School Scoop: Trump, censorship and race in schools – Asbury Park Press

After a drive to the Berkeley Carteret, Collin and Deanna get settled in before the dinner and dancing start. Deanna Carraher, who has Down Syndrome and is going to her Freehold Twp. prom with Collin Bitsko, a former football and lacrosse standout who now plays lacrosse in college. (Photo: Peter Ackerman)Buy Photo

It's been hot hot hot this week, so here aresome of the hottest trending school stories around the Jersey Shore.

Censorship of a pro-Trump T-shirt?

The lesson in Wall High School is that if you don't like a political statement in a student's yearbook photo, don't Photoshop it away. Now a teacher is suspended and school administrators are seeking answers.

Don't miss this story, which went viral on Monday after news organizations across the nation picked it up and ran with it.

A prom story for a girl with Down syndrome

Freehold Township senior Deanna Carraher has Down syndrome and needed a prom date. Collin Bitsko is a lacrosse star who fulfilled her wishes. For theinclusive millennial generation, their pairing is natural.

"People now are willing to go the extra mile to make everyone feel included, and thats great," said a friend of Deanna's.

A Trenton intervention

The state Assembly passed a bill that wouldgive the Monmouth County superintendent of schools the power to make the Colts Neck school district, rather than the Tinton Falls schooldistrict, responsible for educating about 60 children of military familieswho live at Earle.

Tinton Falls Board of Education President Peter Karavites said the currentarrangement no longer works because their schools have become overcrowded while Colts Neck's have not.

"Blackface" photo creates stir in Brick

A middle school student covered his face in athletic eye black during a celebration, and whileteachers did not react, one parent did.

"I dont think he knew what he was doing," said Brick momAimee VanDuyne, who is white and has three children who are black.

The incident has spurred hard conversations about racism and racial sensitivity in the school district.

In other news:

APP business writer Michael Diamond tells us what we should have learned in college, but probably didn't.

Some Jersey Shore student writers won big at the APP Student Voices awards. "Student Voices is our opportunity to celebrate the academic achievements of young students," said Hollis R. Towns, Gannett New Jersey Regional Editor & Vice President/News. "We often celebrate sports and music but its rare that we invest as much as we should in academics, so Im extremely proud of this program."

State Sen. Jennifer Beck in an APP op-ed tells us to keep a close eye on school funding talks. "Over the next several weeks, a new plan for school funding will be debated in Trenton," she writes.

One lucky Toms River high school student won a car in the district's second annualDriven to Excellence program, a character-building effort. Here's how it works.

That's all for this week. Have a wonderful weekend.

Amanda Oglesby: 732-557-5701; aoglesby@GannettNJ.com

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School Scoop: Trump, censorship and race in schools - Asbury Park Press