Editorial: Making strides in growing up

Saturday, March 4, 2006 | 7:21 a.m.

Green Valley High School students lived a civics lesson earlier this week when about 100 of them staged a walkout to protest what they say is a school administration that treats minority students unfairly.

According to a story in the Las Vegas Sun on Friday, the peaceful demonstration was partly motivated by a recent incident in which campus police used pepper spray to break up a fight between two black students. Minority students at the affluent Henderson high school told Sun reporter Emily Richmond that they suspect police would not have taken such action against white students.

Minority students make up 32 percent of Green Valley High's enrollment, while the Clark County School District's overall average of minority students is about 60 percent.

Students who spoke with the Sun after Thursday's 15-minute walkout said they don't think administrators understand that minority students often don't have enough money to cover school fees for gym clothes, computer classes and other activities.

Green Valley Principal Jeff Horn said he was hurt and saddened by the students' perceptions. And, to his credit, he did not dismiss their concerns. Horn spent several hours meeting with individuals after the protest and said he will continue such discussions to find out why some students feel disenfranchised. Meanwhile, Green Valley High students learned an important lesson about how a powerful message can be delivered - and heard - through peaceful means.