Boy suspended for calling student referee's call "gay"

Casper Star-Tribune ^ | April 4th, 2003

[TexRef]

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) - A sixth-grader whose ball was called out of bounds during a playground game was suspended for calling the student referee's call "gay."

West Middle School student Ben Madison, 12, said he thought the word meant "dumb" until his mother explained it differently during his suspension.

Thursday was the last day of Madison's two-day suspension.

Principal Jody Mimmack said the school uses a national curriculum called "Bullyproofing Your Schools," and that students have learned they cannot say things that might be hurtful. She said students are warned about such behaviors before they are suspended.

"We have a code of student conduct concerning harassment. ... We work very hard to create a safe environment for students," Mimmack said. "We suspend students all the time for disciplinary issues."

Mimmack said Ben, who has had previous disciplinary problems at the school, also would have been suspended if he had referred to the playground call as "dumb" or if he had teased the other student about a hairstyle or ethnicity.

Ben's mother, Susan Madison, objected to the suspension.

"I almost feel like my son was a test case," she said.

[bedolido]

"Good God!! What's next? Expulsion for telling little Jimmy that he throws like a girl?"

Brilliant! Unfortunately, this will probably happen soon.

[mountaineer]

Hate crime! Throw the book at him.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

"In the future you must tell the referee that he has a 'keen fashion sense'."

[bedolido]

the Gays are steeling our language. Used to mean happy, now it's a sexual dysfunction and, apparently, a means to hurt the innocent.

[ricpic]

The campaign to repeal human nature continues.

[Thinkin' Gal]

"We have a code of student conduct concerning harassment. ... We work very hard to create a safe environment for students," Mimmack said. "We suspend students all the time for disciplinary issues."

Hmmm, looks like they enjoy having empty classrooms. Well, if the kids are at home, they are in a safe environment. Even the worst homes are likely safer than this school, where the administration and teachers have mush for brains.

[shezza]

...would have been suspended if he had referred to the playground call as "dumb" or if he had teased the other student about a hairstyle...

This such an asinine policy. Oops! I guess they'd suspend me for that remark, too.

[trebb]

That decision sucks...

[mamalujo]

"I almost feel like my son was a test case," she said.


He was, and now any kid out there that wants a two day holiday from the govt zoo just has to call something gay, not a person only , but the person's actions, or backpack or music, and he's outta there...................

[Willie Green]

OMG, if they are going to suspend for that comment, my 5th grade son's class would have NO ONE IN IT!!!

LOL! At least the kids have a good grasp of the proper definition!

It may no longer mean "happy" or "cheerful" like it did when we were growing up.
But "dumb" or a "wrong call" by a referee seems to be a hilariously appropriate interpretation in today's society!

I still don't know if a suspension is appropriate, but teachers aren't allowed to use a paddle or wash their mouths out with a bar of soap like they did when you got saying the "N-word" or the "F-word" back in the good old days. But if the schools are trying to teach the kids that the "G-word" is bad, that's OK with me!

[shezza]

Yet-Another-Reason-Why-We-Homeschool Ping!

[TC Rider]

Whatever, I do what I like.

[Black Bart]

Let's see. A professor can publicly wish for a million Mogadishus, and gets to continue, but a student gets suspended for 2 days for describing a referee's call as "gay?"

[Fester Chugabrew]

Really doesn't matter what words were used. Badmouthing a referee is uncalled for. Maybe the kid needs to learn some respect for his elders.

[Willie Green]

the Gays are steeling our language.

That word is already stolen and beyond redemption.
Might as well teach the kids that it's nasty and they shouldn't use it.

[VRWC_minion]

What's next? Expulsion for telling little Jimmy that he throws like a girl?

Actually, the bully rules in our kids school would require the school to take action. These kids aren't going to be able to handle the real world. This stuff is nuts.

[gathersnomoss]

OK, then it has a happy, festive, show tune kind of call. Is that better?

[VRWC_minion]

MLet's see. A professor can publicly wish for a million Mogadishus, and gets to continue, but a student gets suspended for 2 days for describing a referee's call as "gay?"

Liberal logic. Its tough to get used.

[HeadOn]

....a "gay homosexual"?!?

Does that mean "straight"?

[Sloth]

Maybe the kid needs to learn some respect for his elders.

It wasn't an elder, it was another kid -- 'student referee.' Anyhow, people are not automatically deserving of respect just because they're older. I'm much younger than Barney Frank but I feel confident in calling him "gay."