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Lawsuit: student says she was suspended for being quiet, wearing pro-gay shirt
Daily Caller ^ | 03/08/2013 | Eric Owens

Posted on 03/08/2013 12:35:19 PM PST by Responsibility2nd

A student from a small Florida town has sued her high school principal, the dean of students and the local school board in federal court because, she claims, she was suspended last year for participating in a popular national “Day of Silence” — a protest against anti-gay bullying.

The New Times Broward-Palm Beach, an alternative weekly newspaper, first broke the story.

The student, 15-year-old Amber Hatch, claims she sought permission — via a letter — to participate.

Shannon Fusco, the principal of DeSoto County High School, turned down the request.

“Peaceful protests are against district policy,” Fusco allegedly explained.

Fusco also apparently expressed concern that Hatch’s participation in the event could cause disruptions in class.

Hatch reportedly appealed the decision three times, unconvincingly.

The lawsuit claims that on April 19, the day before the “Day of Silence,” Fusco pulled Hatch out of class. As the New Times reports, Fusco them advised the student that if she showed up at school the next day “and was quiet, there would be disciplinary consequences.”

(Excerpt) Read more at dailycaller.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: discipline; dresscodes; education; homosexualagenda; progayagenda; tshirt
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I hope the school district wins.
1 posted on 03/08/2013 12:35:19 PM PST by Responsibility2nd
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To: Responsibility2nd

You might not like the message, but if this student cannot wear an anti-bullying t-shirt, the next student cannot wear a t-shirt with a US flag on it, or a shirt supporting the Marines...


2 posted on 03/08/2013 12:39:24 PM PST by MS from the OC (Obama taking credit for killing OBL is like Nixon taking credit for landing on the moon, John Bolton)
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To: Responsibility2nd

So she is willing to protest for her cause, yet not willing to accept the consequences for protesting for her cause. Sounds like she needs to grow up.


3 posted on 03/08/2013 12:41:16 PM PST by Hoodat (I stand with Rand.)
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To: MS from the OC

I guess you read the article.

Cause the next student WAS INDEED prohibited from wearing a t-shirt with a US flag on it, or a shirt supporting the Marines...


4 posted on 03/08/2013 12:45:56 PM PST by Responsibility2nd (NO LIBS. This Means Liberals and (L)libertarians! Same Thing. NO LIBS!!)
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To: Responsibility2nd
Hatch reportedly appealed the decision three times, unconvincingly.

*snicker*

I wonder if she was more convincing when she (I assume) attempted to persuade homosexuals to keep quiet about their activity.

5 posted on 03/08/2013 12:48:06 PM PST by Tax-chick (Don't panic until Rrrod panics.)
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To: Responsibility2nd

I would hope that some responsible teachers would grade her down for failure to participate when required. I would also hope that other responsible but inept teachers would be relieved to have one student who was listening quietly instead of engaging in constant idle chatter (in the unlikely event that she would simply listen and not make a spectacle of her silence). I would hope that the school administrators would demand that she cover, remove, or turn inside out any shirt that violates the written school dress code. Otherwise, I would prefer that the school treat this moron exactly like I would want my kids treated if my kids worse an NRA t-shirt or some other attire with a positive but controversial message. The school has no right to censor a message based on content.


6 posted on 03/08/2013 12:49:08 PM PST by Pollster1
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To: Responsibility2nd

They suspended a student for being quiet.

Schools have really changed.


7 posted on 03/08/2013 12:51:56 PM PST by AppyPappy (If you aren't part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem.)
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To: Responsibility2nd
Cause the next student WAS INDEED prohibited from wearing a t-shirt with a US flag on it, or a shirt supporting the Marines...

I believe that was at a different school (Illinois, not Florida)

8 posted on 03/08/2013 12:53:23 PM PST by Pollster1
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To: Responsibility2nd

I hope the school district loses. The girl wished to be silent for the day and part of the Freedom of Speech is the freedom NOT to speak.

The Constitution does not end at the schoolhouse door and it’s high time the educrats learned this.


9 posted on 03/08/2013 12:54:14 PM PST by MeganC (The left have so twisted public perceptions that the truth now appears pornographic.- SpaceBar)
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To: Responsibility2nd
Wouldn't it be great if schools could just teach rather than be a Petri dish for the progressive agenda?
10 posted on 03/08/2013 12:57:24 PM PST by liberalh8ter (If Barack has a memory like a steel trap, why can't he remember what the Constitution says?)
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To: Responsibility2nd
Peaceful protests are against district policy,” Fusco allegedly explained

So does that mean violent protests are allowed?

11 posted on 03/08/2013 1:00:36 PM PST by Michael.SF. (Obama lied, Stevens died.)
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To: Responsibility2nd

The girl and the ACLU will win this case just like they won they won the case in CT.


12 posted on 03/08/2013 1:05:47 PM PST by OKRA2012
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To: MeganC

How far does it go? What if ALL of the students decided not to speak for a day? For a month? For a semester? What if some of their grades were determined by class participation and/or oral exams? What if a school has a published behavior code, which includes a requirement to respectfully reply when spoken to?


13 posted on 03/08/2013 1:20:02 PM PST by NEMDF
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To: Responsibility2nd

I hope the school loses. Imagine the same scenario but it’s a Pro-life day of silence with a t-shirt supporting the cause. Now do you still hope the school wins?


14 posted on 03/08/2013 1:22:32 PM PST by rudabaga
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To: rudabaga

Disruptive activism (leftist or right wingish) has no place in the school.


15 posted on 03/08/2013 1:24:35 PM PST by Responsibility2nd (NO LIBS. This Means Liberals and (L)libertarians! Same Thing. NO LIBS!!)
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To: Michael.SF.
So does that mean violent protests are allowed?

So it would seem

Fusco them advised the student that if she showed up at school the next day “and was quiet, there would be disciplinary consequences.”

16 posted on 03/08/2013 1:41:23 PM PST by Oztrich Boy (I think, therefore I am what I yam, and that's all I yam - "Popeye" Descartes)
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To: MeganC

So if I get a group of students together and we find some cause, I’ve got the right to go to school and not answer questions from the teacher or anybody else in authority...am I right? Then of course every other student or group of students has the right to be silent if they find some cause to back. Am I correct?


17 posted on 03/08/2013 2:51:31 PM PST by driftless2
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To: rudabaga

Going to school is not for protesting. It’s for learning. Learning often involves interaction with the teacher(s). The silent students are off base.


18 posted on 03/08/2013 2:53:12 PM PST by driftless2
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To: Responsibility2nd

I guess other students can wear anti-gay shirts??


19 posted on 03/08/2013 3:01:49 PM PST by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: MS from the OC

wrong.

Liberals will pick and choose and you know it. Pro-gay shirts are okay and pro-life shirts are not. Mexican flag shirts are fine, US flag shirts are hate crimes.


20 posted on 03/08/2013 3:02:48 PM PST by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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