Say No to Mom
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/06/AR2005050600605_pf.html
COLUMBUS, Ga. -- A high school student was suspended for 10 days for refusing to end a mobile phone call with his mother, a soldier serving in Iraq, school officials said.
The 10-day suspension was issued because Kevin Francois was "defiant and disorderly" and was imposed in lieu of an arrest, Spencer High School assistant principal Alfred Parham said.
The confrontation Wednesday began after the 17-year-old junior got a call at lunchtime from his mother, Sgt. 1st Class Monique Bates, who left in January for a one-year tour with the 203rd Forward Support Battalion.
Mobile phones are allowed on campus but may not be used during school hours. When a teacher told him to hang up, he refused. He said he told the teacher, "This is my mom in Iraq. I'm not about to hang up on my mom."
Parham said the teen's suspension was based on his reaction to the teacher's request. He said the teen used profanity when taken to the office.
"Kevin got defiant and disorderly," Parham said. "When a kid becomes out of control like that they can either be arrested or suspended for 10 days. Now being that his mother is in Iraq, we're not trying to cause her any undue hardship; he was suspended for 10 days."
(Hat Tip: Down With Bush )
This is my first nomination for Zero Tolerance award. I think this is ridiculous, outrageous. Obviously, the student should have been penalized for cursing out the teachers, but come on now, when your mother is Iraq, I don't think your school's stupid policy is going to take priority over her phone call. Just not happening. Oh yeah, and a ten-day-suspencion/arrest is a punishment usually given for a fight or for bring drugs or weapons to school, not for taking a phone call. It's a Draconian measure even for using profanity.
Incredulous,
Irina
COLUMBUS, Ga. -- A high school student was suspended for 10 days for refusing to end a mobile phone call with his mother, a soldier serving in Iraq, school officials said.
The 10-day suspension was issued because Kevin Francois was "defiant and disorderly" and was imposed in lieu of an arrest, Spencer High School assistant principal Alfred Parham said.
The confrontation Wednesday began after the 17-year-old junior got a call at lunchtime from his mother, Sgt. 1st Class Monique Bates, who left in January for a one-year tour with the 203rd Forward Support Battalion.
Mobile phones are allowed on campus but may not be used during school hours. When a teacher told him to hang up, he refused. He said he told the teacher, "This is my mom in Iraq. I'm not about to hang up on my mom."
Parham said the teen's suspension was based on his reaction to the teacher's request. He said the teen used profanity when taken to the office.
"Kevin got defiant and disorderly," Parham said. "When a kid becomes out of control like that they can either be arrested or suspended for 10 days. Now being that his mother is in Iraq, we're not trying to cause her any undue hardship; he was suspended for 10 days."
(Hat Tip: Down With Bush )
This is my first nomination for Zero Tolerance award. I think this is ridiculous, outrageous. Obviously, the student should have been penalized for cursing out the teachers, but come on now, when your mother is Iraq, I don't think your school's stupid policy is going to take priority over her phone call. Just not happening. Oh yeah, and a ten-day-suspencion/arrest is a punishment usually given for a fight or for bring drugs or weapons to school, not for taking a phone call. It's a Draconian measure even for using profanity.
Incredulous,
Irina
posted by Irina Tsukerman @ 4:59 PM
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