November 27, 2004

Republican-for-Moore Daughter 
Supports Teacher Busted for Marijuana 
But Wanted Random Drug Testing of Fellow Students?

Two years ago as a high school sophomore Rebecca Ralstin thought random drug testing of her fellow teens was a good idea since drug users were a small "percentage we don't want to have" in school. Now as a voting high school senior she thinks it's OK for a government teacher, and political mentor at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, to get busted for marijuana and continue teaching?

I guess this can easily happen when your mom is Mary Ca Ralstin, a Republican for Moore in 2002 and 2004 and a Republican for Clark in 2004 (Both Moore for Congress and Clark for President are Democrats).  Consistency in one's political argument isn't necessary - just like mom?

Rebecca's mom, Mary Ca Ralstin, appeared on Fox 4 News talking about Mr. Spungen:

"There are some teachers that are not good role models, and there are some that are. He is a good role model and I think the school needs to keep him."

Who might Mary Ca Ralstin consider an example of a "bad" role model?

Is there any inconsistency here that the Ralstin family took the Shawnee Mission Northwest "Safe Home Pledge" that under age drinking or illegal drugs would not be allowed in their home? Illegal drugs by a teacher are OK in the parking lot at school, but not at home?

See stories by Channel 5 or Channel 9 about Mr. Spungen and the following newspaper clippings:

Fox 4 News, Nov 21, 2004

This is a portion of the statement Rebecca Ralstin read on behalf of the students: "Mr. Spungen is an excellent teacher. He has done so much for his students and his impact cannot be measured. He has reached more students in 30 years than others could hope to reach in a lifetime. If there's one thing Mr. S taught us, and taught us well, it's to fight for what you believe in and never give up. We will not give up on Mr. Spungen, not without a fight, and he will not give up without a fight.

KC Star, June 28, 2002 (Google shows many hits of this syndicated story)

A loss of privacy doesn't bother Rebecca Ralstin, a sophomore at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. Drug testing could help schools find students who need help, she said.

"The school I go to, it's not really a problem," she said. "If it is, it's only with a small percentage of the kids, but still that's a percentage we don't want to have."

Shawnee Dispatch, Sept 22, 2004

Shawnee Mission Northwest and Mill Valley high schools both are home to growing sects of politically active youth.

Recently, senior members of Northwest's Law and Politics Club gathered for an after-school meeting.

High school students of the most politically active sort, they're fluent and loquacious in political theory, history, current events and the ins-and-outs of partisan politics.

Rebecca Ralstin, the school's political executive director, will turn 18 on Oct. 28 -- just in the nick of time to vote in this year's November election.

Three others, club co-president Bryan Cox, promotions officer Kirsten Amble and registration drive organizer James Weihe, won't turn 18 until January, May and July.

. . .

At a recent meeting, members of Northwest's Law and Politics Club laid plans for the election season.

They're planning public candidate forums, a door-to-door voter registration canvass of the Northwest area and a student registration drive. Parent volunteers will set up tables in the school cafeteria to register eligible voters during lunch.

Ralstin rallied a volunteer service crew for a Dennis Moore house party her parents will be holding at their home on behalf of the Democratic Congressman's re-election campaign. Many students are volunteering individually for candidates' campaigns.

 

Shawnee Dispatch, Nov 10, 2004

Voting for the first time was a thrilling experience for Northwest government teacher Al Spungen's eligible students.

"They were absolutely ecstatic," Spungen said. "Which didn't surprise me because they all really got into this election this year."

One student even told Spungen just thinking about the fact that he was about to vote while waiting in line at the polls gave him chills and tingles up and down his spine.

"And you know, you just don't normally hear that from a senior boy," Spungen said.

Long voted Democrat in her first experience at the polls, and despite largely Republican results, she said she was glad she had made an effort to research candidates and get out to the polls.

"Even though the candidate that I voted for didn't win, I still enjoyed the experience I had, and I'm really glad that I did it," Long said.

Voting for the first time was an impressing experience for Northwest senior Rebecca Ralstin, too.

"It was very exciting to actually do that," she said.

Ralstin said she also felt responsible for representing other youth who share the same ideas but aren't yet of voting age.

"I felt it was extremely important for me to get my voice out there," Ralstin said.

. . .

Do we need less of Ralstin's voice right now about her government teacher, Mr. Spungen?  Perhaps the municipal judge's voice is the one we need to hear?

K a n s a s M e a d o w l a r k @ e f g 2 . c o m