iffany
Schley, who just graduated high school with top honors and is on her way
to Smith College on a full scholarship, told some hard truths in her
valedictorian speech at the
High
School of Legal Studies graduation ceremony. With the enthusiastic backing
of her fellow students, Tiffany blew the whistle on the Bushwick, Brooklyn
school’s overcrowded classrooms, lack of textbooks and other basic
materials, unqualified teachers, frequent turnover in staff and
indifferent administrators who refuse to meet with students to discuss
their grievances. In other words, this courageous seventeen-year-old said
a mouthful!
But instead of being commended for having spoken out against school
conditions that clearly need to be rectified, this gutsy teen was
punished – beginning immediately upon finishing her speech. School
authorities refused to award her the valedictorian plaque publicly
during the ceremony, and the next day when Tiffany and her mother,
Felicia Schley, arrived at the school to pick up Tiffany’s diploma, they
were told she couldn’t have it; the document would be mailed to her by
Labor Day. And worse yet, when they protested, Tiffany and her mother
were escorted out of the assistant principal’s office by three security
guards. Once in the hallway they were removed from the building by
twelve security guards, as though they were dangerous criminals.
When word began to trickle out about this outrageous treatment,
community activists and some local politicians were up in arms - to say
the least. Even Mayor Bloomberg called any person who would withhold a
diploma under such conditions a "bozo" and said that when School
Chancellor Joel Klein heard about it, he overruled it.
Evidently
Bloomberg wanted that to be the end of it and for everyone to just go
about their business as though it never happened. But community leaders
are having none of it. Council Member Charles Barron, representatives of
various community organizations and supporters of Tiffany’s
outspokenness gathered on the steps of City Hall to demand, as Barron
put it, "that the Mayor and Chancellor send a signal to our students
that when you exercise your first amendment right, you will be protected
and applauded." The activists wanted the Chancellor to apologize on
behalf of the administration and to give Tiffany her diploma himself.
Rev.
Herbert Daughtry, Senior Pastor of the House of the Lord Church,
expressed his shock at how Tiffany had been treated. He said she should
have been applauded that she had the courage to be critical.
"Indeed we need to have more critical people in this country," he
stated. "If we did, maybe we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in now in
Iraq. Many of our children would still be alive today if we weren’t so
afraid to criticize those in authority."
Stan Kinard, representative of Black New Yorkers for Educational
Excellence, agreed. "Rather than people reprimanding her, Tiffany should
have been rewarded," he commented. He went on to say that her story is
about what the Campaign for Fiscal Equity brought out: that the State
has a disproportionately low amount of funds coming into the Black and
Latino communities. The City is being shortchanged by billions of
dollars. "Tiffany struck a raw nerve," Kinard remarked, "when she talked
about her experience with lack of textbooks, large class sizes, and
inadequate instruction."
Speaking on behalf of the Community Service Society of New York,
Hazel Beckles said that people talk about children failing in school
when it’s really the schools that are failing the children. Jails are
being filled with Black young men and women because schools are not
preparing them. "Tiffany has educated herself, really, with the
assistance of other programs," she commented.
Council Member Bill Perkins weighed in on the issue as well. He
stated that Tiffany may be just one of the many students who are being
stifled, their words changed, and God only knows what actions are being
taken against them. Fortunately, Tiffany was high profile; she was able
to get the support of the community, "but how many more are suffering
under the same type of repressive behavior through the public school
system?" he asked.
When Tiffany Schley came to the podium, she told in her own words
what had happened and made it clear she’s standing strong. "Although
people may have been offended by my speech, I stand by what I said
because it was the truth, and the truth sometimes hurts," she declared.
Felicia
Schley also spoke, showing her enormously pride in her daughter. Mrs.
Schley mentioned that the assistant principal said he didn’t like
Tiffany’s speech because it wasn’t the time or the place to discuss such
things, and that her classmates were just happy they were graduating.
But, Mrs. Schley pointed out, the graduating class was behind Tiffany
100%. "They always said, ‘Tell them why we, the class of 2004 are
mad,’ not ‘Tell them why you’re mad,’" she noted. "Tiffany
represented them."
The participants in the press conference then left the steps of City
Hall and went around the corner to the Department of Education Office in
the Tweed Building. There the Chancellor’s Communications Director came
out and spoke with Council Member Barron and Tiffany Schley; however,
the desired outcome did not ensue. Chancellor Klein – or as some now
call him "Chancellor Joel Decline" - declined to present Tiffany with
her diploma. Callously, he had it sent by messenger to her home.
Undeterred, on behalf of Black New Yorkers for Educational Excellence
(BNYEE), Stan Kinard, Hazel Beckles and Sam Anderson organized a gala
event on July 1st at the House of the Lord Church. Hundreds
of people turned out to see a much more honorable person, Dr. Adelaide
Sanford, present Tiffany with her diploma. Joined by his colleagues
Letitia James and Yvette Clarke, Council Member Charles Barron presented
her with her valedictorian plaque, while Kinard, Beckles and Anderson
honored her as well with BNYEE’s Harriet Tubman - Ida B. Wells plaque.
What’s more, the attendees raised $4,600 for Tiffany. So good was
snatched from evil at this grand occasion full of joy and happiness.
