Posted on 01/28/2006 6:04:00 PM PST by NormsRevenge
PITTSBURGH - A high school senior who was transferred to an alternative school as punishment for parodying his principal on the Internet is suing the district, arguing it violated his freedom of speech.
Justin Layshock had used his grandmother's computer and the Web site MySpace.com to create a phony profile under the principal's name and photo.
The site asks questions, and Justin filled in answers peppered with vulgarities, fat jokes and, to the question "what did you do on your last birthday?" the response: "too drunk to remember," according to the lawsuit filed on Justin's behalf by the American Civil Liberties Union.
School officials weren't amused. They questioned the teenager about the site on Dec. 21, and he apologized to the principal, the ACLU said.
Then, on Jan. 6, the district suspended Justin for 10 days and transferred him to an alternative program typically reserved for students with behavior or attendance problems, according to the lawsuit. He also was banned from school events, including tutoring and graduation ceremonies.
"The school's punishment affects his education," said Witold Walczak, Pennsylvania Legal Director of the ACLU. "In this critical last semester, Justin's opportunities to gain admission to college may be irreparably damaged."
According to the lawsuit, Pennsylvania State University notified Justin that his application had been put on "a registration hold" and asked for more information about the suspension. "It is unknown how or why the university had received this information, since it is supposed to be confidential under federal-student-privacy laws," the lawsuit says.
Officials with the Hermitage School District declined to comment.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh, seeks Justin's immediate reinstatement to his regular school. A hearing for a temporary order is set for Monday.
"Not to excuse it, but school officials need to understand that they're not parents," Walczak said. "School officials can't reach into parents' homes and tell them how to raise their kids."
Me too. And all the kids played, from 8 to 18. I nearly joined them. But at 55, I figured I'd get arrested for hiding in someones bushes.:)
Nah.
I usually hide in plain sight where they can never find me. They give up first. LOL.
That must have been humiliating
Yes, indeed LOL! What if his friends, wife, the school board, or his buds at the country club found his myspace profile. LOL!
The guy's a twit.
But, but, we do not know the principal's real profile!
He's no newbie. he;s been princopal for 5 years
Of course before that he was a guidence consellor who got the job of Peter Principal after six(6) months
Trosch has changed jobs three times in the six months hes worked for the district. Each move has been up the educational ladder.Still he could have been a middle school guidance counselor for the last five years - so silver lining
What do you think was the Kid's motive for the parody?
"a guidence consellor"
He doesn't have what it takes to be a guidance counselor. His handling of this case shows he does not know the students, nor could he ever expect to gain their confidence. He's an empty suit. Appearances is all he'll ever attain. The students will never get inspiration and leadership from this guy.
My real life has been more complex than even you could conjure up, Wilbur.
There are aruments on this thread concerning "jackboots" and "thugs" but the real point is being missed in the line below.
""Not to excuse it, but school officials need to understand that they're not parents," Walczak said. "School officials can't reach into parents' homes and tell them how to raise their kids.""
School officials are not parents? School officials cannot tell parents how to raise their kids? This is coming from a leftist liberal group?? Has not the left pounded into our heads over the last 3 or 4 decades that the school is there to replace parents and that they know best? What has happened to the ACLU? And more importantly, why is this not the focus of the thread.
Back in the day, 'Justin' would have received an application of the "Board of Education" and it would have been over with, hopefully with his learning proper conduct towards Teachers or Principals. Thans to people like the ACLU and other bleeding heart moonbats that can no longer be done, so schools try to find alternate ways to deal with misbehavior.
Now, the ACLU wishes to stop that as well.
From the article: "School officials can't reach into parents' homes and tell them how to raise their kids." No? How is they can take a 13 year old for an abortion without parental consent? How is it they can teach children "science" contrary to the parents beliefs? How is it they can pressure children into admitting abuse where none exists? For people who can't tell parents how to raise their children, they sure are busy doing just that, with the blessings of groups like the ACLU!
I hope people start waking up and seeing the ACLU is about destroying our constitution, not saving it.
We don't know what harm has come to the principal, either personally or professionally. Students should know there are consequences for libel. His authority, which is key to his job, has been impugned in a very public manner; a sincere apology is a start, but it isn't a consequence.
I hope people start waking up and seeing the ACLU is about destroying our constitution, not saving it. Dakota Red
To Dakota Red,
I hope people start waking up and seeing that government schools are destroying our constitution, our values, and our future.
We are now seeing the results in this newest generation.
Very sad
It sounds like what this kid did is not substantially different from what we on FR do all the time to Ted Kennedy, Hillery Clinton, etc
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