a few reports of misbehavior. For (me, several girls have told their teachers that your boy kissed them alter they told The Journal is a member of the Washington Newspaper Publish— ers Association. Owned and published by Shelton-Mason County Journal, inc. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $79 per year ($55 for six months) for Mason County addresses and $99 per year ($70 for six months) outsrde of Mason County. Single issue price $2.00 him not to. Some of those girls have asked to be trans— ferred to other classrooms to get away from your son. One girl’s parents even took the extreme measure of enroll- ing her in another school in another state. MOTHER: Oh, dear. FATHER (looking at his son while speaking to the principal): What are the girls’ names? PRINCIPAL: Sir, we’re not doing that. Enough girls are sharing similar stories to suggest a pattern of behavior here. FATHER (staring at his son while addressing the principal): So, we have a bunch of random girls mak— ing anonymous complaints. What else? PRINCIPAL: Uh. OK. At least half a dozen parents have come to me to say your son has been a bad influence on their children, encourag- ing them to behave in a way that gets them in serious trouble. For instance, your son reportedly convinced one boy to pull a chair away from underneath Serge —» you know the crippled boy who uses crutches to get around? as he was sitting down. Publisher: John Lester Advertising: Newsroom: Justin Johnson, Editor Matt Baide, Reporter Kirk Boxleitner. Reporter DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO BECAME LGBTQ‘V. BECAUSE THEY READ SOMETHING? Theresa Murray, Ad Representative Gordon Weeks. Reporter Kirk Ericson, Columnist/ Proofreader MOTHER: Oh, dear. FATHER (staring at prin— cipal l: What else? PRINCIPAL: Let’s see Just last week, four kids came together to our vice principal’s office to say your boy had promised them $50 if they gave him $25. He told them he had an uncle who had made a scientific breakthrough in physics and that the uncle, Uncle John I believe was the name he used, had promised to give him $2,000 for his 12th birthday. And we have it all in writing (the principal slides the agreement toward his parents. The father ig— nores it. The mother gives it a glance.) The kids not only didn’t get $50, they didn’t get their $225 back. MOTHER: Oh, dear. FATHER l looking bored): And? PRINCIPAL: Did you know that your boy ran for class president? MOTHER: Yes! We were so proud ot‘him! PRINCIPAL: Well, he lost. By a lot. And I have in my possession signed state» , ments from three of your hi’iys’ classmates who say your son came to them and Front office: . Dave Pierik, Office Administrator Karen Hranac. Customer Service Delivery: Jon Garza David Olson Niel Challstrom Design: Kim Fowler, Graphics Design Linda Frizzell. Special Projects Shawna Whelan, Photographer '23 Shelton—Maxan County JOURNAL tried to get them to change the count. One boy even re- corded the encounter on a tape recorder. FATHER: So That’s it? PRINCIPAL: Isn’t that enough? FATHER: (The father spreads his knees apart and leans in close to the princi- pal. He steeples his finger— tips as he rests his elbows between his thighs.) I’ll tell y0u what’s “enough” -— the amount of money I have pledged to this school over the next three years. If you kick my kid out, that money is gone. And I’ll sue you and the school for breach of con~ tract. Are we clear? MOTHER: Fred, don’t you FATHER: Hush. We’re done here. (Motioning to his wife and son as he stands). Let’s go. (As the three walk out ot'the principal’s office, the father leans over to his boy and whispers in his ear.) FATHER: Remember this, young man: Never, ever, ever, ever, ever put anything in writing. I ('rirt/r/rrl Kirk Fl‘ir'son rI/ Ireit‘Iemi‘masoncountycom All regular editorial, advertising and legal deadlines are 5 pm. the Monday prior to publication. To submit a letter to the editor, email editor@masoncounty.com. Office hours: 8 am. to 5 pm. Monday to Thursday. Closed Fridays, Saturdays. Sundays and major holidays.