Student Suspended for Call to Mom in Iraq

Newsday ^ | 05/06/05 | AP

[Responsibility1st]

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."

[Walkingfeather]

The problem is that the schools are run by post menapausal rule followers that get off at the idea of inforcing a rule rather than understanding reality.

[El Gato]

But has anyone asked what kind of "mother" would leave her child parentless to go to war?

A good one most likely. One trying to make a better life for her child. Putting "mother" in quotes like that, implying that the mother isn't a real mother, really chaps my a$$. The father is deceased, and the mother is probably doing the best she can. I guess you'd prefer the kid was growning up in poverty. (Not that a single mom on army pay provides a whole lot of income).

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

See post #395...not sure about the administrators....may not know who the parents are.

[El Gato]

I personally would have had him remain at home for my call,

That assumes you know which day you are going to be able to call, and some days in avance, even if you have email contact.

In contrast to this schools attitude, an elementary school near where my wife is a professor has made email services available to the child *and mother* of a deployed reservist. That school is a couple of hundred miles from nearest active duty base, and about a hundred miles from any reserve base, other than the small National Guard armories and perhaps a reserve center that I don't know about. I guess Texans haven't forgotten how to support our military members, as it appears too many in Georgia have.

[El Gato]

Better to send the card to the mother. The kid can hardly call her, she must call him when she can get to the phone. Even email access can be sporadic. The kid could call the unit, or contact them via the Red Cross (although I'd start with the local family support group) should there be an emergency at home in Georgia.

[El Gato]

I think the school was more than wiling to make reasonable consideration - WITHIN the rules.

But they don't seem to be willing to change the rules to better fit the situation. Why shouldn't kids be able to use the cell phone during their lunch period? Especially if they do so outside of the lunchroom or any classroom areas, such a "commons" or "lounge" area, or as in this case, outside.

Rules are not carved in stone, and really ought to make sense. Although it sounds like in this case the rules are made, or at least approved by, the school board. Overcentralisation rears it's ugly head once more.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

I don't think she has a first sergeant

I'm sure she has something she answers to. Though if her son's attitude is any indication of the type of upbringing she provided, I'd say it won't be long before someone named "warden" is the authority figure in both their lives.

[stands2reason]

"But I wasn't conversating! I was conversing!!" :)

[stands2reason]

What is with the "gangsta" "thug" comments?

[El Gato]

I believe the 'no cell phones during school hours' rules are good rules,

They are too broad. Something like no cells phone talking during class or in the halls between classes. Ringers may be set to buzz to allow for emergency or other urgent calls. If you get an urgent call, you may ask to be excused from the room, or to take the call in the room. Calls are allowed outside of the classroom areas, such as the gym, when no class in using it, the cafeteria at any time, except in the serving area. Phones may also be used *outside the building*.

The purpose of the rules should be to avoid disrupting the educational process, not to allow the teachers and aminstrators to show how tough they are. And that includes the school board as well.

[Rebelbase]

"Teachers are mere mortals and can make mistakes. It is up to the administration to correct their mistakes. In this case, they made the wrong call. And, some teachers should be working at the corner store."

When was the last time you ever heard of a teacher being fired for anything short of child molestation?

[El Gato]

We also don't know what she did for a living, if she was a reservist

From her unit, which is regular army, she wasn't likely to be a reservist. As a SFC, she *probably* joined after the 17 year old was born. Maybe after his father died, but we don't know from anything in any of the stories given here or linked to.

[Rebelbase]

"Just when I think the New FR can't get any lower."

Agreed.

[El Gato]

Is there such a thing as a DLO – dependent liaison officer – deployed at specific schools?

The Army has what are called family support groups. However they are volunteer organizations. Since the mother is from a unit at Ft. Stewart, but moved her child to the Columbus/Ft. Benning area because that's where the guardian she choose lived, it's possible that the guardian, and thus the kid, was not tied in to the FSG. if so, I'll bet he is now.

[El Gato]

I wonder how the Army would have reacted if his mother had been told by her OIC or first sergeant to hang up the phone, and responded in the same way her son had.

The mother volunteer for the Army. The kid is forced to go to school. Different situation.

Kid should have been more respectful, but so should the teacher who stopped him from talking to his mother, while she was in Iraq, during his lunch hour, outside the building. Very poor judgment on the part of the teacher.

[AlGone2001]

The school system will lose big on this one from the PR perspective.

Columbus, GA is a very large military community.

The administrators will wish they had taken another route when this is over.

[USMCWife92054]

I am the mother of two, and the wife of an active duty Marine of 17 years. We have been one of those families that yearns for any and every phone call to assure us that my husband is safe. We fear that we will miss that once in a month call, that comes in at any time of the day or night, without warning. For anyone, anywhere to assume that these calls can be scheduled is nothing else but ridiculous. They literally have no clue. What was mom supposed to do when she found out she could make a call? Say to herself, no I don't think I will call, I will wait another few weeks or so, so that it will be a more "convenient" time..... Sorry, but NOBODY over there will do that. They ALL jump at the opportunity to make one of those cherished calls. Remember, the call to the son was NOT ONLY for the child's sake. It was for Mom too. It was to help her make it thru one more day, week or month.Just to hear a loved one's voice can be all it take to help them stay focused on the mission at hand and GET HOME SAFELY.
Oh, for those not related to the military, before and during their deployments to the war zone, we are TOLD BY MILITARY OFFICIALS, there is a very good chance your child will have behavior problems and possible drop in grades. Children WILL worry and agonize over where their parent is, and wonder if they will come home alive. So they act out, and their grades slip. They are CHILDREN. What, since they are military kids are we supposed to tell them "suck it up and deal with it, it's life"? Then any person that can tell a kid who has a military parent deployed has no heart at all. The school district is obviously not in touch with what is going on with it's student population..... or they don't care. According to reports coming out today, the guardian (who is also an active duty Army member, female) upon finding out of the suspension on Wednesday, tried to talk to the principal about the situation and resolve it and bring some understanding to them.... the principal blew her off and said he didn't care and didn't make a difference WHO was calling or for what reason. It was ONLY AFTER it hit the fan in the press, has he backtracked....
The teacher needs to be fired, and as he/she heads out the door they should be sending the principal, assistant principal, and school district superintendant with him/her. They obviously have violated this kid's right to privacy by telling all the world what a "poor" student he is and how he was a "problem child" , etc. That is a clear violation of his right to confidentiality. I hope they sue. If I can find out that they have a lawyer, I know hundreds of military wives that are more than willing to donate to the lawyer's fees.

[fabriclady]

You're right.
Seems the school is always right and the kids are in the wrong.
When my boys were in school, I was in the principals office often. I stood up for my kids.
Now they are 45 & 50. Talk of how I stood up for them often makes fun conversation around the dinner table.

[fabriclady]

You need to call the school and give them this information.
I have called the school several times. the listed school number was not answered Friday. You can call 706-649-0514. This is the number for Mr. Kendall, he is located in the school adm. building. I live in North Carolina, this number was given to me by the reporter that first reported on this story.

[El Gato]

When was the last time you ever heard of a teacher being fired for anything short of child molestation?

You must live in a really conservative area. They fire the teachers for child molestation?