By Spade28

March 6, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this

Any way before the site made me stop typing on my last post I was saying that I know first hand about the respect that the students and teachers have for Mr. Perkins. He went out of his way to help teachers and students alike. The question we have to ask now is why get rid of a man that has helped so man students since he has been a high school administrator just because he wanted to use his constitutional rights and write some poems that have nothing to do with the school or the people in it.

By Spade28

March 6, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this

As I was reading the posts from the supporters and non-supporters of Mr.Perkins I came across questions about Mr.Perkins contributions to the school and the students. I dont know about to the school but as a senior in South High school I can tell you that Mr.Perkins loves his job. He was there to help the sstudents and has helped me through alot of stuff that was going on in my life. He always made himself avilable to help students if they needed to talk or just had a question.

By Enough Already

March 4, 2008 6:47 AM | Link to this

Yes, students have the right to protest. Why wouldn’t they? However, they need to protest without disrupting others. There is a way to do everything, and knocking on doors and yelling is not the way to protest. The object is to get your point across, and nothing can be accomplished by yelling and being disruptive; Remember, you’re protesting, not rioting.

By Rhonda

February 26, 2008 10:47 PM | Link to this

Springfield — you have an assistant principal who has published poems and books on an online self-publishing website, AND you are calling for this individual to be disciplined? I think you are not looking at the big picture. What is this individual’s contribution to the school and the lives of his current and former students? Has anyone been injured by his actions? Is he writing from an experience with a student? To me the answers to these questions are what is important.

By concerned

February 26, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this

Mr. Perkins was contacted 2/11/08 by someone on the second floor in the front office about his poetry. They gave him the heads up. This same person told the faculty at South 3 days later that they had no knowledge of Perkins until they heard about it via the paper and the board members. Very Sad. I do believe Dr.Harper did not know this.

By walter

February 26, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this

We had a large family meeting and have decided that if Perkins is allowed back in SCS we will pull all of our kids from Springfield City Schools. My sister brought a copy of the poetry to the meeting and it was just nasty. We have 9 kids from our familys in the schools. We will send this poetry to Channel 2 and channel 7 if he stays in our schools. We will get a lawyer.

By susan

February 26, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this

I have been hearing the same story that john just posted. Mr. Perkins was told to take his poetry off that website before the investigation started. I hope someone has a copy as proof of what he wrote. Maybe they need to look in the board office to see if there was anything done that would hamper this investigation. I also understand that they are trying to shoot the messenger

By john

February 26, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this

A student from South found the poetry on Lulu.com. Once the student brought this website up for his fellow students to see, they thought it was inappropriate and reported Mr. Perkins to a teacher who took the information to the Administration. Dr. Harper, Mrs. Ford, Mrs. White can sugar coat this issue all they want but if this was anyone else they would be Terminated. KP was given a heads up by upper Admin. and tried to clean up his site before the Investigation started.

By student

February 23, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this

the reason that they protested might have been right in they eyes but the way they went about it was wrong they went around yelling and banging on the doors of classroom. Making it hard for classes to go on.

By joanna

February 23, 2008 5:24 PM | Link to this

John seeing as you are wrong again, I hope you know there are two different family of PERDUES that I personally know of myself, And I my self nor my brother Jason Have went to south as we are originally from North Carolina, And I have never seen one of the Perdues that went to south as black, they are white correct! Well I am so sorry to tell you I am an educated Black person who you are sadly mistaking for whatever Perdues you are talking about,and my brother Feels that you are an idiot as well

By john

February 23, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this

Joanna,John(AKA) Jason, It doesn’t take a Brain Surgeon to figure out that your in the same family using the same E-Mail account. And the Purdue family, you know the ones that went to South and some that still go to South, doesn’t have a psychologist IN THE FAMILY. at least not one that is Licensed by the state. Of course in your fantasy world, your probably all poets. lol

By John

February 23, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this

Like I said sir, typing may not be my thing but I am a very well educated person again 2 masters degrees, what do you have? And again “LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE” I wonder what dirty little secrets you have sir, What is Johns fantasy? Women little children, I don’t know but you sure are interested in this subject. Lastly I say WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE

By Henry

February 23, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this

Jhn, Let me not go through and point out your spelling and grammer mistake because there are plenty. Joanna is right, you must have been really interested as to actually have to purchase the book to read it. If you heard what is was then why waste your time or money for that matter. Something about it peeked your interest. As a Pys. Dr.I would say that something in your mind wondered about the intimacy of the book, why read if it was so sick and this mans morale was low, where is your morale?

By John

February 22, 2008 8:41 PM | Link to this

Joanna, You must have gotten your Master’s degrees through the mail. First, let me help… “your” should be you are, “morale” should be morals, “hipacrit” should be hypocrite. Second, unlike most people, I actually wanted to read the book before I formed an opinion. It is trash. And I am shocked that a man of his education didn’t know better.

By shabbychic58

February 22, 2008 7:35 PM | Link to this

Come on you whiners there’s more to life than a book of poems leave the man and students alone. You better worry about war on our turf and how much it’ll cost to fill your car with gas. This is his time away from the students and I’m reading none of them were involved. Get a life………

By joanna

February 22, 2008 7:24 PM | Link to this

John, I think you are sadly mistaking sir. I need no more school as i have 2 masters degrees. And you quote very well from a person who disagrees with what was written. “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” Sorry your not up yet, And its funny how his morale according to you is so low, how is it you know so much about his site, you say you dont have to write vulgar poetry to degrade women, then why the hell did you read it, please dont be a hipacrit.

By Not Relevant

February 22, 2008 7:01 PM | Link to this

I must start out by letting everyone know that I am a South High School Wildcat, and extremely proud to be one, regardless of the negative attention our school has been getting. Speaking from the point of view of someone who didn’t engage in the strike for Mr. Perkins, I feel obligated to post a comment; partly due to the previous comments left and partly due to his actions, which most by standers don’t realize. My views throughout the past week have changed drastically. During the first part of the investigation, I had few questions, but believed that Mr. Perkins should be returned to school and the matter be dissolved; although, I did know that Mr. Perkins spoke of himself as a poet to several of my fellow peers, and long before this week I knew he was formerly known as “Antonio Love.” Since Mr. Perkins had mentioned his poetry to his students and never actually showed any student, to my knowledge, I felt as though he should be able to return to school with little delay. After learning more, though, I believe that Mr. Perkins should indeed loose his job. I started to question my previous reasoning when I found Mr. Perkins book preview about sex and love disabled, but his other books were not. I understand that this was done in order to prevent students and parents from reading his now well known poetry.. But what bothered me firstly was the question I kept asking myself, “If he does this in his personal time, he has nothing to hide.. Why is he hiding such information if he has no reason to? And why would he specifically disable only one of his books, but not the others?” Along with these questions, more shortly haunted my mind. Mr. Perkins was said to have wrote such poems in high school, but why were some copy righted in 2006 and 2007? Next, like everyone else on this page, asked about the moral contract he had indeed signed before being able to occupy his position at Springfield South High School. He is an administrator, and isn’t setting a good example. Writing and/or talking about sex and love isn’t wrong, it’s actually a big part of society, but the way it was written and described to me was vulgar and inappropriate. If I were involved on the SCS board, I would thoroughly question his morality and investigate him also. Shooting down our school board isn’t a right thing to do. They are far from sufficient in most cases, as we’ve learned throughout the years, but they are doing a decent job on his investigation. It is indeed Mr. Perkins fault that he is on administrative leave and that his job is in question. If he would have left his personal life at home, it should have never been discussed with children and he wouldn’t be in the position he is in. In addition, I must speak on behalf of SHS students. It is good to fight for what you believe is right, and if you sincerely believe that Mr. Perkins has been wrongly dealt with, then by all means, protest. BUT for the future, I find it better to be more calm, and to not perceive our school as “ghetto,” please don’t jump in front of the cameras any chance you get. You’re only making our school look bad, which is a reflection of each SHS student and our teachers, which isn’t just. Would your dearly beloved Mr. Perkins, who you look up to and respect, want us to partake in actions that give our school a bad reputation?

By rightthere

February 22, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this

Tbone not an attack only an opinion like the one John made about Perkins bad influence. Thank you for your correction of my grammar but I dont think News Sun hired you as the comment proofreader. You must be an SCS employee as well.

By john

February 22, 2008 5:30 PM | Link to this

Joanna, If you think that turning satin sheets into murky swamps is poetic love, then maybe you need to go back to school as well. Antonio Love’s site was not blocked. There was no filter requiring acknowledement that you are 18 or over. Any child with a parent’s credit card could have read this garbage. And as far as my life is concerned, I’m living the dream and I don’t have to write vulgar poetry that belittles the female gender just to make myself feel a little better, or taller

By tbone

February 22, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this

Rightthere, I appreciate your support for Mr. Perkins. However, the school has an obligation to investigate issues that could potentially impact an employee’s ability to perform his duties and to not investigate would be negligent. Additionally, it it probably not wise to resort to personal attacks on John as “ignorant” and “brainless” while using “your” incorrectly. It’s “you’re,” as in, you are a brainless twit.

By rightthere

February 22, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this

John your ignorant. You must be a SHS teacher. Do you know Mr. Perkins? Do you have morals? You really dont know what your talking about. Mr. Perkins has done a great job in this district for years. What have you done to help our community how many children have you helped get into college. Bad influence? So tell me if Jean and the Wittenberg Board lets him go then what? Are you going to take his job and fill his shoes? I doubt if you can you brainless twit!

By joanna

February 22, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this

And another thing John… I am so sure you and Mrs. Harper have never watched a movie with a love scene or sex right, please These teens now a days see more sex and violence then what they woould ever read out of a bool of poems, John you are just an idiot who obviously thinks that talking about love and sex the 2 these that keep this would going is something to be ashamed about

By Joanna

February 22, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this

John, How can you say this is a morale issue. How may times have you watch either porn or looked at an adult magazine. Are you a professional? Is so then where are your morales? Who are you to judge anybody? This man wrote Poems, For god sake Poems, about Love and Sex. THAT IS LIFE! Or do you not have a family?

By john

February 22, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

Are you kidding me. This is not a popularity contest. This is not a racial issue. This is a moral issue. Mr. Perkins stepped all over the moral clause in his contract. He may have written this trash when he was in college but he published it in 2007, while he was an employee of Springfield City Schools. His job at South High is Discipline. How can teach morals when have none. Mrs. Harper, do the right thing and let Mr. Perkins go so he can pursue something else. He is a bad influence.

By Anne Thomas

February 22, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

I am so glad to see students stand up for their rights and what they believe in. I cannot believe this has become such an issue, instead of worrying about what someone does in his/her own personal life that includes no minors or involves any time from work, worry about what kids are seeing on TV, in bookstores and on the streets of everyday life. Adults are not being adults and the kids see this. It is time for grownups to get their sh—t together. We could learn from them.

By Concern

February 22, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this

Springfield are you missing the point. Children that don’t want to learn do not take time to protest the loss of an Administrator they holds them accountable and pushes them to succeed. It is sad that it took this situation to illustrate the ineffectiveness of SCS to educate its students. However, it would be sadder if you still don’t get it. These are lives. School is important. Children know when they are being helped.SCS use this as an opportunity to make the right changes.

By rightthere

February 22, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

children. My last point. It is truly amazing that during this whole process of the students protest it took a substitute teacher to stop the kids when all the administration and school officials were there and couldnt even stop or redirect the students. Something that they envied Mr Perkins for he had the respect of the students. Its sad that this district has been on a steady decline with the same decision makers for the past 10 years. Its time for a change! We have a voice we have to use it!

By rightthere

February 22, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

With no real transportation plan. Its sad that this had to happen to a true pillar of the community, however I hope it is a wake up call to the community to begin to take a stand against SCS and the decsions they make. Highlands, Franklin, South closed and find your own way to school. Come on South Side look at the big picture they are destroying our community right before our eyes dont let them do it. Its time to rid ourselves of the leaches that are sucking the life soul and education out of

By rightthere

February 22, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this

There are a variety of issues involved in this whole process. I am so proud of the students for taking a stand. The SCS district has allowed staff for years to do whatever they want to students. I personally know of an incident where a student was choked by a football coach. That coach never missed a day of work during the investigation process and it never reached the media. The district has never been fair when dealing with South side issues just look at the placement of the new school.

By don

February 22, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this

LEAVE THE CHILDREN ALONE THEY HAVE RIGHTS (or do they) LEAVE THE MAN ALONE LOOK AT THE INTERNET (((LOT MORE TRASH ON THERE)))) THAN HIS PC I BET

By commonsensegal

February 22, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this

These students had the right to protest, but at whose expense? How many other students learning was interrupted by the shouting. The best time for these students to protest would have been before or after school, outside of the school. I don’t think people understand that teaching licenses do have a morals clause in them. What Mr. Perkins did might not have been illegal, but it was inappropriate and stupid to attach his name to it. It degrades all educational professionals. Thanks Mr. Love!

By Jason

February 22, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this

Students have no more right to protest than any of us have to walk into a bank and rob it. The students do have a means to protest the actions of the council by showing up at council meetings and calling the school board. A “walk out” is no more than a bunch of kids skipping class under the auspices of political action.

At any rate, the principle has no reason to be let go as long as there was no discussion or distribution of his material at school, and it didn’t portray pedophilia.

By Joanna Perdue

February 22, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this

The students had every right to protest. IS what the teacher did any worse than what we do in everyday live. Sex and Love is a part of life, we all have the freedom on speech. The same people on here making inapropriate comments about this man need to look at themselves. Are you ashamed of sex and love. You are probably the same person saying your child is not having sex, when she goes to her “Friends” house every weekend right. Get a clue this man had no right to be suspened. REAL WORLD

By motherofone

February 22, 2008 6:35 AM | Link to this

I believe that students have a right to express their opinions after all it is their school too. But on the other hand I disagree with what was said about what Mr Perkins does in his private life shouldn’t have any affect on what he does at school. Truth is when he decided to get involved with kids and education every aspect of his private life now affects his work. That would like saying a teacher could have sex with a student outside of school as long as it didnt happen at school.

By Dr. Love

February 21, 2008 11:30 PM | Link to this

For those who don’t know, teachers have a moraliy clause in the state issued certificate. So if you want to point fingers, point them at Perkins. He had to know that it was inappropriate because if he thought it was appropriate he’d have posted them under his real name.

By Jason

February 21, 2008 10:16 PM | Link to this

As nice as it is that these students rallied behind Mr. Perkins, it’s still incredibly moronic that this man would leave his real name attached under his pseudonym “Antonio Love” so that someone would be able to connect him to his professional life. He should have known better.

Not saying what he did was wrong.. If you want to publish bad erotic poetry, by all means, go for it.. just realize that you better be damn sure no one can connect it back to you when you have a position of leadership.

By citizen

February 21, 2008 9:32 PM | Link to this

Wow! What a video!?! I would be embarassed to be a part of this protest? Do they even know what a protest is?

By Joe

February 21, 2008 6:16 PM | Link to this

Just watched the glowing example of today’s school products chanting on the television. Boy, you guys can be proud of that literate group of poetry lovers. I see MENSA society members, future deans list recipients and a whole bunch of scholars there on the tube. NOT.

By What???

February 21, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this

How do the students know anything about his erotic poetry?

By jerry

February 21, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this

what is the color of this person

By Lee

February 21, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this

I agree with the first post, as long as its not towards students an minors I see nothing wrong with it. I understand all the precautions these days, but, we are getting too involved in peoples personal lives now.

By Real SHS student

February 21, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this

For the persons of this bulletin that honestly believe that this “shs student” poster is an actual student at South are as ignorant as person who posted such lunacy. This person is painting the students at our school as unlettered, village idiots, thus creating a fear in others who believe that these are the kids who are going attend school with their son/daughter. STOP holding back our generation with your non-progressive, backwoods mentality.

By con law

February 21, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this

Danny you’re and idiot you know that! Now you are making assumptions about him posting a URL. You have no evidence of this at all. You accusing him of this in written form is cause for him to sue you as well. Good luck and get your facts straight.

By CON-LAW

February 21, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this

Good for the kids! They should have left the building and went home and not even stayed to talk to adminastration. However the kids are going to suffer when the good Mr. Perkins sues the school district for every cent they have for violation of his Constitutional right to free speech. He should sue and he will win. There is no defense for this blatant violation of his civil and constitutional rights. Frankly, its too bad they dont have more educators like Mr. Perkins.

By Danny

February 21, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this

Students have NO rights, except for the ones their parents give them - and I dont think that disrupting school is high on the list of all-time parent favorites. The student that ‘saw’ his writings or whatever had to know the internet address in order to see them. Could it be that the teacher was broadcasting the URL to his students? Then it is outside the pervue of ‘his private time’ because he chose to make access to the site public. SUSPEND the students & fire the teacher!

By NS

February 21, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this

Yes, students should have the right to peaceful protest. How else can they make their point, and stand together in a unified front? I find it admirable that they confronted the issue without violence!

By hahaha!

February 21, 2008 3:33 PM | Link to this

Hey shs student: did these rude students, by chance, interrupt you during spelling class? Yikes!

I’ve wondered how it got out, too, observer. It’s completely asinine to me that teachers are seemingly unable to do anything in their private lives without being completely lambasted and losing their careers over it. Unbelievable.

Good for the students for supporting him and letting it be known.

By english major

February 21, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this

dear shs student, you “wer verry” bad speller and should be tossed out the “winwows…”

Yes, by all means let’s protect our young people from knowing that the activity they’ve been engaging in and trivializing for years might actually be the subject of literature. Send ‘em back to English class—“Romeo and Juliet,” maybe? No erotic poetry there, right? Fortunately we’re talking a public high school, so they’ll never be exposed to that hotbed of erotic poetry known as the Bible.

By Spade28

February 21, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this

I think that this is all retarded. As a senior at South High School Mr. Perkins has helped me when I needed it and would do anything to help any student that asked for it. Mr. Perkins loves his job and should be allowed to come back to South. When someone writes under a diffrent name it means they dont want it to interfere with thier personal lives and that is what is happening. What is the world coming to when you have to ruin a mans name and career just to make headlines.

By cletus

February 21, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this

Booh Yeah Kendra just got smacked down. Don’t be dumb Kendra. The school will investigate it and deal accordingly. So shut your piehole in the meantime. You big dummy.

By Dr. Love

February 21, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this

Willow, When I posted my previous comment, there were several posts that said he was in trouble because the administration was trying to keep a good black man from bettering himself and the students of South High School. Apparently the moderators of this board took them off. Sorry if I caused you any undue stress.

The Good Doctor

By SHS student

February 21, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this

Word is going around that he was talking about his poetry at school. To students.

By Kendra

February 21, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this

this whole issue is retarted. it wasn’t like he did it at school or it was about a student. it was on the man’s free time! and that shouldnt reflect his work if it wasn’t at work. and all these parents that say they don’t want their child around it probably allows their children to watch whatever on tv and most do whatever. people just need to get a life and let the man back to school to do his job!

By billis

February 21, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this

I think that it is good that the students are learning to protest, however it will have no bearing on the outcome of the situation. These students are not taxpayers or 18 years of age, so no one really gives a crap. If they want something done then they need to get their butts back to class and get the parents involved. At this point in time these students are just misled leaches of society and the administration will view them as such.

By Willow.wysp

February 21, 2008 1:29 PM | Link to this

Dr Love, who the heck mentioned RACE in any of their comments or article?

By Dr. Love

February 21, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this

I seriously doubt most of the students really care what happens to Mr. Perkins. I would guess most of them saw an opportunity to be out of class.

As far as race goes, the two people investigating the incident, Ford and Harper, they are both black.

Quit making anything involving a black person a racial issue. Grow up.

By April

February 21, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this

I agree with “an observer.” What teachers, or anyone for that matter, do outside of work is their own personal business. It doesn’t appear that he distributed his poetry to the students, so no harm done. If the students want to read the poetry on their own time, let them. Eroticism doesn’t necessarily equal pornography. But sadly, we’ve been taught that it is one in the same.

By CatAnnouncer

February 21, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this

The students have the right to protest. Especially something like this. I just wish the entire student body had walked out and stayed out. That would let the district know how ridiculous this witch hunt is on Mr. Perkins and how the students support him. Maybe the district should work on something more important, like how to keep the district from losing 500 kids a year. Of course when they have to start closing schools because of lack on enrollment, the southside schools will close first.

By Concern

February 21, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this

Every human being has the right to be heard. A child that is never listened to may never learn to listen. We as the adult have the final say but children come to the world as a completely formed human being with unique personalities. Our goals should be the shape and mold what is already there or theirs. In fact, we can learn a lot from our children if we would only listen.

By shs student

February 21, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this

those students wer verry loud and rude. they beat on doors and winwows of teachers

By an observer

February 21, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this

Of course the students have a right to protest, and good for them! I read the article about Mr. Perkins and the whole thing was ludicrous. What he writes in his private time is his own business and he is entitled to a private life outside of school. As long as the poetry was not distributed to students and/or about sexual interaction with minors, then I see nothing wrong. Mr. Perkins used a pseudonymn, so how did this information come to light anyway?