Rapper Clifford Harris Jr.'s (T.I.) Middle School Visit Met With Complaints

**celeb_2006** · April 24th, 2010, 07:48 PM

Apr. 19-25: T.I.'s Middle School Visit Met With Complaints - That's Really Week

T.I.'s March 5 visit to Woodland Middle School in Stockbridge, Georgia has outraged parents.

Tom Myers, the father of four girls in the Henry County School System, said that if he knew the rapper and convicted felon was going to appear at his daughters' school, he would have kept them home that day.

Myers told WSBTV Channel 2 Action News that his complaints to Woodland Middle School principal Dr. Terry Oatts were dismissed, the network reported Thursday.

Myers shared with WSBTV a complaint letter he emailed to Oatts. "In the future, if T.I. or any other convicted felon needs to perform community service, ask for parental permission to allow our children to be exposed to these questionable individuals," he wrote.

Myers was shocked by a flippant response he received from Oatts.

When contacted by WSBTV, Oatts replied, "No comment."

T.I.'s appearance at Woodland was confirmed by a representative for Henry County Schools. While parents were not notified in advance about T.I.'s visit, they were informed about a recent showing of a World War II documentary about the Holocaust.

Principal Oatts disagreed with Myers' proposed approval process. "Mr. Harris has never been convicted of homicide," Oatts replied about the rapper whose birth name is Clifford Harris, Jr. "We would not be able to adequately staff our states general assembly, our U.S. Congress or the executive branch of our government using your apparent standards."

The news of the email exchange has prompted school officials to investigate.

**Just Kill Me** · April 24th, 2010, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by celeb_2006

Apr. 19-25: T.I.'s Middle School Visit Met With Complaints - That's Really Week

T.I.'s March 5 visit to Woodland Middle School in Stockbridge, Georgia has outraged parents.

Tom Myers, the father of four girls in the Henry County School System, said that if he knew the rapper and convicted felon was going to appear at his daughters' school, he would have kept them home that day.

Myers told WSBTV Channel 2 Action News that his complaints to Woodland Middle School principal Dr. Terry Oatts were dismissed, the network reported Thursday.

Myers shared with WSBTV a complaint letter he emailed to Oatts. "In the future, if T.I. or any other convicted felon needs to perform community service, ask for parental permission to allow our children to be exposed to these questionable individuals," he wrote.

Myers was shocked by a flippant response he received from Oatts.

When contacted by WSBTV, Oatts replied, "No comment."

T.I.'s appearance at Woodland was confirmed by a representative for Henry County Schools. While parents were not notified in advance about T.I.'s visit, they were informed about a recent showing of a World War II documentary about the Holocaust.

Principal Oatts disagreed with Myers' proposed approval process. "Mr. Harris has never been convicted of homicide," Oatts replied about the rapper whose birth name is Clifford Harris, Jr. "We would not be able to adequately staff our states general assembly, our U.S. Congress or the executive branch of our government using your apparent standards."

The news of the email exchange has prompted school officials to investigate.

**Charmander** · April 24th, 2010, 08:20 PM

Booo. I would of been happy if TI came to my school

**cmmdee** · April 26th, 2010, 09:13 AM

^ Me, too.

But I'm really confused. I thought he was in jail?

**stef** · April 26th, 2010, 10:24 AM

^^ i thought he was in jail, too.

T.I.'s appearance at Woodland was confirmed by a representative for Henry County Schools. While parents were not notified in advance about T.I.'s visit, they were informed about a recent showing of a World War II documentary about the Holocaust.

why are parents informed about documentaries that are shown in school?
we watched all kinds of stuff in school and no one was informed beforehand.

**TheONe** · April 26th, 2010, 10:29 AM

^^I guess that he served his time. I just heard a new Jamie Foxx song with TI, and Timberlake (Winner) that was HOT!!! It might have to become my new anthem

**Just Kill Me** · April 26th, 2010, 10:36 AM

My favorite T. I. is in Never Scared, Killer Mike's verse is pretty fucking awesome as well. YouTube - Bone Crusher Feat Killer Mike & T.I - Never Scared

**kingcap72** · April 26th, 2010, 10:40 AM

Unless T.I. is going to be the school janitor or lunch lady there's no reason for him to be at any school. What's he going to tell the kids? Don't fuck up like I did.

**TheONe** · April 26th, 2010, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by kingcap72

Unless T.I. is going to be the school janitor or lunch lady there's no reason for him to be at any school. What's he going to tell the kids? Don't fuck up like I did.

It could be part of his community service. Or it could be just trying to give back to the community and give the old "learn from my mistakes" type of appearance. I know that many schools have had ex cons come in and talk about their lives, jail, drugs etc. If it can help reach at least one kid and help them then I don't think that it's a bad thing.

**Just Kill Me** · April 26th, 2010, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by kingcap72

Unless T.I. is going to be the school janitor or lunch lady there's no reason for him to be at any school. What's he going to tell the kids? Don't fuck up like I did.

No he'll be all "Watch out I'll take your cookies!"

**kingcap72** · April 26th, 2010, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by TheONe

It could be part of his community service. Or it could be just trying to give back to the community and give the old "learn from my mistakes" type of appearance. I know that many schools have had ex cons come in and talk about their lives, jail, drugs etc. If it can help reach at least one kid and help them then I don't think that it's a bad thing.

My school did the same thing by having cons & ex-cons show up to scare us. I have no problem with that. As someone who loves hip-hop, I think it's counter-productive to have a hip-hop star try to tell kids to stay out of trouble/stay out of jail, when that same star is probably going to write a song bragging about going to jail to show off their street cred.

**stella blue** · April 27th, 2010, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by kingcap72

My school did the same thing by having cons & ex-cons show up to scare us. I have no problem with that. As someone who loves hip-hop, I think it's counter-productive to have a hip-hop star try to tell kids to stay out of trouble/stay out of jail, when that same star is probably going to write a song bragging about going to jail to show off their street cred.

Exactly. Someone who made bad choices and overcame them is a role model. Some criminal who had millions in the bank when he fucked up and still does isn't anyone I'd want my kids to emulate.

Disclaimer: I wouldn't recognize TI if he mugged me on the street.

**lurkur** · April 27th, 2010, 09:05 PM

Originally Posted by stef

^^ i thought he was in jail, too.

why are parents informed about documentaries that are shown in school?
we watched all kinds of stuff in school and no one was informed beforehand.

A lot of Holocaust documentaries feature a lot of violence, death, and nudity (naked prisoners, live and dead), and plenty of other gruesome situations that I don't want to picture right now. None of which compare to a man talking at a school lecturn, even if he is a black rapper.

**stef** · April 28th, 2010, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by lurkur

A lot of Holocaust documentaries feature a lot of violence, death, and nudity (naked prisoners, live and dead), and plenty of other gruesome situations that I don't want to picture right now. None of which compare to a man talking at a school lecturn, even if he is a black rapper.

i've seen lots of those documentaries in school. yes, they're horrible, but that's life and it's history. i just don't understand why there's a need to announce that you're gooing to show a video during a school lesson. it's not like students aren't surrounded by violence, death and nudity every day anyway.

by the way, i think clifford harris sounds much better than T.I.

**lurkur** · April 28th, 2010, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by stef

i've seen lots of those documentaries in school. yes, they're horrible, but that's life and it's history. i just don't understand why there's a need to announce that you're gooing to show a video during a school lesson. it's not like students aren't surrounded by violence, death and nudity every day anyway.

by the way, i think clifford harris sounds much better than T.I.

ITA