Posted on 12/10/2009 2:48:22 PM PST by tuffydoodle
The U.S. Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights is investigating a complaint that the Fort Worth school district discriminated against a high school volleyball player because she was pregnant. The player, 17-year-old Mackenzie McCollum of Arlington Heights, was a starting setter until the school discovered she was pregnant on Oct. 7, according to Laura S. Kaufmann, a lawyer with Washington-based National Women’s Law Center, which represents McCollum. She was 10 weeks pregnant at the time. School officials told McCollum that she needed a doctor’s note clearing her to play. Kaufmann says the district violated Title IX, the 1972 law that prohibits sex-based discrimination at schools receiving federal money. "She’s a top student, a musician and a star volleyball player on the varsity team," Kaufmann said. "She got pregnant and when the athletic coordinator at the school found out, she was told she couldn’t play anymore on the team. "And they demanded that if she did want to play, she had to produce a note from her doctor clearing her to play. But it’s not clear that they are applying that condition to all athletes, and that’s one of the things Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 requires." McCollum’s mother, Barbara Horton, would not comment without Kaufmann present. "What we really want is for the district to adopt a more robust policy regarding the treatment of pregnant parenting students," Kaufmann said. "It’s important moving forward that others that find themselves in this situation don’t have to go through the same experience." The Fort Worth schools Web site includes a policy specific to pregnant students.
(Excerpt) Read more at star-telegram.com ...
Because they don’t do this for pregnant males, they get the jackboot treatment. In the meantime did she want to participate badly enough to ask a doctor or is she simply whining about it?
I am surprised she didnt go get an abortion so she could continue to play.
The school lets her play and it’s liable if she looses the baby.
The school stops her from playing and it’s liable because of title IX.
Screw it. Getting sued either way, they made one hell of a great choice. For once I agree with a school’s decision. They opted for life.
Amazing.
“What we really want is for the district to adopt a more robust policy regarding the treatment of pregnant parenting students,” Kaufmann said”
So now we are to accept pregnancy at any age. We have surely fallen and I don’t know if we will ever recover.
Pregnant at 17!
Does she know who the father is?
(DIidn’t read the whole thing.)
Does the dafety and health of the unborn person matter?
Does she know who the father is?
(Didn’t read the whole thing.)
Does the safety and health of the unborn person matter? Oh, I forgot! It's all about the SINGLE PREGNANT TEEN. Silly me.
And they demanded that if she did want to play, she had to produce a note from her doctor clearing her to play
You know, that’s a good question. The father is never mentioned. She may not know who the father is.
It states that the district may require pregnant students to “obtain the certification of a physician that the student is physically and emotionally able to continue participation in the normal education program or activity so long as such certification is required of all students for other physical or emotional conditions requiring the attention of a physician.”
So will th elittle tramp get a doctor's note?
I wouldn't be surprised if a teacher at the school knocked her up and having a miscarriage would be the ideal scenario. Heck, she'd continue to play in the middle of a miscarriage. It's all about HER and HER right to ATTENTION.
Remember the one that "delivered" at the prom and promptly left the bathroom there to continue dancing so her evening would not be spoiled? This one sounds just like her.
It states that the district may require pregnant students to “obtain the certification of a physician that the student is physically and emotionally able to continue participation in the normal education program or activity so long as such certification is required of all students for other physical or emotional conditions requiring the attention of a physician.”
So will th elittle tramp get a doctor's note?
I wouldn't be surprised if a teacher at the school knocked her up and having a miscarriage would be the ideal scenario. Heck, she'd continue to play in the middle of a miscarriage. It's all about HER and HER right to ATTENTION.
Remember the one that "delivered" at the prom and promptly left the bathroom there to continue dancing so her evening would not be spoiled? This one sounds just like her.
It states that the district may require pregnant students to “obtain the certification of a physician that the student is physically and emotionally able to continue participation in the normal education program or activity so long as such certification is required of all students for other physical or emotional conditions requiring the attention of a physician.”
So will the proud, arrogant, little tramp get a doctor's note?
I wouldn't be surprised if a teacher at the school knocked her up and having a miscarriage would be the ideal scenario. Heck, she'd continue to play in the middle of a miscarriage. It's all about HER and HER right to ATTENTION.
Remember the one that "delivered" at the prom and promptly left the bathroom there to continue dancing so her evening would not be spoiled? This one sounds just like her.
We don’t really have typical inner-city schools in FTW. But if we did, Arlington Heights HS would be that school.
She’s pregnant at 17 and her biggest concern is playing volleyball? Sad for the baby.
A disturbing image, but not what you intended. That should read "loses".
She should have slunk away in shame when she found out she was pregnant.
All of the celibration over pregnant students just leads to more pregnant students.
The school was within its rights. They were obviously afraid that if something happened to her or the baby, they would be sued. Don’t most school districts make student athletes get some sort of physical checkup at the beginning of the year, to authorize them to play? And her physical condition had *changed* ... so she needed a new checkup. This is not discrimination, it is common sense. I hope a judge somewhere sees it that way.
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