Throwing sand just not for kids anymore

http://bangornews.com/news/t/sports.aspx?articleid=156455&zoneid=23

Well, I guess throwing sand in someone's eyes just isn't for the playground, street fighting, or bad "B" movie fight scenes any longer.

 

What the heck does that have to do with the story?

 

"Hey, quit kicking sand in our face!"

"That man is the worst nusance on the beach."

"Listen, I'd smash your face, except you're so skinny, you might dry up and blow away!"

"Oh, don't let it BOTHER you, little boy!"

The ad that made a MAN out of MAC.

 

It was a pretty small part of the story. I'm just not sure why his grades in school have anything to do with him having sand thrown in his face by some asshat spectator. The writer of the story wasn't questioning his right to be there, but it does read like you are. Perhaps I misread your intent.

As far as how he is in that school, you'd have to ask them. I do know there are American high schools with ESL programs. I went to one and some of the students in it were difficult to communicate with.

 

Damn, I wish I'd thought of that back in the day. I might have finished 376th instead of, umm, 378th?

 

Wow, unbelievable. I wonder how the sand thrower's kid (assuming it was a parent) finished. One place better, I guess. Sad.

P.S. Definitely had kids in my high school that didn't speak English. I think they did OK.

 

The kid is from Somalia, which is why he needs a translator. There is a very large Somali community (relatively speaking) that has come to Maine in recent years, and they're struggling to assimilate.

From the sounds of it, at least the way the coach is presenting it, it's a racially driven incident. Given some of the hayseeds in far northern and western Maine, it wouldn't shock me.

 

Get over yourself... or at least stop changing the subject.

Thank you wicked for actually contributing some useful background information.

 

Take it up with the school board in the kid's district, Junkie. Still doesn't excuse what happened to him.

 

Don't give Maine all the credit. There are hayseeds everywhere.

 

Of course, but when you say "backwoods" in Maine, those woods really are pretty far back, especially close to the border.