All students should be treated as equals

I attended and graduated from SHS. I also attended the long-anticipated Grad Nite along with volunteering for my two younger sister's Grad Nite as well.

I have been an at-risk teen counselor in our community and am appalled by the audacity of these supposed “community driven” folks.

Grad Nite is a celebration of completion of the long awaited four years of hard work. The students at LPO dually work just as hard as the rest of us to complete high school, the only difference is that they possibly have more demanding obstacles at home to overcome.

LPO is sometimes the only option for these at-risk teens to graduate, they should be commended that they “choose to continue.”

There is a saying “walk a mile in someone else's shoes before passing judgment.” I would love for these subjective individuals to take a minute to appreciate what they have and have compassion for those less fortunate before making asinine decisions such as to exclude LPO teens.

I have traveled many places and when I am asked “where are you from”, I think back to a place where people wave without knowing you, let you into traffic just because, and look out for one another, this recent event makes me embarrassed to claim Sandpoint as my home.

Did anyone ask the parents or teachers of LPO students to donate their time? When did this town become so exclusive? If you want to refer to the goal of Grad Night, then I will refer to the statement “that all men are created equal,” who are you to judge?

ERIN LOMAN JECK

Sagle