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    HuskyBroYesha
    8/16/18 12:45pm

    Teens at West Side High were being bullied for having dirty clothes and sneakers and had their photos posted to social media by those doing the bullying.

    1. Can we ban having phones at school?

    2. Where is the crackdown on these assholes posting their bullying bullshit on social media? WTF is wrong with you?

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      900turboHuskyBro
      8/16/18 1:06pm

      Look at him. That brother’s name is Akbar. Like a StarWars General.

      Illustration for article titled

      He’s promoting the washers & dryers but you know he is on social sliding into them bully’s DMs squashing that shit.

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      ProudHamericanHuskyBro
      8/16/18 2:05pm

      I worked in a school—a blessed, wonderful school—where if we caught students with a cell phone, it was the strict policy to take that cell phone and hand it to the administrator at the front desk. PARENTS had to park their car (in the city) and come in and get it back, students could not, parents could not call. I only had to take a student’s cell phone ONCE.

      ETA This was in 2010 and I’m sure by now parents have complained and raised high holy hell about the legality of it etc. etc. so they probably don’t do it anymore but it was the RIGHT policy.

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    none shyYesha
    8/16/18 12:38pm

    Man, I wish my HS principle had looked (and acted) like that dude. Don’t get me wrong, the guy seemed nice enough, but everything about Principal Akbar Cook seems like a definite upgrade, including his amazing name. 

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    10 to 15 percent nicer commentsYesha
    8/16/18 1:05pm

    I’m glad someone understands the nature of poverty: it’s a trap.

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      VodkaRocks&aPieceofToast10 to 15 percent nicer comments
      8/16/18 4:28pm

      oh, youuu

      Your browser does not support HTML5 video tag.Click here to view original GIF
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    ihadwordsYesha
    8/16/18 12:52pm

    Dignity and self respect are just as important algebra and history. They are commodities that are priceless. 

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      Williamgibsastanihadwords
      8/16/18 2:09pm

      I just learned that many young women stop going to school in areas without clean water because they can’t wash up.

      The selflessness of love requires that we help each human being exist in a state of basic dignity.

      And stupid, selfish people continue to spend money on pure vapid frivolity, like alcohol.

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      ihadwordsWilliamgibsastan
      8/16/18 2:54pm

      How about instead of a Space Force, we provide clean water for all american citizens to drink, bathe and wash clothes in. We really are lost when we spend more money on fictional threats then we do basic human needs.

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    Old white guyYesha
    8/16/18 1:02pm

    So, this guy sees there’s a problem (absenteeism), investigates to find the reasoning behind the problem (bullying about dirty clothes), responds by by attempting to address the situation to help kids feel that school is welcoming and a place they actually want to go to, which will then only help them as the go further into life.

    If only our elected officials worked in this way to truly try to make a difference in the lives of the people (not just the rich people).

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    codyzon2Yesha
    8/16/18 12:53pm

    This hits home for me, I was raised by single mother and most of my clothes came from goodwill, we had to wear things more than once so save on detergent. I was called trashcan kid and many other things, this would have saved me so much heartache. This man is doing real work helping change lives. 

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    cakes_and-piesYesha
    8/16/18 2:42pm

    This makes me think Duquan Weems would have never turned to drugs if he had clean clothes. 

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      I Can Smell Fear On Youcakes_and-pies
      8/16/18 6:02pm

      Are you trying to make me cry?? Because that’s how you make me cry. :( 

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      cakes_and-piesI Can Smell Fear On You
      8/16/18 6:13pm

      That finale broke my heart so bad, I stopped calling him Dukie when the series ended. It hurt. 

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    Issa TrapYesha
    8/16/18 2:07pm

    You would be surprised how far seemingly small things like this will go to help someone. Not saying that clean clothes will fix everything but it is a heck of a step in the right direction. I’m doing some back to school shopping now and always set aside extra for “non-school items” for those in my son’s school who’s parents were not as lucky (and trust me I know it was luck because I’m not as smart as I look) as me because it is more than just pens and pencils. Every little bit helps.

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    HuskyBroYesha
    8/16/18 12:43pm

    If New Jersey has an educator of the year award, they should give it to Principal Akbar Cook 

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    Old white guyYesha
    8/16/18 1:03pm

    But wait, I can hear the trumpers now. “But what happens when they graduate? They’re back to having dirty clothes!”. “To paraphrase the bible, give the kids a washing machine, they have clean clothes for a day. Teach the kid to just stay home and wash their clothes in their sink, they have clean clothes forever and my son doesn’t have to be annoyed by a dirty kid in school.” “Yep, more reasons its so much easier to be black in this world. My parents needed to buy a washing machine, but these kids get one for free! Obama-washers!”

    Reply