Sagging spirits and martial law at once-proud Hillsboro High
by Caleb Hannan
- Eric England
- Max Watts
Mayor Karl Dean says he wants more innovation in Nashville schools. He might want to start by fixing the problems he already has.
Take the case of Christian Heyne. The Hillsboro High senior's stats read like a parent's dream: co-captain of the football team, Eagle Scout, vice-president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and prospective plebe at the Naval Academy.
"Christian is like everyone's best friend," says Hillsboro student president Brittany McShand. "He's the perfect kid."
One Friday last September, Heyne was pulling out of a school parking lot when he accidentally ran over a freshman's foot. Heyne's car was barely moving and the boy didn't appear to be hurt. But when Heyne got out, he was told he'd "have a hole put in him" for the affront.
The freshman's injury wasn't serious enough to warrant a doctor's visit, and the next day he was playing basketball in gym class. But that didn't stop his parents from raising hell. So Principal Roderick Manuel decided that Heyne's actions warranted a charge of assault, cruelty to a student and a 10-day suspension.
Neither Heyne nor the lawyer his parents hired were allowed to speak during his disciplinary hearing. Even so, a panel of three school officials declared his run-in an accident. But Principal Manuel upheld the suspension nonetheless.
"Mr. Manuel basically ruined his senior year," says McShand, "because he took a freshman's word over Christian's."
So the Heyne family took its case to court. (Manuel and Heyne both declined interview requests.)
Two weeks ago, a Davidson County chancery court ruled in their favor. Manuel will have to produce evidence upholding that the suspension was justified.
Heyne's case may seem like an isolated incident—the kind of friction expected anywhere teenagers are kept in close captivity. But students, parents and teachers alike say it's emblematic of what's gone wrong at Manuel's Hillsboro.
Detractors claim that Manuel, hired away from West End Middle School two years ago, is an autocrat. An administrator more comfortable with number-crunching than hallway conversation. A disciplinarian who invokes the all-important rules no matter if they jive with common sense.
Two weeks ago, in the midst of a spring freeze, Hillsboro's heat went out. Manuel stopped outside a math class where some students were wearing hoodies, a violation of Metro's school attire policy but necessary when it's too cold to think.
Manuel didn't see it that way. After sending the hooded ones to the office, the principal tore into the teacher.
"We tried to comfort her," says a junior, "but she wouldn't stop sobbing. She was sure [Manuel] was going to fire her."
Manuel is so predictably rigid, say students, that some game the system, purposefully wearing Levis or blue Polos so an understanding teacher will write them up, thus allowing them a couple uninterrupted hours of study time during in-school suspension.
He's a big change from his predecessor, Dr. Robert Lawson, who is often described in the glowing terms of a favorite uncle. During morning announcements Lawson would congratulate whatever team won the night before. At lunch he'd work the cafeteria tables like a politician out for votes. And after a big win, he'd play Queen's "We Are the Champions" instead of the class bell.
"Dr. Lawson was like everyone's dad," says one student. "With Mr. Manuel it's just not the same. He's like a dictator."
These days, the morning announcements have been replaced by a dry reading of the Pledge of Allegiance. Students live in fear of being a second late to class, lest they violate the new attendance policy. And Manuel cancelled all pep rallies, despite the fact that Hillsboro's football team won a state championship, a victory on par with Hoosiers' Hickory High considering the underdog status of Davidson County schools.
"[Hillsboro] is run like a prison," says senior Ian Nott. "People just aren't happy. I'm sure [Manuel] is a nice guy just trying to do his job. But honestly it's not just me. It's the consensus schoolwide: He's just not cut out to be principal at Hillsboro."
Most of those frustrated are unwilling to be quoted by name. Teachers fear risking their paycheck during a recession. And some parents worry Manuel will lash out by banning them from school grounds.
But with the prospect of being unshackled come graduation day, seniors like Nott and Max Watts are more than happy to report on the school's failings.
In February, Watts came back from lunch to see a crowd in the courtyard. Police were breaking up a fight. Rumor had it that two Bloods had jumped a Crip.
For months Watts had been met with skepticism when he told his mom that Hillsboro was out of control with gang violence. Now he had proof.
He took out his camera and snapped two photos of a cop cuffing a fighter. That's when Assistant Principal Dr. Lisa Currie screamed at him to hand over his phone, he says. When Watts resisted, she took him to the office with the threat of suspension.
"I tried to be nice," he says. "I told her I took the picture because I didn't want fights like these at my school."
But Currie wouldn't budge. Oddly, she called Watts' explanation "elitist" and took his phone. A day later he got it back with the pictures deleted.
Watts knows having a phone on campus is against the rules. But kids are caught everyday without repercussion, he says. The problem, as he and others see it, is how Manuel and his staff interpret the rules.
"They're strict in the wrong way," says Watts. "They're picking on the wrong people. Kids will act up in class and yell. But if I don't have my shirt tucked in they'll suspend me."
Though students claim Manuel & Co. are out to punish them, innocent or not, teachers claim it's not that simple.
Standardized tests like No Child Left Behind have turned them from educators to census-takers. And teachers say they're getting no help from Bransford Avenue.
Manuel's hire came months before Metro School Director Pedro Garcia's ignominious departure last January. In place of solid leadership, the teachers say they've been bombarded by the school board's laundry-list of hastily planned, awkwardly executed quick-fixes that have made their already difficult job that much harder. Take GradeSpeed, for example.
Implemented this year, the program allows teachers to post grades online so parents can track their kid's progress. Like many recent Metro ideas, it's a well-intentioned move that's had unintended consequences. One teacher offered an amnesty day, allowing students to turn in late work with no punishment. By noon she had 200 papers to grade and 50 emails from parents looking for an update.
"We're in accountability hell," says international baccalaureate coordinator Mary Catherine Bradshaw, a 25-year Hillsboro veteran. "To blame it all on (Manuel) is to miss the point."
But in the past, teachers say they were shielded from the worst of the school board's mad scientist whims. Not so with Manuel.
"Bob Lawson ran interference for [us]," says one teacher. "I have heard him say to (administrators), 'We're not doing that because it's not in the best interest of our students.' We don't have that kind of backup anymore."
Manuel is, in part, just catching flak for doing his job. Unfortunately, when those above are grasping at straws, being a good soldier doesn't always mean good sense. As one teacher says, "I would never, ever, ever be a high school principal. You couldn't pay me enough."
Email channan@nashvillescene.com, or call 615-844-9410.
Comments (55)
Showing 1-25 of 55
All of this leaves me a lot of questions however the one that sticks out is why the principle and assistant are still employeed with the Metro school system. Principle is costing the school system money over his stupidity in dealing with the accident, and the assistant principle is more concerned with keeping the "elitist" attitude of of the school then three gang bangers beating the day lights each other.
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It’s amazing how media can put out a story without knowing all the facts. I bet Christian didn’t tell you how this was not his first time “accidentally” running into students. Did Brittany tell you about the day he sped his car in a crowd of student who were able to move just in time not to be hit by his car. It was the talk all over school. The student that was hit did seek medical assistance. The day he was in the gym he wasn’t playing basket ball because he had a boot on his foot. For the record Principle Manuel was the one who played “We Are the Champions” when the football team won the state championship. Students know that there are rules that should be followed. That’s the problem with kids today, we as adults don’t enforce the rules enough. Students know that wearing hoodies are not permissible, so don’t wear them. They also know that taking pictures on school campus is not permissible, so don’t take pictures. Don’t discredit a man for enforcing rules because when these students become adults they will learn that when you break the rules there are consequences.
Hillsboro has made a change for the worse since the arrival of Rod Manuel. He goes out of his way to mistreat black students and teachers to prive that he is not a racist. He also yells and screams at teachers and is perpetuating the same climate of fear and intimidation that originated with Dr. Pedro Garcia. The school culture was so great. It is now very dysfunctional. School culture play an important role in student academic achievement. I understand the need for number crunching, but that alone will not lead to academic success. What happened to Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships? Student relations is highly important to the success of a school. Mr. Manuel is no more than a dumb sports jock who has no clue about academic achievement, research, data, or curriculum. He was given that job by Dr. Garcia because he is a dictator with an edge who enjoys abusing power. He doesn't know the difference between a scale score and stanine. We have to get back to hiring administrators who care about kids, appreciate teachers and have the charisma, competence, and courage to run our schools in a safe, friendly, professional, and efficient manner. Get Manuel out of there before it is too late!!!!!!
Mr. Hannen, I’m shocked to find journalism of such shoddy quality in my city’s free weekly. Of your three named sources, two are high school students speaking on hearsay and rumor. I am a teacher at Hillsboro High School, and can say with assurance that the quotes from your sources, with the exception of Ms. Bradshaw, are not credible. Did you fact-check at all? What you have printed is the heavy-handed and clumsy bluster of teenage boys. “Two Bloods jumped a Crip”? That’s cafeteria talk. Well, I heard that Tammy’s dumping Tom so she can go to prom with Brad. Will I find that in “City Limits” next week? As a teacher, I am constantly disappointed by the tone of our community’s reporting on public high schools. Wonderful things happen at Hillsboro, and not a day goes by when the students don’t make me smile with their sheer vibrancy. And yet all we hear from the papers and newscasts are stories about violence in schools, sexual misconduct by (the tiniest fraction of) teachers, and now a “scoop” on the “prison”-like conditions at Hillsboro High School. I’m sorry to burst your sensationalist bubble, but apart from the cinder-block walls – and blame the city budget for that – Hillsboro couldn’t be anything less like a prison. Yes, students fight, as they have since the dawn of time and high school. That does not necessarily mean that gangs are involved, despite vaguely racist notions to the contrary. In fact, I would say that Hillsboro High School is one of the most authentically – and successfully – racially integrated communities in all of Nashville. The sensationalistic quality of your piece is almost stomach-turning. Three columns of unfounded, un-researched, non-credited allegation-making, followed by a lame admission that, gee whiz, perhaps our principal is just “catching flak for doing his job” after all. If that was the conclusion you were winding up for, why drag us through the high-school rumor-mill in the first place? I did learn one thing from your article: from now on skip directly to the back of the paper for the music listings, and forego the “journalism” entirely. Sincerely, Christine Doza Teacher, Hillsboro High School
Hey, Greenbriar, you spelled principal wrong, it is principal not principle, maybe you should come to Hillsboro and get the education you need.
Oh yea, I am a student at Hillsboro, and I think I can say that the majority of this article was from unreliable sources. It is not the newspaper's to publish something that bashes a respectable principal. We have been talking about this article all morning, and we noticed that some of the people we to cowardly to even have thier names put in. If you are going to put in yourtwo sense about what you think of the way our school is run, have enough courage to say your name! Principal Manuel has done more good for this school than people know, everyone but one person passed their gateways last year, we have two state championship teams on the varsity level, and our school IS NOT over run by gangs (just to clarify a point in the article). People will fight, high schoolers especially. Next time you decide to write an article on our school, Mr. Hannen, get your facts straight. A respectable ay to get your information is not to get one side, but ot get a variety of sources, and be sure the facts your get are true and don't just run off of rumors.
Decide for yourself. If you want to know what Hillsboro is truly about, tune in to Channel 4 WSMV Friday morning from 5am to 7am. Watch us shine! Susanne Frensley 2007 Tennessee Teacher of the Year Proud to be a Hillsboro teacher!
Dear commenters, The correct spelling of the head position of a school is "principal", not principle. Even my tenth grade English students know that. Thank you.
I have always been one to question authority,whether it be my parent's or teacher's, and I completely support the idea of finding issues in government and education while trying to correct them. However, the "problems" you mentioned in this article have been completely blown out of proportion. I am a student at Hillsboro, and I can say with confidence there is no gang issue here. I am not afraid what so ever to go to school. Why couldn't you report on the aspects of Hillsboro that make it great to be a student here? The art department is impecable, I feel more than prepared to attend college in one year, and I have never been so inspired by my teachers.
This morning, when my attention was brought to this article, I was shocked. During my time as an intern at Hillsboro High School(January through this May) I have witnessed positive interactions between the students and the faculty and never an incident as negatively described as this. While mishaps and mistakes do happen in a school setting it is unfair to highlight one incident that, in turn, will foster a negative stereotype for the school. For the record, Hillsboro High School is an environment that promotes educational success, extra-curricular achievement, and cross-cultural relations, something any school would be proud of.
I am currently a junior IB student at Hillsboro High School and the article about my school was highly inaccurate. The degrading comments and negative tone used are not at all the school I know. Hillsboro is a wonderful school that gives its students incredible opportunities. I hope that the people that read this article don't believe what they read and that the press should gather correct information about the subject they are writing about. If there is ever another article written about Hillsboro I hope that you reconsider your word choice and see what a great school Hillsboro really is.
I approached Max Watts when he was photographing the two students fighting. I asked him to put his phone away. He refused. At Hillsboro the photographing of others misfortune is not considered elitist but exploitative. We do not exploit others. Max must have misunderstood this important lesson. Marti Profitt-Streuli Studio Art Teacher Hillsboro High School
I want to let everyone know that Mr. Hannan will be attending Cool Schools tomorrow!!! If you're upset by this article, come tomorrow morning, show your school spirit, and prove this article false!!
I can say that I was very much misquoted. During this interview I said a lot of great things about our school, and none of them were mentioned in this article. To present such a one-sided, biased view of our school and administration is irresponsible and reprehensible. By the way, Mr. Hannon, "princple" in this context is correctly spelled "principal." If you would like to see the REAL Hillsboro, turn in to channel four at 4am tomorrow morning.
If you did not already know Hillsboro has: The International Baccalaureate program An incredible art program with Scholastic winners every year A phenomenal athletic department with two state championships this year A very successful international program and day to celebrate this diversity An excellent music program with award winning students Christian Sawyer winner of the national teacher award The “We the People” champions The Knit Wits that raise money for the charity every year Graduates that go to Ivy league schools National Merit Scholars Over 35 countries represented A free trade coffee shop in the works for the Slam Poet’s society An open and easily accessible environment for the deaf and blind Special Education opportunities that are supported throughout the schools Clubs ranging from the very popular Anime Club to the Badminton Club The National Honor society And much more… In conclusion, you as a journalist should have spent enough time to understand what you were critisizing. Ana and Lauren Students at Hillsboro High School
As students of the so-called “once-proud” Hillsboro High, we’d like to voice to you how misguided and malicious your article is. You sir, are in need of enlightenment. In case you haven’t already heard, there is more to Hillsboro than your article claims. We wish you had considered the effects this article would have had on our own Hillsboro students and everyone who supports them. There are numerous excellent qualities of Hillsboro you failed to mention. Misquoted students’ and unnamed teachers’ allegations are not a valid reason in confirming and publishing how “awful” our school is. We are sad in saying that now every time we see the cover of the Nashville Scene, there will be sour tastes in our mouths. We can honestly say that we will never be able to look at and open an addition of the Scene because of our crushed confidence in the publishing ability. Students, Tiresa Po’e, Shree Chudasama and Lauren Henry
Mr. Hannan- As a student at Hillsboro High School, I was shocked to learn of the apparent "martial law" supposedly occuring at Hillsboro today. The hearsay employed in this article portrays Hillsboro in an unflattering and unfair light. First, I would like to say that the members of the administration portrayed in this article have been unfairly represented. Mr. Hannan, you make it seem like Mr. Manuel is a warden leaving helpless children without warmth and leaving crying teachers in his wake. This is incredibly false. Crackdowns on SSA in this school are rare; many students think it is because of pressure from metro rather than administrative initiative. On countless occasions I have passed those administrators mentioned in this article wearing a hood or a non-SSA shirt and they have been passive. Contrary to the views presented in this article, Mr.Manuel and the administration understand students' struggle with SSA during times of cold weather or other occasions. As for the comment regarding the announcements, any person who has listened to school announcements EVER knows that a dry reading of the pledge is a requirement. What is your next complaint? Does Mr.Manuel make the moment of silence too somber? I would argue that Mr.Manuel has added to the quality of morning announcements; often challenging students in an inspirational vignette during the conclusion of the announcements. While I respect that you are trying to give a realistic view of Hillsboro and its administration, your conclusions are often ill-informed and are damaging to the image of our school. Your article insinuates that Hillsboro is in a definite decline; I beg to differ. Throughout the day, I am surrounded by students who have take advantage of special transfer opportunities and chosen to go to Hillsboro when they are not zoned for it. This is a testament to the school's success. While our school does have its issues with drugs and gang violence, students are surrounded by a feeling of safety. School spirit is also strong at Hillsboro; it's hard for it not to be when you bring home two state championships in the same year. If you were to walk the halls today, you would see countless students proudly displaying their Hillsboro apparel (including hoodies) as well as numerous posters made by students which promote school spirit. Hillsboro is an excellent school and is definitely not in decline; the growing number of students pursuing rigorous coursework such as IB or AP is a testament to the intellectual growth of the student body. As for me, I'm definitely proud to be a burro.
Mr.Hannan, I am a student at Hillsboro, and frankly, I'm impressed! Your kind words speak of random, unconnected high school gossip, and your poetic references attempting to ruin a man's career make my heart skip! I attended West End Middle and enjoyed playing mini-golf, and vacationing in Washington D.C. with Manuel-san, and never realized he was so mean! In all seriousness, I think you underestimate Hillsboro in general, because all of my classmates enjoy and appreciate it to the fullest extent. I would never think to be anywhere else.
Reading this article, it didn't bring a look of anger to my face, but it did bring about a laugh. Let me explain to you my view of Hillsboro, the school that I wouldn't leave for any other. When I came here, I loved it instantly. You don't feel any hostility here, no "gang violence." If anything, I'd call it one of the safest environments for a school out of many. The people are friendly and very bright,but as humans, we are bound to have conflicts. This isn't a problem with the school system- In fact, Hillsboro is well managed by this "dictator", as you call him. The education, the atmosphere, the people; all of these create Hillsboro. We're a group of people, not a sideshow to be observed, provoked, and accused falsely.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Free-Thinking Hillsboro Community, I’d like to start by stating that this is one of the most extravagant schools that I have had ever attended. I have gone to 10 schools in my life due to a traveling family and I must say Hillsboro is in the top two best schools. The list that was created above in a previous comment was most unquestionably correct and there are so many options this school has to offer. SO….. When presented with this article, I was rather shocked at how blatantly the principal of this school was attacked. It was a cold, one sided article that did not express the views of an opposing force or belief. First off, I am not in complete opposition of this article, so I must state that it was not completely off the point as many adversaries of the article make it out to be. There are several problems with this school and they must be addressed, whether they are social issues or strict rules or a sense of confinement that some feel is emanated from the staff. These are issues that students feel are all over high schools across the nation. There ARE cultural pressures that are felt by (not all) students that are not discussed with school faculty and there IS a sense of confinement (felt by some) due to the rules of this district and there will be repercussions felt by both the students and the staff of this county due to the foolish rules that have been implemented over the last few years. But the fact that this article made it seem like this was a very abstract school that had exclusive issues that are not seen elsewhere is idiotic. Secondly, the fact that such a negative opinion of this school was brought up via a Hip/Socially Acceptable magazine read predominantly by high school students, college kids and hipsters is laughable. Seeing as such credibility was given to such an article and such hateful responses were the majority, once can see that the responses were foolish, immature and a waste of time as was the original article in question. These responses are exactly what this writer wanted. If a person knew how great the school was, why would they respond in such an aggressive or angry way? Surely they would take it all in stride and just work harder to iron out problems that are hindering this school to become on of the best in there is? Those who are ignorant to the issues this school has are just as thoughtless as Mr. Hannan was. This is a great school, yes, but it is no where near perfect. There ARE problems with “gangs” and gang violence because our current society promotes such reckless behavior. The fact that so little energy has been put towards addressing the issues is what fuels people like Mr. Hannan to go dig up dirt and he has to put it somewhere, right? Why not the principal? But as a compassionate human being, surely people realized that they can not all be the product of one average principal? Mr. Manuel is not the best I’ve seen, but he is certainly not the worst as this article makes him out to be. Both sources used in this article are very incredible (I have two of the sources and they aren’t your overachievers or anything). The fact that Mr. Hannan would take the opinions of a select few students who may not be the best sources for information like this shows that he is very selective in the way he words his stories. This article was very decisive and Mr. Hannan knew what he was writing. If a school ever got to the point that it is supposedly at (according to the article) then the state would have intervened long ago to get rid of issues like the ones discussed. Both sides know the truth and both sides are wrong and right. This article may raise several eyebrows, whether they are questioning or alarmed at such statements made. Mr. Manuel deserved no article like this, and Mr. Hannan did not deserve such a harsh critique made by such excited challengers of his story.
Hillsboro sucks. Mr. Manuel is a nice guy but is a strict. I would give my right one to have Mr. Lawson back and i bet you everyone who knew Lawson would also. Come to Hillsboro during lunch sometime next week all you will see is a bunch of kids running around with their pants to the knees and throwing up Gang signs. Yes there are cool kids there but more than half the kids there will be workin at a burger king or will be in Jail for something they're doing now. The drugs that go around Hillsboro is shocking. I will say though alot of the teachers at Hillsboro are awesome. You got Swihart and Sawyer who are amazing at what they do and the English teachers get it done. I hope the board see's this comment because they do there job like a bunch of dumbas*** who don't know what they are doing and they don't know that half the stuff there doing is just making things worse. I'm on my friend's computer and he'll kill me if he see's this so LATA. Max Watts you are the man!
To those of you who have read both the article and the responses, any questions about the quality of the education to be had at Hillsboro have been answered by the teachers and students who have responded. The proof is in the pudding, mister. If you really want to know Hillsboro, spend a little more time there.
As a fellow student I am shocked and appallled that you would run this piece of shit article! Please! Max Watts and Ian Nott never come to school. Ian Nott Freshman year got expelled for possesing marijuana, what a star pupil! As for Max all I know as that he always skips school, I can't say he does drugs, for I don't know him. There was not a gang fight, you just want to make some dramatic article to make it big, and boy are you messing witht the wrong people. You're life will be a living hell because you have made so many angry! No one is going to let this go. They will make you regret writing that article. How could you? You know nothing about this school, and you choose to write some fictitious garbage on some stuff that you got from a couple of regular delinquents. You are like that drama queen at school who always has to stir something up that nobody likes. You really shot yourself in the foot with this one, nice going, moron. Next time (if ever again after the general public is done with you) write about something that is true, and don't try to desecrate a good principal and a GREAT school. You are one of the biggest souless,spineless jerks ever! Get it right!
As the parent of a Hillsboro junior and frequent on-campus volunteers, I was surprised to say the least about the depiction of Hillsboro as a gang-ridden prison-like campus under martial law. Has this irresponsible journalist visited the same school I frequent? I would be more concerned about gang violence at any suburban Nashville mall than at HHS. My son is receiving a top-notch education through the International Baccalaureate program and Visual Arts studies. Yesterday he and a group of students filmed an entry for a local film festival. Last week our Fine Arts and Culinary Arts students collaborated on a wonderful arts festival. Tomorrow the Theatre Arts department debuts a collection of short plays. Next week I have the honor of escorting the winners of the Culinary Arts Pizza Making Contest to visit a local chef in his restaurant kitchen. These things are typical of my experiences at Hillsboro. Two weeks ago I was on campus when I fight broke out during lunch. It was amazing to see the campus security team and teachers jump into action to diffuse the situation quickly and return lunchtime to a peaceful state with no one injured. What are the statistics on fights at Metro High Schools? I would be interested to see how Hillsboro compares. Mr. Manuel is in a tough position replacing a principal as popular with parents and students as Mr. Lawson. His personality and style are certainly different, but I have always found him personable, approachable and incredibly appreciative of any volunteer contributions I have made. I can't imagine him "banning" a parent from campus. It is impossible to please everyone and still enforce all of the ridiculous programs and new rules MNPS force upon teachers and administrators each school year. Maybe Bransford is where the finger should be pointed instead.
