Posted on 05/26/2005 10:22:33 AM PDT by freepatriot32
A teenager was back in class Friday after receiving a one-day suspension for wearing a T-shirt with slogans including "freedom of expression" and "don't drink and drive" that school administrators considered disruptive.
Hanna Smith, 18, a junior at Tift County High School, said principal Mike Duck told her that if she wore the shirt again she would be suspended for the remainder of the year.
The principal was arrested six years ago for DUI and running a stop sign, the Tifton Gazette said Friday in a story on Smith's suspension. Duck made a public apology for the DUI and was himself suspended for five days.
Smith's mother, Tracy Fletcher, said she would defend her daughter's right to express herself, even if it means hiring an attorney and taking the case to court.
"They want everyone to fit into a mold and there's no room for individuality. These kids are our future, I think they should be treated with a little more respect. Their opinions count. Their thoughts count," Fletcher said.
The principal confirmed that Smith was back in class Friday without the banned T-shirt, which also had a peace symbol on the front and "Veritas" (truth) written on the back.
On Friday, Smith wore a different T-shirt, this one reading "Don't Underestimate Individuality," her mother said. The first letters of those words spell "DUI." Her mother said the teen plans to wear the banned T-shirt again on Monday.
Duck said he could not comment on the suspension.
"We can't discuss children and their issue," he said. "It's a matter of privacy and protection of their rights."
The school system's dress code forbids disruptive clothing, grooming and symbols. Principals decide what's disruptive.
"I have an obligation to maintain an orderly environment," Duck said. "The courts give me the authority and the right to make those decisions and as long as I'm sitting in this chair that's what I'm going to do."
Smith said she learned about Constitutional rights, such as freedom of expression, in class and wishes school officials would honor them.
"I think it's silly that we can't practice the freedoms that they teach us here," Smith said. "You would think that school officials would have respect for the law and people's rights, or at least they should."
I caught up. Ping to my #41.
You are right, they probably DO have a history. He may in fact have a history with several of the girls in the school.
IT would not be at all unusual if she was just getting back at the guy for unwanted sexual advances, or sexual harrassment while he was on the job... and had a few too many. She may not have appreciated some other well known drunken behaviors by this dude. The message perhaps? "Back off letch!!!"
btw... the girl WILL win.
Take it to the bank.
My guess is the girls in the school don't like the guy because there may in fact be some FUI or SHUI behaviors going on, without consequence for the guy.
Flirting
Under the
Influence
or
Sexual
Harassment
Under the
Influence
I doubt it's just the tshirt thing.
You literally made me snort coffee out my nose. LOL
Children are in school to learn citizenship as much as math, and good citizenship means objecting to inept leadership. The girl did exactly what she should have done.
As for him paying his debt to society, I suppose you'd also advocate letting released child molestors run daycare centers or convicted murderers teach. Just because you've paid your debt to society doesn't mean your slate is clean and you can do whatever you want. The guy is a bad influence, a horrible role model, and a tyrant. As a general rule, I object to ANY criminal in ANY leadership position in the public schools, and this entire situation clearly demonstrates the wisdom of that position.
DUI and running Stop Signs is a big neal in High School. Kids die every year from this activity. Having a school principal who committed the same crime not so long ago and resumed his duties with 5 days of suspension is a very low standard indeed ...
DUI and running Stop Signs is a big deal in High School. Kids die every year from this activity. Having a school principal who committed the same crime not so long ago and resumed his duties with 5 days of suspension is a very low standard indeed ...
Oh
I understand.
You see her as a Clinton woman just asking for it ...
In other words, there are other slogans on it (them?) that aren't mentioned. We know the media's well-established penchant for creating honest impressions of all that's going on. We know that the DUI was six years ago. We know that the girl intentionally brought it up with t-shirt #2 with a DUI theme.
We know that "administratorS" (note the "S") consider the t-shirts and slogans to be disruptive. We know that a suspension was upheld, and if I know a superintendent and his lawyer well, I'll bet they checked with the administratorS (other than principal) on this. You can bet that if this was a big RED FLAG that they would have pulled this principal up to a screeching halt by his short hairs.
You also know that this is rural GEORGIA where school discipline is still dear to the hearts of many judges as is so ably point out by AQ. And judges in N. Ga. might not smile favorably is this 18 year old JUNIOR has a problem child record.
I'm betting that the girl loses, but the problem is.....how will be ever know unless someone posts it when it gets announced in Georgia. Got any North Georgians around here? :>)
I agree.
They are going to be in hot water allowing an individual to decide what's disruptive in terms of the content on shirts. They need to ban all expressive shirts, with the stated exception of school, college, and shirts with manufacturer's logos. Or, they need to go to uniforms. I support the school enforcing their rules, but come on, "don't drink and drive" is disruptive? I thought they showed videos saying the same thing.
see #132
The Clinton Fans made the same claims for Bill and Hillary Clinton. They were either exonerated by the legal system or the issues were adjudicated. The House and Senate handed down their punishment and our opinion on the situation did not matter at all ...
They were as angry as you are that we even brought it up ...
Here's a dopey girl and her enabler mommy causing all kinds of problems to get attention.
Linda Tripp causing all kinds of problems to get attention ...
That this issue is even being discussed on an Internet board proves that the girls actions were a distraction, and the principal was correct in his actions to resolve the matter.
It proves that the principal should resign or be forced from his position of authority and leadership and that there are always fans who will back him up if he does not ...
You've already compared the guy to Clinton...why not try Hitler next?
NO I agree with you.
I was suggesting that HE may be one of those guys, flirting or making advances with the girls at the high school, while under the influence.
not the girl. Got it? He's the drunk, not her. She's pointing something out for some reason.
He is perhaps, in the habit of doing things he shouldn't while tanked. And perhaps, the girl was just 'responding'.
School uniforms.
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