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The principal of a Little Rock elementary school over the weekend canceled Monday's scheduled visit to the campus by U.S. Rep. French Hill after learning that some parents and others planned to protest the Republican lawmaker in front of the school.

But Donna Hall, acting principal at Gibbs Magnet Elementary, 1115 W. 16th St., said in a Sunday evening email to school parents that she now regrets the cancellation and has asked Hill to reschedule a visit.

"Following notification that a protest would be staged in front of the school and concerned that the protest would be a disruption to the day for students, I made a decision to cancel the congressman's visit," Hall said in the Sunday email that was provided to the newspaper on Monday.

"However, after further consideration, I do not believe canceling Congressman Hill's visit was the best decision," Hall wrote. "Gibbs, as an international magnet [school], enjoys a variety of speakers from different backgrounds. From time to time, we have elected officials speak at our schools, and though they may have varying political views, we welcome their non-partisan interaction with our students. If any protest should occur, we would use that as an opportunity to educate our students about the democratic process in action and the right to peacefully demonstrate differing views."

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Hall also wrote that there is a policy that does not allow elected officials to campaign, give partisan speeches or take photographs with pupils.

"We do not believe that Congressman Hill's visit would have violated that policy," Hall wrote.

She said he was invited to speak to the school's fifth-graders on the school's 2017 theme of "Go Do Great Things."

"We have offered our apologies to the congressman and asked him to reschedule," Hall said, and added that exposing students to diverse opinions and people "helps them become well rounded, informed, thoughtful, and engaged citizens."

A statement from Hill released Monday evening through his office did not say if the visit will be rescheduled, but it said he treasures his time with students.

"From college to kindergarten, I love interacting with teachers and students," Hill said in the statement. "I visit schools throughout the year to discuss students' aspirations and dreams, and the issues of the day, as well as the role education has played in my life, my career as an entrepreneur, and the incredibly important duty to serve that each one of us has in our Constitutional Republic."

The plan for Hill's 12:30 p.m. Monday visit to the school was included in a Friday message from the acting principal to parents that also announced the implementation of the school's tardy policy. Hall said in that first announcement that parents were welcome to come to the school to hear Hill.

Barclay Key, a parent at the school, sent a responding email to an undisclosed list of recipients asking who made the arrangements for Hill to speak. Key provided the email to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Monday.

"I'm appalled that a supporter of Donald Trump would be allowed to speak to our children, not to mention someone who voted to take away health insurance from many of the families at our school," Key wrote Friday night.

In a later email Saturday, Key questioned whether Hill had been instructed not to give a political speech, and he questioned whether photos and video of the congressman and children would later be used for political advertisements.

Hall responded that would not be the case, but later on Saturday she announced the cancellation.

Little Rock School District Superintendent Mike Poore also became involved Saturday, sending an email to both Key and Hall, saying: "I am not sure who set up the Congressman's visit but I think it is appropriate. He is not there to make a political speech."

Metro on 08/29/2017

Print Headline: Principal reinvites Rep. Hill; Regrets decision, Gibbs chief says

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Archived Comments

  • hah406
    August 29, 2017 at 7:42 a.m.

    This was a bad decision. While no one wants a protest at an elementary school, I seriously doubt Mr. Hill would have touched on a single political topic. He likely would have talked about the importance of education, and maybe touched on how our government works. I don't care for Hill and certainly don't support Trump, but the hysteria offered up by Ms. Key is offensive to me and to American values.

  • RBBrittain
    August 29, 2017 at 8:09 a.m.

    I agree, even though I would be politically sympathetic with Ms. Key -- especially since LRSD policy prevents Rep. Hill from making too much political hay of his visit. Public schools serve all children; it is to their benefit that they should be exposed to a multitude of political views without proselytizing. (Orval Faubus spoke at a dinner for one of my high school classes back in the 1980's; that certainly didn't make me a segregationist.)

  • JGP
    August 29, 2017 at 8:16 a.m.

    For all the talk about fascism, this desire to stifle speech to which you are opposed is the greater fascism and, when it works to stifle speech, is a far, far greater existential threat to our fundamental values than a few Nazi whack jobs. It's as is people have completely forgotten what being a diverse, pluralistic society is really all about. The true greatness in America is that we not only allow people to speak who make our blood boil, but that we celebrate their right to do so.

  • Bocepheus
    August 29, 2017 at 8:17 a.m.

    Another case in point for why the LRSD has failed. Stadardized student test scores are and have been the only reliable predictor of school district performance and the LRSD's scores have been declining for 25 years. This superintendent has the grit and the power to make some difference. Continue to cull the administrative deadwood and apply that money to classroom instruction. Teach a no excuses school curriculum founded in direct instruction. Daily, make teachers take roll and principals report truancy immediately, then hold the LR police chief accountable for enforcement by sending the list to the Dem-Gaz. Continue to Focus. Don't get distracted by things like a call for taxpayer funded pre-k because IT doesn't work---or any other lame excuse.

  • tpinter63comcastnet
    August 29, 2017 at 8:27 a.m.

    Kudos to Principal Hall for realizing she initially made a bad decision, by cowering to the libs like Professor Key (he is American History Professor at UALR -- surprise! -- Not). I'm sure those of his ilk are afraid Rep. Hill would say thinks like "take personal responsibility for your actions", and "hard work and doing the right thing will take you a long way..." and maybe even how Capitalism is the engine that makes America work. All such political and controversial topics... ridiculous.

    Again, Principal Hall, thank you for your "further consideration".... hopefully in future you will be more careful about who is whispering in your ear, and what their motives are.

  • RaylanGivens
    August 29, 2017 at 9:07 a.m.

    Really dumb decision, but par for the LRSD course

  • rback57
    August 29, 2017 at 9:24 a.m.

    barday key fascist

  • 3WorldState1
    August 29, 2017 at 9:43 a.m.

    Don't support the decision. But when you walk with and support racists or people with racist views, you are going to get blow back. It's called taking personal responsibility for your actions. Something haymaker spoke about.

  • ellsea
    August 29, 2017 at 10:10 a.m.

    And I thought pulling football commentator Robert Lee from doing the VA game was the stupidest thing I had ever heard of ....

  • caspertherat
    August 29, 2017 at 10:14 a.m.

    Woweee, little snowflake Barclay Key, Professor, Master of BS, Master of Hurt Feelings, who just left his last job in Mexico in June, is now here to tell the LRSD what to do and is throwing a hissy fit over this whole thing. He is even upset that his seeking the spotlight, his threatening of the LRSD and his filing of a FOIA request has caused others to look at him and find out more about him by filing an FOIA request. Looks like UALR is going to have their hands full with this AntiFa wannabe. His students should get an adequate liberal brainwashing that would make UC Berkeley proud. He is proud his daughter had already (by herself) made a protest sign prior to the initial cancellation of Rep. Hill's speech. On the other hand, while I am used to news of the LRSD doing dumb things, their "further consideration" is to be applauded. The AntiFa, Snowflakes and other idiots who would rend the fabric of America by shutting down speech with which they disagree, need to be stopped. It is a proven tactic of the Alt-leftists like this "educator" to go to Congressional Town Hall Meetings and shut them down via the use of loud disruptive language and this is probably what Key wants to do in this case if his threats fail. Hang in there LRSD and good luck to UALR. Just remember that the Alt-Left only like Free Speech when it is their speech and there are none so intolerant as the Tolerant Left. I hope to visit a lecture by Mr. Key because I know my protest sign will be okay with him and my disruptive behavior will be as welcome there as his disruptive behavior would be at a Town Hall Meeting or school visit by Rep. Hill.

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