Reilly: Students copy post-election behavior

Barry Reilly
District 87 superintendent Barry Reilly said some students have copied some less-than-civil behavior witnessed after the election. (WJBC file photo)

By Greg Halbleib

BLOOMINGTON – District 87 Superintendent Barry Reilly says the post-election protests coupled with the hostile tone of much of the discussion has filtered somewhat into the classroom.

Reilly told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin that students are copying less-than-desirable behavior of adults.

“Some of that will certainly spill over into schools,” Reilly said. “I think you’ve seen that across the country. You’ve seen kids walking out of classrooms in protest, some of whom don’t even know what the heck they’re doing and are just along for the ride. That’s a little unnerving. It’s not so much that they’re protesting but why are we doing that.”

Reilly says district staff has handled an issue in which some students referred to President-elect Trump’s proposed wall to deal with illegal immigrants. Reilly says staff used the situation to teach about respect.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].

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