Girl Banned From Prom For Smoking Away From School

www.thekansascitychannel.com ^ | March 31, 2004

[Freedom2specul8]

GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Leona Fitzpatrick is going to court -- in order to go to the senior prom.

She's been barred from her prom for smoking -- and not even on school grounds. The Hillsboro, N.D., School Board has rules against students using alcohol, tobacco or drugs.

Students can be kicked out of extracurricular activities for violating the no-smoking rule. Now, Leona is seeking a court order so she can go to the dance. Her parents point out that she's 18 and legally allowed to smoke in North Dakota.

[freeeee]

I have the audacity to think kids need to learn the value of mindlessly following rules, without questioning the legal basis and legitimacy of the rule's origin

There I fixed that for you.

It seems you have difficulty with the simple concept of 'no controlling legal authority'. So I've an example for you:

"I, freeeee, do hereby rule that excalibur1701 must wear a monkey suit while doing 50 pushups every day for the next 73 days, twice on Thursdays but not on Mondays. Failure to obey my rule will be punishable by 122 lashes with a wet noodle."

When you figure out why you don't have to obey that rule, and why I can't lash you with a noodle for disobeying, you'll know why the public school has no standing in this case.

[Gabz]

I'll follow this thread until my public school kid gets home in about 15 minutes..............

It has been rather interesting.

[Freedom2specul8]

"...The School Board barred Fitzpatrick from the prom and other school activities for 18 weeks after she was twice seen smoking in town and gave a classroom speech in which she admitted smoking...."

Thank you for finding that! I pray the courts see the absurdity of it all.

[Protagoras]

It is in perfect keeping with your opinion on no smoking rules.

Here's your shovel.

[Freedom2specul8]

I can see it now.."you are hereby banned from school activities for failing to use a condom."

[sgtbono2002]

I cant help but wonder how many kids in this school have been kicked out of the prom because they smoked marijuana or drank beer or dont the myriads of other thing kids do. The principle needs a foot up his/her butt.

[excalibur1701]

I'd say the apples have a few worms in them I guess I'm looking at this whole scenario as to, what is best for this young girl. I'm sure she didn't start smoking at the age of 18...probably more like 15-16. If there is even a chance that, she will have given up smoking because of all this, then the school did a wonderful thing.

[Steve_Seattle]

"I'd be interested in what the lawyers on FR have to say about this.????"

I'm not a lawyer, but I recall Robert Bork's comment, "The Constitution doesn't protect us from [all] bad law." So my guess is that the school board technically has the right to do this (smoking hasn't been declared a constitutional right), but that it's a bad precedent for the school to be punishing students for engaging in legal activities outside of school. The next step would be to prohibit other politically incorrect activities such as owning a gun, drinking soda or eating meat, or belonging to certain organizations, e.g., the Boy Scouts, that are deemed discriminatory. And I don't think it's a stretch tothink that this might happen. With gay marriage being touted as a constitutional right, who's to say that anything isn't possible?

[HELLRAISER II]

Unfortunately precedence seems to be set everyday by these lunatic School Administrators ie: Sending home children because they drew a gun or a knife on paper or better yet expelling a child for bringing a G.I. Joe gun to school. Yet that punk kid down in Florida who shot and killed a teacher on school property didn't even have to face an adult sentencing guideline. P.C. gone amok!

[Freedom2specul8]

As a conservative, and considering the sad state of our schools today..I'm surprised you support this. Schoolboards have no business trying partnership with parents..in this manner.

[Viking2002]

The entire thing is moot, actually - she's apparently 18, and if state law says she's old enough to light up a Marlboro, the county eduNazis are about to find themselves in a world of hurt. It looks like their arrogance may be their undoing in this case. Rare, but satisfying.

[Gabz]

Prbably none, because hey knew what they were doing was illegal and so didn't do it publicly.....what this kid did was legal and so wasn't hiding it.

I agree with your assessment regarding the principal.....and it goes for his nosy wife, who it appears was the one who ratted out the girl.

[international american]

I think we should ban alcohol,smoking, and fast food....everybody must live on salads no meat either.
If you eat meat, you are expelled!!

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Good grief. If it weren't so "today", I'd think it was an April Fool's thread.

Not only is the girl the legal age to smoke, but how do they even know?

Can she tell them she'll quit for a day and they can have her watched? < /sarcasm >

I really wonder how many kids will be attending the prom that engage in a multitude of ILLEGAL things.

[Modernman]

It is in perfect keeping with your opinion on no smoking rules.

Only in your delusions. This girl was engaging in a legal activity off school grounds. The school board's powers (at least over adults) do not extend beyond the school grounds. So, they do not have the legal power to pass a rule like this.

[excalibur1701]

Yes, I believe schools are in sad states. Not because of an overbearing school authority, but because the schools no long have the right to set standards and, God forbid, enforce them. Take a look at how kids dress these days to school. It makes me sick. And yes, I'm all for dress codes, as well.

Let the lashing begin on that subject. lol

[Gabz]

Bite your tongue!!!!!!!!!!!

[Steve_Seattle]

Can you imagine the liberal uproar if the girl were being punished for having sex out of wedlock? The ACLU would be on this in a flash.

[CSM]

"I'd say the apples have a few worms in them I guess I'm looking at this whole scenario as to, what is best for this young girl. I'm sure she didn't start smoking at the age of 18...probably more like 15-16. If there is even a chance that, she will have given up smoking because of all this, then the school did a wonderful thing."

Yep, let's hand all children over to the state. We know that parents can't be trusted to do their job. If it means that we can better dictate their behaviours, it will be a wonderful thing!

I just don't see why people are jumping on you on this thread. I mean, any person that disagrees with you must be a Soros minion!

[tx_eggman]

I'm looking at this whole scenario as to, what is best for this young girl. I'm sure she didn't start smoking at the age of 18...probably more like 15-16. If there is even a chance that, she will have given up smoking because of all this, then the school did a wonderful thing.

What don't you understand about personal freedom and responsibility???

"The free man owns himself. He can damage himself with either eating or drinking; he can ruin himself with gambling. If he does he is certainly a damn fool, and he might possibly be a damned soul; but if he may not, he is not a free man any more than a dog is." ... G. K. Chesterton

"Liberty and responsibility are two sides of the same coin. No policy - public or private - can increase or decrease one without increasing or decreasing the other. Human behavior has reasons, not causes." ... Thomas Stephen Szasz