Vice principal: At 'wit's end'; stepped on Dominican flag
6:20 PM Thu, Mar 05, 2009 | Permalink
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PROVIDENCE -- Roger Williams Middle School Vice Principal Robert Perkins said he was at his "wits' end" Friday when he threw a Dominican flag he had confiscated earlier to the floor and stepped on it. Speaking on WPRO radio Thursday afternoon, Perkins, an educator for about 30 years who was suspended with pay after the incident, gave his version of that day. He said three students had the flag and were parading it up and down the school's hallway, which caused a "reaction" by others in the student body. He took the flag from the students because he didn't want anything to "disturb the learning" at the school. When asked how he took the flag from the students, he said with a "moderate amount of sternness." Said Perkins, "Nothing else happened." He said he then continued with his day. He met with a parent and teacher, checked to see how messy the cafeteria was after breakfast, dealt with kids who were inappropriately dressed and listened to another concerned teacher. Yet he also said Friday -- like the day before -- "was crazy." "At that point, I was at my wits' end. I had had it, everything was laying on me that day. I threw that flag down to the ground and I stepped... but I didn't do it out of anger. I did not do it out of anger with the flag, with the kids..." Later, he added, "It could have been anything in my hand." He said a food fight that happened later Friday was unrelated to the flag incident. He also denied a report from Rep. Grace Diaz that he had told students he would "mop the floor" with the flag. Asked by talk show host Dan Yorke if he ever said such a thing, he said, "Never, never, never, never." 
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So he "checked to see how messy the cafeteria was after breakfast." Big deal. That's what janitors are for.
This man sounds like the Woonsocket guy who hurled a three year old kid across the room and killed him, because he had spilled yogurt on the carpet.
Get rid of him before somebody gets hurt.
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Had that been an American flag the ACLU would be falling over itself to help this man
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just try and run thru a school with the AMERICAN FLAG =OR DRIVE AROUND WAVING IT BLOWING YOUR HORN AND PLAYING LOUD MUSIC ==HOW COME TRUE AMERICA,S ( WHITE ) NEVER USE THE RACE CARD
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Another educator who's interest is in the learning atmosphere of his school! What is happening here?
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I was pleased that Robert Perkins had the opportunity to tell his side of the story on talk radio. I have worked with Mr. Perkins for four years. I have come to know him as a dedicated professional who works tirelessly on behalf of Roger Williams Middle School. He is passionate about his work, caring and committed to the students. The school is a better learning and nurturing environment when Mr. Perkins is there.
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This article seems to suggest that Roger Williams is "messy" the kids dress "inappropriately" the teachers are "concerned" the environment is "crazy" so we should all be understanding as to why he stomped on a Dominican flag. If it were a book, or even a paper, a clipboard, anything else, it might be a little more acceptable. But stepping on a flag can offend an entire culture, it can send all the wrong messages to the young student body at Roger Williams. We have to keep in mind that it is a middle school, do we honestly expect for a middle school not to be messy and chaotic from time to time? I could interpret the Vice principle's behavior in so many ways...
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i think everyone just needs to stop attacking the priciple and the school and just let the children involved and thier families deal with it. !!!!
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Ethnic pride is nothing more than candy-coated racism. Bob Perkins did the right thing. God bless him.
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Kids in the schools in Providence just like to make up stories...To get attention and see someone loose there job...it has been happening for years...stop believing those feeble minded trouble makers...Some of them disrupt the classroom so much the teacher has no chance to teach...they swear at them...throw things..make a mess where ever they are...when the parent comes to the school..they get upset at the teacher and talk loudly to intimidate them...and blame everyone but there child...and make comments like what did you do to him to make him swear at you..Please stop taking there side everytime and ruining good adult lives...
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I just figure there would be no coverage on this if it were an AMERICAN flag...
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I happened to hear that interview. He also mentioned that his principal and the superintendent never discussed the incident with him before sending him home. The next thing he saw, he claims, was a letter from HR telling him he'd been suspended, then the story in the paper, given strong prominence, with accusatory quotes from the superiors who never asked for his side of the story before making those statements. Not sure how true that is, but if it's accurate, we should all be concerned about the lack of due process he was afforded.
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I can't beleive a man who says things like, "I did not did it..." works in a school with children. What a poor example. Despite this, it was good to hear his side of the story on the radio. It's being blown way out of proportion!
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He used to be a principal at my middle school. He was and probably still is a great guy. He doesnt deserve any punishment! I bet the kids there who had the flag are doing poorly in school and are involved in dangerous activities. He had every right to stop the raid that was disrubting the learning and education in that school. Suspend the idiots!
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