Analyzing the Murder of Larry King from an Instructional Leader/Principal Point of View

Background

In order to complete this assignment, you will need to watch the YouTube video, “20/20 ABC on ID Tragic Teens Larry King Murder.” You should watch the full episode of the Murder of Larry King. You will find the video on Camion under Signature Assignment week 5. The video is about 35-40 minutes long…there are two programs on the video, but you should only concern yourself with the Larry King Murder (it stops at 32.41). You can should feel free to watch other videos if you choose, but recommend the above vide as the key video. After watching the video your task is to respond to the questions listed below. You should respond to each question in a full comprehensive, well-developed paragraph that gives the reader a clear understanding of where the writer stands on the issue/s raised in the questions. 

After watching the video, you should critically analyze the situation from the perspective of an Instructional Leader/Principal. You should not respond to the questions as a teacher; respond to the questions as competent school leader who has understanding of the law (your responses should start with: as the instructional leader…this is critical because the position to the issues at hand will determine your response). If you were the Administrator of the school in question, how would you have engaged around the situation at hand, what would have been different if you were the one responsible for this school community? How would Larry, Brandon and Ms. Dawns have been expected to behave/act/function if you were the leader of this school community?

The questions are not listed in any particular order; with this, you should feel free to arrange the questions in any order you choose. You have the freedom to design the final document anyway you and your partner see fit. All I want in the end is a strong, well-developed final product. I am looking for responses that showcase your knowledge around the law and effective leadership practices. You should respond with an intelligent discussion and you should use the cases loaded on Camion to help support your position. 

1.As instructional leader of the school, would you say you had any legal responsibility before the situation happened? 

If yes, give a specific examples and use any of the cases provided to support your position.

If no, provide a realistic discussion that supports your position.

2.In your role as instructional leader do you believe you would have been able to stop the situation from escalating? (In this question I use the word escalating to say stages of the problem were already in motion/happening/taking place and unfolding on campus. Once you were aware of the problem, how do you stop it from escalating and turning into an overwhelming legal/social issue). What proactive, reactive and ethical steps would you have taken? More importantly, as an instructional leader what do you think your legal responsibility was in all of this…if any?

Questions to Answer

3.From your point of view what do you think the legal issue was in all of this? Why do you consider this the issue and in what specific ways does any of this affect your leadership?

4.In the video one of the members on the jury stated that Brandon may have felt  “…he had no way out.” What is your reaction to this statement? Do you believe it’s valid for a 14 year old school community member to think that he has no way out of a difficult situation? How do you think a school site council would have impacted this students ability to make an informed decision about bringing a gun to school and using it to resolve a dispute? How might a school site council have helped changed the outcome of the overall situation?  

5.In the video Dawn stated, “…my job is to accept everybody and to do what I can with everybody’s individuality (sexuality) on a regular basis.” Do you believe this a valid statement for a teacher to make in light of the sensitivity and legality associated addressing sexuality in schools today? 

6.With your understanding of codes of conduct for teachers, what do you believe a teacher is or is not responsible for when it comes to addressing student sexuality. What role do you believe, if any, the instructional leader should play in addressing issues of sexuality and students?

7.Looking closely at codes of conduct for teachers and taking into consideration what a structured, well-organized school site council established within the school’s community could possibly do for students, do you believe Ms. Dawn should have been allowed to give Larry the dress? More importantly, with the ugliness that was taking place on campus, do you believe having a school site council would have changed the school’s culture and climate? If yes, how might a school site council helped. If no, why not?

8.Do you believe Ms. Dawn/the school district is liable, in any way, for Larry’s death? Do you believe Ms. Dawn did anything wrong by giving Larry the dress?

9.In the video it was pointed out that Larry was allowed to express his sexuality by wearing girls’ clothing and accessories, but other students were penalized when they strayed from the school’s dress code. What are your thoughts on this? Do you believe diversity/equitable and social justice was being expressed at the school. How do you think the courts would have responded to the privileges Larry was given? As an instruction leader what proactive, reactive and ethical steps would you taken (in all areas regarding this situation)?

10.Do you believe giving Larry the dress is what causes disruption in the school community, or was it something else? Was the gift of the dress an issue at all? 

11.Taking the entire situation into consideration (from start to finish) was bulling taking place on campus? If yes, who was the bully, Larry, Brendon or both of the boys? Is bulling a chargeable offense? If yes, is it a Tort? If no, why not? Finally, were any of the boys guilty of a Tort, if yes, who and why? If no, why not?