Posted on 10/24/2009 11:32:49 AM PDT by Sybeck1
• ACLU Working to Chip Away Code of Discipline with DeSoto County Schools Editorial by Milton Kuykendall, Superintendent, DeSoto County Schools
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is attacking the Code of Discipline in DeSoto County Schools. The ACLU has just filed the 3rd lawsuit against our school district. What some may not realize is that they are challenging our safe and orderly environment--the one characteristic that separates our school district from districts near us.
The ACLU can make charges against the school district saying we have done something to a student. We cannot respond because of privacy issues.
In May of 2008, the ACLU ran ads asking students who were displeased with DCS disciplinary proceedings and their parents to come to a meeting in Olive Branch. I am told approximately 30 people attended.
As superintendent, I do not want any child mistreated. But I do believe in rules and regulations. We don't allow baggy pants, cell phones used during school, drugs, guns, knives, cursing or foul language. Our teachers and administrators work very hard to make DCS as good as it can be. We cannot have an outstanding school district if we ever lose the safety at school. Our number one priority is safety for our students and staff. I believe in first amendment rights, but I do not believe that this gives the students the right to curse the teacher or principal, or not respect the rule of law.
Gangs exist in the world we live in today. We have to face this fact. We do not, however, have to allow gang activity to enter the front door of our schools. Weekly, principals and administrators make announcements that no gang signs, clothing, photos or behavior will be tolerated at school. Of our 31,228 students, 99.9% want rules, want regulations and want a safe learning environment. We cannot allow that .1% to run our schools. When we do, DeSoto County School District, as we know it, will no longer exist.
The problem in fighting the ACLU, is that they have unlimited money and they do not care how frivolous the lawsuits are--if they can get a headline, they file a suit, and they always say the suits are racially motivated. DCS is dedicated to treating all students fairly regardless of race, but everyone must obey the rules.
Our school district has grown by 8,000 students in six years. Ninety-nine percent of these kids are the greatest kids in the world. However, a small percentage of these students have been involved in gangs and dangerous behavior in schools they last attended and they want to bring this behavior to our schools. If we allow that activity to exist, we will lose the safety of our schools as well as the high performing achievement level our schools enjoy. The ACLU is so eager to file lawsuits, they are not properly investigating before they file.
The ACLU is well-financed. Every dollar DeSoto County Schools has to spend on lawsuits is one dollar we could spend on educating students. It is a shame that the ACLU can file one suit after another without any accountability. I have one message that is echoed by the Board of Education: Everyone has the right to do what he wants at home; when he comes to the school house, he must obey the rules just like we did when we went to school. We are going to take the time to teach children right from wrong. We are going to enforce our Code of Discipline, and we will do everything within our legal rights, to keep our campuses safe. It is my prayer, and yes, I said prayer, that the ACLU will not chip away DeSoto County School's Code of Discipline on my watch.
Liberals at work in Northwest MS
The ACLU against America.
I tired to read the book of nearly the same title.
It so turned my stomach that I had to stop.
Did you note the part in the article “The ACLU has unlimited money” to sue, every time calling our rules racially motivated ???????
Isn’t it great to fight against these guys who have “unlimited money” to bring “frivolous lawsuits” ????????
It is my understanding that the ACLU, even if they loose a lawsuit, gets payed by the government. They have nothing to loose. Anyone know about this?
What Super K can’t say in his statement, is that the problem students that the ACLU are filing in defense of are THUGS and GangBangers filtering down from the Memphis Cesspool.
They’re forced to accept every student that applies, even if a large number of these students are part of the “triangle welfare trade” going on in that part of the state.
The liberals at work in Desoto County are those who helped create what is now the equivalent of a 3rd world city just across the state line. Now they want to bring this same crap to Desoto County!
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