St. Francis Catholic High School in Mountain View is fighting a $20 million lawsuit that claims it forced out two teenage boys because school administrators thought they had posed for blackface photos when they were actually wearing acne medication masks.
The suit, filed by the boys’ parents, claims school administrators didn’t take time to investigate before forcing the boys out because they were worried about the backlash the school would get at a time when racial issues were making the news amid the Black Lives Matter movement.
“This case seeks justice on behalf of two high school students — boys whose reputations and young lives have been crippled by the malicious and egregious actions of their own high school and members of its community. In defendants’ hurried attempt to ensure their perception as social justice warriors in the face of an unfolding scandal, and without any efforts to ascertain the true state of affairs,” the suit states.
The suit says the photos had been taken three years earlier, before the boys entered St. Francis, when they were suffering from acne and used a treatment on their face.
The suit claims the school gave the boys a choice — either leave or be expelled.
“This was done in a transparent, virtue-signaling attempt to be perceived within the community as ‘fighting against racism,’ regardless of the true facts and context,” the lawsuit says.
In response, the school’s attorneys don’t agree that the masks were part of an acne treatment. Other students circulated one of the photos on Spotify and Instagram. On June 4, school officials learned about the photo and sent out an email condemning it. Within two days, the families of the students — faced with the ultimatum of leave or be expelled — removed the boys from St. Francis….
The above comes from a March 1 story in the Daily Post.
I hope the gay-affirming, trans-affirming, woke-affirming, green-affirming, Democrat-affirming, affirming-everything-but-true-Catholicism Saint Francis H.S. loses the lawsuit and pays up the full amount. This is the same high school that a few years ago made the news for a $15k insider-only investment in Snapchat that became worth about $25 million when Snapchat went public. School administrators these days are some of the most inept, spineless, worthless people in education. I have no doubt whatsoever that the SFHS administration jumped to conclusions and leaped to judgment in, as the parents said, an effort to virtue signal and be perceived as fighting racism. So much for true justice. So much for Christian discernment. May they learn an expensive lesson, and may the administrators responsible be fired.
Again, where was Bp. Cantu? This is his Diocese, did he and/or his Superintendent do anything to diffuse this situation? Apparently not, as this situation is disastrous. The School acted unreasonably. The parents who sued are acting within their moral right.
His Excellency is again M.I.A….
Bishop Cantu was not installed until May 1, 2019.
And? The boys were expelled June 2020, lawsuit filed Fall 2020.
Let’s be fair to Cantu… Saint Francis High School is under the control of the Franciscans, not the diocese.
Let’s be fair to the truth. The School is under the Brothers of the Holy Cross (CSC), being managed more and more *independently* throughout the years. Cantu issued a statement regarding this incident in June 2020. Unfortunately, the Catholic Church goes hardest against teenage boys. Terrible optics.
Utterly ridiculous to blame kids for anything that far back and before they were even members of the school community.(and I say that as an old school teacher who might suspect boys of pulling such a prank, even with acne medicine).
“The school’s attorneys don’t agree that the masks were part of an acne treatment.” Charcoal black mask skin treatment has been around for a while.
I don’t know what those boys had on their faces.
Are the St. Francis High School administrators sure it wasn’t skin treatment?
The school did not have to act within two days of that bad publicity.
Why didn’t they take the time to do a thorough investigation and then proceed with disciplinary action, only if appropriate?
Seriously? $20 million.
That is an elite dermatology bill for life!
You can never “judge too quickly” when it comes to racism because it must be opposed and rooted out immediately. There is no excuse for blackface, None at all. Those boys learned a valuable lesson, and the school was right to enforce its exemplary standards of behavior.
You’re presuming it was racism. It’s not blackface if it’s acne treatment. Look it up yourself. Charcoal peel-off masks are black because of the charcoal, not because of race. As one product notes, “Helps remove blackheads, acne and dirt – Our Activated Bamboo Charcoal Face Mask uses suction to loosen dirt from deep in the pores. Our blackhead remover mask is specifically formulated to be the best black peel off face mask.” Blackheads have nothing to do with race. They’re a medical condition that has “black” in the name. They’re “small bumps that appear on your skin due to clogged hair follicles. These bumps are called blackheads because the surface looks dark or black. Blackheads are a mild type of acne that usually form on the face.” If those boys had acne treatment with charcoal three years ago, that doesn’t make them racists. If they’re racists, expel them. If they just had acne, like most young people, you did them and their families an injustice. As Jesus commands us, “Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.” (John 7:24).
Apparently, you can “judge too quickly” as this might hurt a bit. No excuse for this? Apparently it’s a thing…
https://www.health.com/beauty/charcoal-face-mask-peel-safe-for-skin
But SF should consider themselves lucky…CNN settled with Nick Sandmann for 275 million for “judging too quickly”.
kris ,you can never judge too quickly when it comes to any accusations or actions. many black lives have been lost inthe heat of quick judgment by police officers.
“You can never “judge too quickly.”” Well, as the saying goes, “Never say never.”
xavier,my sayings model comes from the decalogue, which is all about moral nevers
Apparently, you can “judge too quickly” as this might hurt a bit. No excuse for this? Apparently it’s a thing…
https://www.health.com/beauty/charcoal-face-mask-peel-safe-for-skin
But SF should consider themselves lucky…CNN settled with Nick Sandmann for 275 million for “judging too quickly”.
news coverage has described the face colors in two shades, depending on the photos, white or green which correspond to avalaible acne face treatments on the market. this information changes the context of judgment for the board who were to ready to ascribe malicious intention. board member alicia labana organized and led BLM protests on a nearby street corner in june of 2020.
“Act too quickly” sure sounds like it. Seems like a basic investigation would have determined when the photos were taken and whether the facial ‘covering’ was or was not an acne treatment.
Shhot first and ask questions later.
the san jose mercury news has details of the colors and why of the acne masks at issue. mercurynews.com. the mom bought several treatment kits. one has a white final color, the other when applied was at first light green that turned dark green when dried.
They are cancelling teenagers now?
OK, teenagers have cancelled other teenagers forever. It is called bullying when they do it.
Should a school expel a student for something they did 3 years before they entered the school that was not criminal?
Should a school expel boys for what her mom did that isn’t criminal?
Will the Mom repent?
It is interesting how values have changed.
Father James Martin frequently makes a point that Catholic churches and schools fire gay people for violating the morality of the Catholic Church when straight people who violate it don’t get fired. I think he is right: the morality of the Church, obedience to the 10 Commandment and the moral rules that follow from them need to kept by the whole Church community.
Obviously, middle schoolers are not held to the level of culpability of an adult.
Middle schoolers who post a picture that they think is funny on their social media, even if it is inadvertently offensive, need to be taught better behavior. An adult who is making money from posting dirty pictures is culpable on a whole other level. They need to be re-instructed in their vocation of marriage, in the duties of parenting, in their obligation to the Church and the Catholic school to live the universal call to holiness.
I would like to see their children re-admitted because it is not the kid’s fault and it may be their best path to holiness and Catholic virtue. I do not know anyone involved and there may be other circumstances that I am not aware of and there could be obstinacy in sin.
if the admin wants to play woke games, it will have to learn to deal with woke consequences
Administrators at these elite prep schools are scared to death of appearing not to coddle the 13%. A student who is in the 13% can basically get whatever he wants from them. I know 13%ers who stole merchandise while on a school field trip. They were caught but suffered no punishment because that would have been “inequitable.” But white boys pictured wearing green colored acne treatment before they even are students at the school are thrown to the wolves. Ha, in this case the lawyers help the white boys get the last laugh and a huge payout. Will probably settle for $3 million apiece. If the administration is wise, they will want this to go away without press coverage. Good for you, boys!
It’s surprising that these teachers and school administrators seem unfamiliar with the health issues and treatment of the young.
Many of us remember that before the middle 1960’s, many adolescents and teenagers had awful acne scars.
You rarely see acne scars now in young people.
That is probably because of health insurance and these home treatments. Doctors may do office treatments but the skin care has to be continued daily. Often 3-4 times a day.
Masks and antiseptic lotions are a big part in managing oils, clearing the pores, and preventing infection and scratching.
In the 1950’s, many friend didn’t have money to see a family Dr or Dermatologist.
When one friend was 22 years of age, she did attend dermatologist but it was too late
for her scarred skin.
It was tragic for these scarred persons. It negatively affected their social life, self-image, studies, and employment chances. They were often bullied.
It’s wonderful that acne scars can be prevented to a large extent now (except for rosacea and other complicated skin conditions).
School: Black Face
Parents: Green Face.
School: Egg on Face.
Lawyers: Winky Face
School: About Face
Settlement: Kissy Face
School: Lose Face
Law Firms: $miley Face