California students forced to kneel for principal

A school district in San Bernardino County, California has agreed to end its policy of requiring elementary school students kneel down before their principal before being dismissed to class. Calimesa Elementary School Principal Dana Carter reportedly instituted the policy as a "safety measure." Students were required at certain times throughout the day, such as after recess or before classes began, to kneel down before the principal or an administrator and wait to be dismissed. The practice was described by officials as "positive behavioral intervention" used to enforce safety. But outraged parents were having none of it. "I feel that the principal wants to be like a king, and we don’t have kings in America," one concerned mother said. She said her 7-year-old daughter "has to drop down on one knee with her hands at her side, wait for the principal to come out, lift his arms and tell them to go to class." After a flyer circulated among parents decrying the policy and prompting more complaints, Yucaipa Calimesa Unified School District Superintendent Cali Binks said the policy will no longer be enforced. But officials said a meeting with parents will be scheduled to discuss and adopt alternative safety measures.