15-year-old Jake Balthazor of Coon
Rapids Minnesota had no idea that wearing a pair of rosary beads would
spark such attention. Balthazor's father, Chad, told Fox News that his
son "could no longer wear the black and silver rosary honoring his
grandmother, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer."
School officials reportedly told
the young man that the beads could seen as a gang symbol. According to
reports, "He was told [Wednesday] by staff not to wear it to school and
they were
not told he was wearing it because of his grandmother,” Olson said. “He
was told not to wear it because it’s a gang symbol. He may not think of
it as a gang symbol, but other students at the school may.” Mary Olson
is reportedly the director of communication for the Anoka-Hennepin
School District where Jake Balthazor attends school.
Police in Coon Rapids informed the
school district that some gangs there used the beads a way of
identifying members. Jake's father has requested that the school
district review its policy and was adamant that his son was not a part
of gang but merely wearing the beads as a show of support and love for
his grandmother. Jake's grandmother, Sue Thompson, told reporters that
she believed the decision was a bad one on the administrations behalf
and was very upset with the district.
Jake told his father that he would
wear the beads on Thursday to school but would put them in his pocket
if asked. To read more about the decision please go to: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/06/07/minnesota-student-banned-from-wearing-rosary-beads-to-school/?test=latestnews#ixzz1x83hgoM
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