Bossier School Board upholds Advil expulsion (Girl expelled from school for 1 year for Advil)

ShrevesportTimes.com ^ | 12-05-03 | Melody Brumble

[Chewbacca]

Does this zero policy stuff only apply to the students or also to the teachers?

I would like to see all the women teachers dump out their purses and if any have any OTC medication (i.e., asprin, tylenol, Sudafed, couph syrup or medication, ect.) they be fired on the spot.

[wideminded]

Why does it so often happen that idiots rise to positions of authority, which they then abuse? In a lot of cases I think it is because these are people who know that they have no other talent besides backstabbing, scheming, and attacking people. They are afraid that if they don't make people fear their authority, there will eventually be exposed for the incompetent charlatans they really are.

[OneTimeLurker]

"So, your're trying to tell me that Advil is specifically not allowed on the person of a school student in the entire state?"

If you read the article, it says the school board determined that under state law they had no choice.

[r9etb]

This isn't the first time we've heard stories like this. We've heard nail file stories and other over the counter med stories. They were pretty clear about 'zero tolerance' in the story.

Oh, I'm well aware of the stories. It's just that one such story (the so-called "lemon drop" story, which you may remember from several years back) took place at my kids' school, and the true facts of that case were much different from what was reported in the media. So I tend to look upon such stories with a jaundiced eye.

I am not attempting to deny that "zero tolerance" stuff can and does happen. However, I am more than willing to believe that a media which will engage in incomplete/dishonest reporting with regard to Iraq, might plausibly be suspected of bending the facts in a case like this one.

My suspicion in this case is based the mother's claim of "average behavior" (that's the best face she can put on it?), Kruithof's akcnowledgement that the girl had been disciplined for things (plural) in the past, and the fact that she ran away when confronted.

None of this necessarily means anything, and I'm not suggesting that the girl has not been railroaded. I'm just saying that it appears there's more to the story.

[jmc813]

WOD Ping

[Protagoras]

The frog is cooking.

Next up, a plethora of authoritarians masquerading as conservatives flooding the thread with admonitions about rules and consequences.

[ladylib]

I'm warning you -- don't. If you have a normal, bright kid public school is the last place you want him.

Parents think zero tolerance is great, except when it happens to their child, and it's very easy for it to happen to their child.

[Protagoras]

I'd find the sleaziest lawyer in New Orleans and sue the hell out of them.

Better to go for an honest one, easier to find, few candidates.

[LiteKeeper]

INTREP - EDUCATION - ZERO BRAINS

[frodolives]

A child does not need to pack around a bottle of pills and decide when to self-medicate. Administering medication is a parent's job. She can also go to the office if she can't "make it" without an asprin until 3:30 pm. My two-cents worth.

[Boxsford]

You are a more trusting soul than I could muster for the school board. It's a handy tool, for the board,to use when it's convenient.

[Grut]

Stupidity and incompetence both should be felonies... In combination, it should be mandatory 10 years with no possibility of parole.

Why, when the historical penalty for the combination is death?

[jmc813]

A child does not need to pack around a bottle of pills and decide when to self-medicate.

This "child" is a spophomore in high school. I think she can manage.

[EggsAckley]

Next time read the article. She was not "packing around a bottle of pills." She had one, lone Advil in her purse.

[OneTimeLurker]

"You are a more trusting soul than I could muster for the school board. It's a handy tool, for the board,to use when it's convenient."

It's not a question of trust. They are all idiots. But if the law states that then it's a bad law. You think a school board would want to call attention to a rediculously stupid decision if they felt they could get away from it?

[Steve_Seattle]

A zero-intelligence policy strikes again. What worries me about this is it conditions students to unquestioningly accept irrational and excessive punitive actions on the part of authorities.

[Lijahsbubbe]

I'm warning you -- don't. If you have a normal, bright kid public school is the last place you want him.

Point well taken. Our teenager is in a private school where they can even talk about (gasp) God!

[JoJo Gunn]

That "child" is a Sophomore. At that age I'd expect my child to be independent enough to know when she needs an aspirin or not, not some jackboot Mengele approved by The State.

[curmudgeonII]

Got an e-mail address for these folks?