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."

[Half Vast Conspiracy]

I wonder where his dad is.....

Maybe Iraq, too.

[Sterco]

I think the school is going to be surprised at the national reaction.

[Swordmaker]

he said that this was making his grades fall. there is another article about this floating around here somewhere...

A ten day suspension WILL drop a grade from a 'C' to a 'D' in some school districts. Suspended students do not get to participate in classes, take required quizzes and tests, or hear lectures. This alone will impact his grades... but if the school district is one of those that counts suspensions as unexcused absences, the reduction is mandatory.

Thus, the kid's statement that this incident is making his grades fall would be absolutely true.

[blu]

Here's another word for you "obtuse", as in, don't be obtuse.

[Stellar Dendrite]

BTTT

[cyclotic]

Rules are rules. However, the parent always trumps the teacher. If a parent feels the need to call the student at school, at any time, from any place, the school must acquiesce to the parent, especially a soldier mom in a bloody war zone. Period, end of story. The teacher and administration was wrong.

[fatnotlazy]

And here's one for you: Manners.

[Navy Patriot]

It gets worse, on the other thread (see post 48 for link) mom apparently called back and instructed son to answer phone. This is a parental directive that supersedes any school authority. Junior attempted to comply, and the school prevented him from doing so, then the alleged misbehavior occurred.

The school unreasonably and deliberately provoked this young man.

[Cogadh na Sith]

So it's ok to teach the child that he can do whatever he wants...break any rules...it's ok..

No. That's just as stupid as teaching him to unquestioningly obey every tin-horn beaureaucrat.

The important thing is to instill a love of freedom and independent thinking.

It's not an either/or proposition.

[Bella_Bru]

I just called the Muscogee County School District Super's office. They said he is getting ready to give a statement. They didn't know the particulars of the case originally. They were not informed by the Prinicipal at Spencer High that the boy was talking to his mom who was calling from Iraq. They are very upset over the actions taken at Spencer High.

Looks like a little CYA is about happen.

[jude24]

The kid should call a lawyer. He was assaulted by the teacher without cause.

[Navy Patriot]

Re #90: Bravo Bella_Bru

[fatnotlazy]

And that is exactly how he should have asked. Power tripping school administrator's trump a parent's phone call from Iraq? Only in a fascist's dream world.

***

I'm not advocating rigidity in applying rules and regulations. I think if he had asked, the rules could have been bent a little for him. But that's the point: It doesn't appear that he spoke with anyone in authority to ask permission to take the call. And if he had and was refused, then yes, I would say the teacher and administration should have been given a good drubbing. But that's my point, he should have asked.

[Sonny M]

I don't know how you worked things in your family, but my kids were told to be respectful of school authorities no matter how much they (or we) may have disagreed with them. It's part of the disciplinary process that leads to good citizenship and the ability to function successfully in the world. Kids who aren't imbued with the quality of respect generally turn into foul-mouthed, pie-throwing leftists.

If I was talking to my mother on my own time, and not disturbing anyone, and a teacher pulled the phone out of my hand, that would be the last time she used that hand.

If I have to worry that everytime I talk to my mother may be the last time I ever talk to her, no teacher is going to stop me, and if they did, I wouldn't be foul mouthed or throwing pies, I'd be using a baseball bat and bashing their skull in.

The kid should have beaten his teacher senseless for her conduct.

[Nov3]

I figured you would understand. Suffice it to say if my child DIDN'T resist the teacher in that situation he would be in trouble, WITH ME. I WON'T RAISE A SHEEP

[Navy Patriot]

The kid should call a lawyer.

Agreed.

[Cogadh na Sith]

I'm not advocating rigidity in applying rules and regulations. I think if he had asked

If there is one thing I have learned in the Army: "It is far easier to beg forgivness than to get permission."

[Nov3]

FR is full of them. It is a vast change from 98-99 when true conservative thinking was the norm and not actively pushed off the board.

[fatnotlazy]

The important thing is to instill a love of freedom and independent thinking.

***

Nothing wrong with that...but it seems to me that this young man wants to do whatever he wants all the time. That's not how the real world is.