Students punished over snub of governor

On Wednesday, Romney went to Winchendon, a north central Massachusetts town about 70 miles from Boston, as a show of support after the state Board of Education last month declared Winchendon schools underperforming. He addressed more than 900 students, school officials, and town leaders in the Murdock School's gymnasium. He also met privately with parents and teachers, offering the state's help in turning around Winchendon schools.

While principal Patricia A. Washburn said that the majority of students had behaved appropriately, she said a "small handful" had booed the governor, refused to shake his hand, or carried protest signs. Those students were "not being respectful to our guests in the building," Washburn said, and face consequences. She declined to provide details.

"There is a proper protocol and decorum these students are supposed to have," she said. "Almost everyone has it, but unfortunately, there were [a] very few that didn't, and we dealt with those situations. We dealt with them Thursday morning, and we're back to focusing on what's important."

Shawn Feddeman, Romney's press secretary, said the governor enjoyed his visit and appreciated the students' reception, which she characterized as positive overall.

The governor took the tough questions in stride: Quizzed by student reporters on the state's financing of Winchendon schools, Romney pulled out a spreadsheet and spent a few minutes explaining the numbers.

"We are disappointed to hear any student would be punished for expressing his or her opinion," Feddeman said. Romney "understands that not everyone will agree with him on every issue, and he's willing to engage in an open and honest dialogue," she said.

Some students who protested during Romney's visit said they were not chastised or suspended. But Murdock senior Jacob Whitney said he was given a three-day suspension for refusing to shake Romney's hand, a gesture he said he meant as a joke.

Whitney, 18, said he offered a hand to Romney when the governor met students after his speech, but pulled it away when Romney extended his own hand. He said he then patted Romney on his shoulder and said, "Just kidding," and the two laughed.

That evening, Whitney said, the school's vice principal called him and informed him of his suspension. Whitney and his mother, Timi, met Washburn the next morning, and the principal stuck by the punishment, they said. The youth admitted that he punched a hole in the wall of the school office in anger, but said he was suspended for what happened at Romney's speech, not for his later outburst.

The principal "said I embarrassed the school and all kinds of stuff like that," Whitney, 18, said. "I said that I didn't think I deserved to be suspended for three days."

Superintendent of Schools Robert A. O'Meara said that no student would be disciplined for refusing to shake the governor's hand, but said he could not comment on specific cases.

Timi Whitney said she agrees that her son should not have hit the wall and said that she wishes he had not pulled his hand away from the governor. But she said a three-day suspension seemed harsh.

"I feel he was a little disrespectful, but I don't think it called for three days," she said.