Noblesville Schools: Election triggers uptick in misbehaving students

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (WISH) — A central Indiana school district says the election is to blame for an uptick in rowdy behavior among students.

Noblesville Schools sent a note home with parents this week saying, in part, that students mimicked campaign rhetoric in a way that was “inappropriate and disrespectful” to other young people.

The school district urges parents to teach kids the importance of respect.

When reached by 24-Hour News 8, a school district spokesperson declined to provide details of specific student-involved incidents.

You can read the full letter below.

Dear Parents,

As you know, these past few months of contentious campaigning for the presidential race have created a divide throughout the country. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, this divide has spilled into our schools. Last week, like many other schools around the country, we saw a significant increase in student behavioral issues. Specifically, election rhetoric being used in a way that was inappropriate and disrespectful to other students. Those incidents were handled on a case-by-case basis, but I wanted to make all parents aware of this concerning situation.

Our students model the behaviors and language they see in the news. In order for all of our students to feel safe and have their learning environment uninterrupted, we must work together to teach the importance of respect even when disagreement exists. Please join the Noblesville Schools staff in helping your children navigate the many inappropriate behaviors and comments that prevail on social media and news outlets. With the strong sense of community we hold dear in Noblesville, I know we will rise above the negativity and together will set a fine example for our students.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.