School Officials Compliment South Students

The assembly Wednesday featuring former senator and presidential candidate Rick Santorum went smoothly and drew compliments from school officials as well as community members. 

Santorum's appearance happened after more than a week of intense scrutiny on the district stemming from what began as questions about the content of his speech and morphed into the cancellation of the event, then reinstatement with an opt-in option requiring students to have permission slips from parents to attend.

The handling of the situation drew heavy criticism from the parents of the students who organized the event, Young Americans for Freedom, and district officials who had concerns about school safety. A security plan was established last week with Grosse Pointe Farms police. 

There were 1,050 students who attended the speech Wednesday, district spokeswoman Rebecca Fannon said, which is about 60 percent of the student body. 

During the speech, the students were attentive.

Santorum's stories about his early days campaigning before he was a household name elicited laughter from students. Some of his comments also drew applause. 

Following the speech, students were allowed to ask questions of Santorum. The decorum of the student body remained attentive and respectful. 

There were a few students wearing rainbow clothing—one in knee socks and one in an outfit with a rainbow from her shoulders to ankles.

Superintendent Tom Harwood said he was pleased with how smoothly the event went and the students behavior "exceeded his expectations." He described the students who attended as engaged and and respectful. 

The entire experience, Harwood said, "highlighted the need as educators to continue pursuing educational opportunities that provide relevance to what students are learning in the classroom."

The only issue that arose during the assembly involved a student who was not attending the event. The student tweeted a comment involving Santorum and a bomb. He was removed from the school and is still awaiting questioning by Farms police. 

Santorum thanked students for their behavior as well on Twitter. He tweeted the following message shortly after 6 p.m. Wednesday: 

"Thanks to @yaf club at #grossepoint for a first rate event and thanks to the students for their courtesy and kindness."

He also thanked the community: 

"Thanks also to the 500 people from the community that braved the weather to attend the townhall at #grossepoint after the student assembly."