Secret Service Question Students

KRON 4 ^ | May 7, 2003 | KRON 4

[VivaVilla]

OAKLAND (KRON) -- Some teachers in Oakland are rallying behind two students who were interrogated by the Secret Service. That followed remarks the teenagers made about the President during a class discussion. The incident has many people angry.

For years the classroom has been the setting for the free expression of ideas, but two weeks ago certain ideas led to two students being taken out of class and grilled by the United States Secret Service.

It happened at Oakland High. The discussion was about the war in Iraq. That's when two students made comments about the President of the United States. While the exact wording is up for debate, the teacher didn't consider it mere criticism, but a direct threat and she called the Secret Service.

Teacher Cassie Lopez says, "They were so shaken up and afraid."

Now, other teachers are coming to the aid of the two students and crying foul.

"I would start with the teacher, she made a poor judgement," Lopez says.

Teacher Larry Felson says, "What we're concerned about is academic freedom and that students have the right to free expression in the classroom."

Even worse, they say, is the fact that the students were grilled by federal agents without legal counsel or their parents present, just the principal.

"When one of the students asked, 'do we have to talk now? Can we be silent? Can we get legal council?' they were told, 'we own you, you don't have any legal rights,'" Felson says.

"We don't want federal agents or police coming in our schools and interrogating our children at the whim of someone who has a hunch something might be wrong," Lopez says.

The union representing Oakland teachers requires that students be afforded legal counsel and parental guidance before they're interrogated by authorities. It's too late for the two involved in this incident, and teachers say it's something they'll carry with them for years.

"I tell you the looks on those childrens faces. I don't know if they'll say anything about anything ever again. Is that what we want? I don't think we want that," says Lopez.

[Woahhs]

Here's one way to look at this: what would we think if this had happened while Clinton was president? Discuss...

Uhm...that all depends on what was said now doesn't it? If it was enough of a concern to the teacher to report them, isn't it reasonable for the Secret Service to investigate it?

I think two young people learned a very very important lesson in the value of prudence.

[Malsua]

>>The reporter knows what was said. It was intentionally left out to draw sympathy for the students. <<

I'll bet it was something like "I think the president should be shot" or something like that.

The other bit about "we own you, you don't have any rights" is total BS.

I'd laugh like a hyenia at anyone, including secret service that said that to me. It's so far out of line it's ridiculous. Secret Service people are very professional and wouldn't open themselves to this.

[CyberAnt]

Excuse me ... since when is it okay to teach children their words do not have consequences ...??

Since we have certainly had a rash of it lately ... it would appear it's coming from the school programs. Their idea of freedom of speech is that you can spout anything - but you don't have to be responsible for what you say.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Cry me a river - I got dragged out of my Spanish Class in the 1980s, the day Vice-President Bush was to speak at my high school because of some things I said that were misconstrued by a psycho teacher...

And I turned out just fine, and pretty well adjusted...

[John Lenin]

While the exact wording is up for debate, the teacher didn't consider it mere criticism, but a direct threat and she called the Secret Service.

In other words they threatened the Presidents life. That's one thing you don't play around with in any country.

[steplock]

"But these SS guys went over the top with their remarks. "You have no rights. the government owns you". Who takes these jobs, men with small glove sizes who want to feel like hotshots?"

DLfromthedesert?? Sounds more like a DU from the desert!

The Secret Service would NEVER use language such as "You have no rights. the government owns you".

Get real. THis is simply the communist/socialist state of disrepair Kalifornia baby-coms trying to cover their A**e* by lying like hell.

[Bigg Red]

Yes, suggesting that the president should be harmed is serious business. In all of my wild imagining of fates for I-x42, I have always been careful of what I have said, and will continue to be since he is still under that kind of protection. In my case, it would be only talk, as I am not a violent person, but the USSS has no way of knowing that; they must follow up on any kind of perceived threat just as they apparently did with these students.

[blam]

"Free expression" does not include the right to make threats against anyone. Making them against the POTUS will result in a greater response than making them against ordinary citizens. It really all depends on exactly what was said and the context in which it was said."

Some FReepers were visited by the SS over some statements they made about Clinton. So....

[Bigg Red]

"You have no rights. the government owns you".

Okay, you are going to take the word of one of these kids that this is what was really said by the USSS guy?

[DLfromthedesert]

Well if it was in the paper, it must be true, right?

I'll take your word for it; but there was a Secret Service agent who did not act very professional on an airplane right after 9/11, as I recall.

I'm sure most are professionals, just like doctors, nurses, etc. but there are always the few jerks that undermine the profession.

[CyberAnt]

Sorry ... police are allowed to lie to get a "suspect" to talk. May not always be appropriate, but it most always works. SS does not play games. If you threaten the life of the President, you are not treated in a pleasant way.

[DLfromthedesert]

Well I'm lucky nobody turned me in when I said some things about the previous POTUS I shouldn't have.

[TankerKC]

Still, what would we be saying with the infom we have, if Clinton were pres right now?

[TankerKC]

I know that it happened. Was it right then? Is it right now? The name or party of the president shouldn't change our reaction to the story.

[green team 1999]

please tell us your opinion,who was wrong etc,

[VivaVilla]

http://www.indybay.org/news/2003/05/1607366.php

Here's a little more info on the story.

[mwyounce]

Teacher Larry Felson says, "What we're concerned about is academic freedom and that students have the right to free expression in the classroom."

"We don't want federal agents or police coming in our schools and interrogating our children at the whim of someone who has a hunch something might be wrong," Lopez says.

I wonder if one of the boys had said they were going to shoot and kill several of the teachers, including Mrs. Lopez and Mr. Felson.... would these two still say that they didn't want the police to come in and investigate? That the kids have the right of self expression???

[yonif]

What did they say?

[Woahhs]

Still, what would we be saying with the infom we have, if Clinton were pres right now?

Given the circumstances...exactly the same thing. I do, however, think it indicative of the educational priorities, that none of these kids...and I mean not one...would even dream of using the n-word in class, but apparently think expressing even extremist contempt for the President is acceptable behavior.

The teacher will probably get ostrasized, but should be made principle, for creatively imparting actual useful knowlege to students.

[green team 1999]

they said for a snipers to take him out,that is way wrong