Posted on 12/06/2006 8:02:36 PM PST by ChildOfThe60s
December 06, 2006 Student sues over 10-day suspension
By Andrew Clevenger Staff writer
Kids across America are warned to stay away from nose candy in anti-drug campaigns. But a Kanawha County student is fighting his suspension for pretending to put actual candy up his nose.
According to a lawsuit filed in Kanawha Circuit Court Monday, a student-athlete at Sissonville High School was given Smarties candy as a reward for good academic performance. In front of his teacher and fellow classmates, the student pretended to put one of the small candy discs up his nose. Another student used his cell phone to record video of the incident.
Principal Calvin McKinney, who is named as a defendant along with the Kanawha County school board, allegedly called the plaintiff into his office and confronted him about the incident.
The plaintiff informed ... McKinney ... that at no time did he possess any drug or did he claim to possess any drug, according to the suit.
Still, McKinney then threatened to suspend the student identified in the lawsuit only by his initials unless he joined McKinneys Narc Program and went undercover to find real drug users at the school, according to the suit.
The [student] was told that he was to hang around the bathroom and the school parking lot, the suit states.
McKinneys investigation into the incident confirmed that the student was telling the truth about the Smarties candy, according to the suit.
The plaintiff was informed that even though it was, in fact, just candy ... McKinney needed another Narc for his program and that if the student would not agree to enter said Narc Program that he would be suspended, the suit reads.
After the student and his parents met with school officials and the student refused to cooperate with McKinneys proposal, he received a 10-day suspension, according to the suit.
McKinney allegedly told the family that his Narc Program had been in effect for several years, and this was an opportunity to get a good student to go undercover.
The suit contends that McKinney usually uses the threat of suspension to force students who may be suffering academically to become a part of the Narc Program.
As a result of the suspension, which began Friday, the student missed a meeting with recruiters who had visited the school to discuss a scholarship opportunity, the suit contends.
The suit seeks an injunction against the school board and unspecified monetary damages for emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life and the loss of a potential scholarship. It contends that requiring the student to seek out potential drug users could put the student in danger.
School board attorney Jim Withrow could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Sadly all to many in this area would think in exactly that way. "It's not my money" shrug and walk on.
That's not a bad idea. It goes beyond tort liability and is a criminal matter, since he's obviously breaking the law.
Where are the law suits against the Union and their workers? Bah!
Merry Christmas,
MaxMax.
There are rumors going around on this very thing. I'll see what firms up tomorrow.
If as reported, 10 days suspension is just insane.
It's tough to tell if the Narc "offer" being turned down became impetus for such a long suspension or not but given the length and no mention of mandated length I suspect it could've been.
Could that be putting his life in danger???
Where does funding for the Narc Program come from?
Excellent question.
What the heck is "nose candy"?
Hi former neighbor. We just moved from Sissonville to Greensboro, NC. I can't say that we miss it so far.
They're just teenagers. Clowning around is typical for that age. You know, straws in the nose, squeezing mashed potatoes out of your mouth.
It is the damned adults acting a whole lot more juvenile by making major productions of normal adolescent behavior that is the real problem. They take *every little thing* and make a BFD out of it.
With kids, especially teenagers, you pick your battles. You don't issue ultimatums over everything. Guaranteed losing approach.
Besides, the issue here is the principal's actions, not the kid's.
That, or promiscuity
"Nose candy" is what is correctly identified as Cocaine, or nowadays crystal meth.
It certainly could.
Score another one for our public education system.
I know a kid who can actually stick his tongue up his nose. I'll have to ask him how well that works when trying to impress the young ladies.
I think that it's very progressive and forward-looking for high-school principals to begin recruiting young Americans with the tried-and-true techniques of the old Soviets!
Someone has to keep the flame of tyranny alive - who better than an American Educator!
I blame Nancy Reagan for this .......
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