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Uploaded: Friday, November 20, 2009, 5:52 PM
Updated: Monday, November 23, 2009, 9:04 AM

Kevin Skelly taking egg-wars probe 'seriously'
Palo Alto superintendent conducting an informal investigation into egg-wars investigation methds

Posted by MIdtown Parent, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Nov 20, 2009 at 6:01 pm

[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

Posted by Ticked, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Nov 20, 2009 at 10:35 pm

I expect that the powers that be will protect the status quo and this Principal and her lieutenants. That's what most of the people I've spoken to suspect. It's pretty sad. A devastating commentary about justice and truth in a supposedly enlightened community.

Posted by Gunn Parent, a member of the Gunn High School community, on Nov 21, 2009 at 1:34 pm

It is great to know that our superintendent actually knows how to take things seriously. Let's hope he also takes the administration problems at Gunn seriously. Only then our children will be ready to heal. When that happens (if it does) I will vote yes to raise and continue the parcel tax.

Posted by Please, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Nov 21, 2009 at 7:31 pm

[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

Posted by wally needle, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Nov 22, 2009 at 3:01 pm

what's with all the censoring of comments on this story and the removing of posts. blocking vulgarity etc is one thing, but why censor comments.

Posted by Ryan, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Nov 22, 2009 at 3:48 pm

[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

To the people that are sitting on the track at night, i would like to propose an alternative. Go home, and make better use of your time. Sitting at the tracks will not help prevent a suicide, there are so many other places to get onto the track and so many other ways to commit suicide. And if someone wanted to commit suicide on the tracks, it would be hard to stop them because they could just run right onto the tracks.

There's my 2 cents since everyone else wants to feel important and post what they think on here, even though 1/10 of them are willing to do anything.

Posted by Frequent Reader, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Nov 22, 2009 at 4:16 pm

We don't even see all the posts which are deleted. Sometimes postings simply disappear as if they never existed. Only sometimes do they use the [Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.] display that they deleted something.

Posted by Gunn Parent, a member of the Gunn High School community, on Nov 22, 2009 at 5:45 pm

To Ryan the one who posted this:

Just letting you know that we the parents, who are watching the tracks, have actually stopped 2 students from dying. It is because the way people like you think that we waited too long, and more children died instead of just one. We should have done it long time ago. You should get your butt over there and start watching the tracks, they you will know how good it feels to know that you are making a big difference. Yes children who want to die might find another way, but it will not be the tracks,and it will not be as successful as the train. [Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

Posted by palo alto mom, a resident of the Embarcadero Oaks/Leland neighborhood, on Nov 22, 2009 at 6:01 pm

Gunn Parent -

Are you saying that 2 kids tried to commit suicide recently (since the young girl from Terman?)

In any case, thank you, thank you, thank you. You are letting our children know that our community cares about them.

Posted by A Noun Ea Mus, a resident of the Professorville neighborhood, on Nov 22, 2009 at 9:35 pm

I applaud the people who are watching the tracks! You may never know of suicides you prevented because they aborted the attempt. Suicide magnets are real and often all it takes is a slight or mild barrier, distraction, etc., to save a life.

Posted by Ryan, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Nov 22, 2009 at 10:55 pm

[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

Posted by One Gunn Mom, a member of the Gunn High School community, on Nov 23, 2009 at 10:28 am

Ryan,

You are so far off the mark on the link between location and suicide behavior. The tracks have become the place to do it. We need to restrict access to that place. The kids will most likely never go anywhere else. The NY times had a great article on this supported by scientific research. See the complete article:

Web Link

The track watch is making a difference and parents are comitted to stopping this now.

Posted by michael james, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Nov 23, 2009 at 10:31 am

lets hope the parents of the paly students back off, let you kids grow up and take responsibility for there own actions

stop protecting your young adults when they act like children

let them live the consequences of there or there fellow students behavior

it was wrong for pally children to go to gunn and disrespect our school

Posted by KMP, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Nov 23, 2009 at 10:32 am

I am very saddened by the suicided as the track in recent months. I have no idea why the suicide topic has to be discussed where when the "egg-war" is being discussed.

Some how some folks are too sarcastic about loss of lives. It's a health problem, caused by depression and chemical imbalance which needs treatment. Please take your negative comments else where.

If you have nothing soothing to say, then don't say it!

Posted by sasha, a resident of the Palo Alto Orchards neighborhood, on Nov 23, 2009 at 10:42 am

You sure are turning PA into a place that doesn't sound appealing to raise a family. Your children are no different from children any where else, and should be held responsible for their actions just like anyone else. Your children will be out in the real world soon, and then what are you going to do.

Posted by LAWYER, a resident of the Community Center neighborhood, on Nov 23, 2009 at 11:07 am

KEEP LAWYERS OUT OF IT!

Posted by PA mom, a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on Nov 23, 2009 at 11:26 am

I agree with the first (non-removed) post. Regardless of the rightness or wrongness of the egg wars, it is my (and others I know of) experience that the school district automatically "protects their own" and supports school administrations' actions, even when children and/or parents have been seriously hurt by those administrators' actions or omission of needed actions. It is as if PAUSD staff views us parents as a bunch of whiney, self-righteous rich people with a sense of entitlement. I asked one of my kid's teachers about this, and she said that the stereotype does exist, but that in her experience it is by far the exception. It is this stereotype, the few parents who perpetuate it, and the good ol' boy network of our school district that allows this corruption to continue and thus prevents real justice from prevailing.

Posted by Anon., a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on Nov 23, 2009 at 12:43 pm

>>> I expect that the powers that be will protect the status quo and this Principal and her lieutenants. <<<

Sometimes that is not such a bad thing.

What is it with all you adminstration attacking rabble-rousers? This is not the Viet-Nam war or civil rights in the south. Some people just do not seem to have enough to do with their time and retain some residual resentment of teachers in school.

Seriously, what is the so-called "corruption" here? If you mean once a decision is made by a group the group backs it ... that is what any executive/managerial body does. You don't have generals criticizing the President - another way to say that.

"Corruption" would mean that someone is benefiting in some way by punishing these kids ... and sorry, but that has to happen. They did something they should not have done not matter how daring or rebellious some think egg wars might be.

Posted by rem, a resident of the Adobe-Meadows neighborhood, on Nov 23, 2009 at 12:54 pm

*****Parents demand probe of 'egg war' investigation*****

Mr Thorwaldson (Editor),

It is hoped that one of these days you all will print the guidelines as to why you all arbitrarily and capriciously remove Posting.

There are no guidelines on the web site. It seems that you just remove Postings for no special reason

I think Wally Needle say (and ASKED) it very plainly in the article (Kevin Skelly taking egg-wars probe 'seriously) “What's with all the censoring of comments on this story and the removing of posts. Blocking vulgarity etc is one thing, but why censor comments.”

Mr Thorwaldson, I noticed you and Chris Kenrick were the authors/writers of the article “Parents demand probe of 'egg war' investigation”. Could it be that you and Mr Kenrick did not like the “tone” of our comments…

Posted by disappointed, a member of the Palo Alto High School community, on Nov 23, 2009 at 1:57 pm

OMG, I can't believe there is this much todo about egg throwing. Make whoever did it clean it up and be done with it. Why is this even news worthy. If some of the kids who did it don't want to fink on the others than they'll do all the cleaning. I am just disgusted with things getting blown out of proportion. Kids will be kids and this is not an outrageous crime.

Posted by palo alto mom, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Nov 23, 2009 at 3:06 pm

disappointed (and everyone else who is not paying attention)

This is not about egg throwing.

This is about Paly administrations behavior over the past few year being about punishment instead of education.

This is about parents wanting to protect their kids from a bully.

Posted by Anon., a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on Nov 23, 2009 at 3:30 pm

>> Blocking vulgarity etc is one thing, but why censor comments.”

I agree with this. I have had posts censored or deleted and for the life of me I cannot figure out what on Earth for ... unless the censor just disagreed with what I had to say .. and that should be unacceptable ... except maybe in a third world dictatorship.

On the other hand, there are snide and insulting ways of expressing ideas that I find offensive that I agree with the deletion of. After the post is gone there is no way to measure.

Posted by Anon., a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on Nov 23, 2009 at 3:35 pm

>> This is about Paly administrations behavior over the

>> past few year being about punishment instead of education.

>> This is about parents wanting to protect their kids from a bully.

I think this is untrue and there is no backup for this kind

of critical statement. I would be the first one to take up the

banner for freedom of education and kid's rights to be

kid's and rebel a little.

All I hear in this vein is complaints and attacks, I hear no

proof or citations of abuse of authority, either here or anywhere

else. If you are going to make such charges you should be able

to clearly back them up - unabiguously. And that has not been

done or even inferred.

There is even little punishment in this case, clean up the mess,

and a suspension for some I guess. How else do you get people

to understand that something is being taken seriously when you

keep giving chances after chances and overlooking bad behavior?

You did not even say what you would suggest as an alternative

and why.

Posted by Ryan, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Nov 23, 2009 at 7:21 pm

"what's with all the censoring of comments on this story and the removing of posts. blocking vulgarity etc is one thing, but why censor comments."

I guess Palo Alto online, doesn't feel that free speech is necessary, since it's their site.

It's good that there is an investigation on Mcevoy, because she needs to be booted she isn't doing her job properly.

[Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

Posted by Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Nov 23, 2009 at 10:59 pm

[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

Posted by Anon, a resident of the Palo Verde neighborhood, on Nov 23, 2009 at 11:55 pm

Folks --

Let's not make this into anything bigger than it is. It's not about justice, due process or anything like that. Sorry, not everything that happens in Palo Alto is that important. High school kids do some things that are against the rules. It's part of growing up. If they get away with it, no one's punished. If they get caught, they get suspended. The specifics change but the principle remains the same.

Let's move on.

Posted by A Noun Ea Mus, a resident of the Professorville neighborhood, on Nov 24, 2009 at 7:02 am

Interesting...

when the kids do something wrong cries are bellowed "animals!", "criminals!", "vandals!".

Now when the spotlight shifts...."let's move on".

Posted by not amused, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Nov 24, 2009 at 8:50 am

"disappointed (and everyone else who is not paying attention)

This is not about egg throwing.

This is about Paly administrations behavior over the past few year being about punishment instead of education.

This is about parents wanting to protect their kids from a bully."

this IS about egg throwing, eggs should not touch public property, and somebody needs to address the issue of the planned/unplanned egg throwing "tradition"

the rest are your own, or your group's issues, why even have that on town square?

Posted by Jay Thorwaldson, editor of the Palo Alto Weekly, on Nov 24, 2009 at 9:51 am
Jay Thorwaldson is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online

Relating to the comment above on guidelines for Town Square postings, they are under the "Terms of Use" under the "Post Your Own News or Opinion" subhead in the Town Square section of the website. The direct URL for the terms is: www.paloaltoonline.com/terms_of_use.php -- right where they have been since Town Square was launched. Posts are edited or removed when they violate one or more of the terms of use.

Posted by palo alto mom, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Nov 24, 2009 at 11:18 am

Not amused

The title of this thread is "Kevin Skelly taking these matters seriously" and the matter he is taking seriously "allegations of inappropriate methods used by Palo Alto High School administrators "

It does not say the Kevin Skelly is debating the egg wars. The egg war was stupid and needs no more debate.

Posted by A Noun Ea Mus, a resident of the Professorville neighborhood, on Nov 24, 2009 at 3:53 pm

Yes but a good defense is a good offense. So some people must continue to demonize the Egg War tradition, call for off the wall punishment for BOTH the participants and the parents critical of the PA HS admin.

I have no doubt that as this "moves forward" the "justifications" for the PA HS admin actions will be based on the heinous "crime", replete with 4X5 color glossy photo's....you can justify anthing you want with Gunn Egg photo's.

Paly particpants sitting on the Group W bench, next to Richmond rapists, etc.

Posted by parent, a resident of Mountain View, on Nov 24, 2009 at 4:06 pm

Regarding censorship, I just read some remarks from President Obama (Web Link) recorded while visiting China weeks ago:

" I'm a big supporter of non-censorship. This is part of the tradition of the United States ..."

"...but the truth is that because in the United States information is free, and I have a lot of critics in the United States who can say all kinds of things about me, I actually think that that makes our democracy stronger and it makes me a better leader because it forces me to hear opinions that I don't want to hear..."

"...The more open we are, the more we can communicate. And it also helps to draw the world together...."

Come on, this is Palo Alto, not a government under dictatorship. On the other hand, I fully support the deletion of any unlawful comment. We should remember that people can always use the "Report Objectionable Content". The editors have to be fair and impartial when evaluating the complaint. It will be great to publish a guideline for appealing, too.

It IS a serious matter. I believe Palo Alto Online is doing the right thing, but we really can't tell.

I welcome any comment that is against me.

Posted by Anon., a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on Nov 25, 2009 at 3:40 am

parent ... the censorship question is complicated when all of the main networks are controlled by the same class of buisness/people/mindset.

when you can drive from one coast to the other and hear nothing but right wing hate speech and attacks on liberals and democrats ... oh, and preachers and farm reports ... and never get any balance or opposing view, there is something wrong. obama has to say that to avoid being called a complainer ... but I don't.

it the interpretation of these comments and judgement about deletions that I do not understand as well as the uneven approach to the implementation of censorship. i know i have had comments deletes where there was no violation of any standards except what the censor believed or did not want to see posted.

Posted by parent, a resident of Mountain View, on Nov 25, 2009 at 11:47 am

One immediate improvement the editiors can do is to add something like this when removing a post: [Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff due to (specify a sound reason)].

Posted by Cynthia, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Nov 28, 2009 at 3:51 pm

I feel sorry for the administration at the school, sounds like they are trying their best to please all parents involved. Sounds like the parents of the egg throwers are citing laws of minimal punishment, that their spoiled kids are obviously used to, as well as the parents of the kids who were on the recieving line, want the book thrown at the egg-throwers! It's all rather hilarious! It's a tradition that "sounds" harmless, all should be lucky that the only "weapons" are eggs! Sounds like good kids, that get bored and want to have some "fun".

Posted by A Noun Ea Mus, a resident of the Professorville neighborhood, on Nov 30, 2009 at 2:21 am

Gee Cynthia you can sit and throw stones at everyone involved.....you feel sorry for admin but then at the end the kids just want to have fun, harmless tradition. They are spoiled and then "sounds like good kids".

The only common thing is to throw insults at everyone on either side of the issue?

What gives?

Posted by anonymous, a resident of the Evergreen Park neighborhood, on Nov 30, 2009 at 6:16 am

I would like Kevin Skelly to take seriously not only the accusations of parents of students involved, but also the history of hazing in school teams, picking on Freshmen, and throwing eggs at those who did not want to participate that McEvoy is attempting to address over there at Paly with no support from the District Office.

The students were told twice by police officers that what they were planning was illegal. They persisted nonetheless, including attacking and defacing a school that was dealing with yet another suicide. Those kids had ample warning that they should not do this. Here's an idea: instead of suspending them, send them to juvenile court so they can have THAT on their records for the rest of their lives. Here's another idea: since the kids involved included student body elected officer,s why not strip them of their titles since they don't have the maturity to lead constructively.

Jackie McEvoy is like the teacher who finally gives some discipline and order to an unruly toddler whose parents have never said no. The teacher gets labeled "mean" but is actually doing the kindest thing in terms of building character and teaching responsibility. The parents should be ashamed that they did not, and do not, insist that their own children take responsibility for their actions and take the consequences. Alternatively, if they are so fond of this "tradition," why don't parents step up and let the kids throw eggs at their own backyards and house. then the parents can clean it up, and no one will care.

Besides, as a Yale graduate, I can say with confidence that most Ivy League schools would not think the suspension for this prank is a big deal AT ALL. So if the concern is the college acceptances, the parents should calm down about it.

Posted by Cynthia, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Nov 30, 2009 at 10:24 pm

What gives is that if all you have to worry about is some kids throwing some eggs, then consider yourself lucky! That's what gives. You're spoiled, perfect kids don't have to dodge bullets and gangs, etc. So stop whining about some eggs! That's what gives! You sound ignorant while attemtping to chastise me for my comments with your "intelligence". I held back. You don't really want to know how I feel.