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.

[MineralMan]

"Good for the school. She knew the rules going into this. Is she can't follow rules, then she should be banned."

You really should put a [sarcasm] notation on your messages. Surely you don't think all rules are good rules...or maybe you do.

[dirtboy]

Good for the school. She knew the rules going into this. Is she can't follow rules, then she should be banned.

She's an adult. Are you saying that a school has the right to dictate to a legal adult that they cannot engage in a legal activity off school grounds? What if they punished her for a political view? Or for driving an SUV?

[markv840]

That's ridiculous, no one should be punished for how they live their lives outside school grounds. This is a free country, people have the right to make their own decisions concerning their health, I would understand the school's position if she would have been smoking on school grounds, or if she was a minor, but since neither of those two factors is true, the school has no business in telling her how to live her life; Quite honestly, I'm also against the demonization of smokers, if people are judged for their decisions concerning their weight, then the next step would be to demonize overweight people, or people who sunbathe for too long for that matter.

[tx_eggman]

Seriously....if the rules are established "ahead of time", and she does not follow the rules, then the only person to blame is herself. What lessons are we teaching our kids if we back off on any rule, and let the students have their ways.

So, if your employer decides that he wants you to wear a dress or he'll fire you, I guess you'll have to quit ... then again, maybe not

[HELLRAISER II]

I'd like to agree with you but in all fairness a minor(age 17 or younger) then smoking is not legal, however I still don't think that it's the schools right to punish her.

[Wolfie]

We're teaching them that you only have to obey the rules you agree with.

[kingu]

Hmm.. I wonder what other moral based rules might be created and enforced.. Let's see.. Oh! How about banning people from proms for engaging in premarital sex? Or, perhaps, how about banning people from the proms for shooting a gun?

What a student does off campus that is legal is none of the school's business. Even if the student in question is committing a crime, it is up to the justice system to arrest and try the person, as well as applying the punishments if found guilty.

Oh, but that's right, the school is in charge of the student from the moment they leave the house until they return to the house in the evening... Pure stupidity. I hope this gal exercises her opinion at the ballot box; or even better, runs for the school board herself.

[Freedom2specul8]

And we know that aint gonna happen. ;\ At our old district, the "smoking staffers" cross the street, and stand on the corner to smoke, regardless of weather conditions.

[HELLRAISER II]

Sorry, I thought she was 17, I should've read better.

[Gabz]

Seriously....if the rules are established "ahead of time", and she does not follow the rules, then the only person to blame is herself. What lessons are we teaching our kids if we back off on any rule, and let the students have their ways.

I might see your point, if she was a 15 or 16 year old, or on school grounds, but this young lady is of legal age and was not on th campus.

I don't see this as backing off a rule.....I see it as a poor example to set for young people who are turning into adults........they are still considered children in the eyes of the controllers.

[excalibur1701]

>>So, if your employer decides that he wants you to wear a
>>dress or he'll fire you, I guess you'll have to quit ...
>>then again, maybe not

Once again the rules were established AHEAD of time. I'm amazed at how many people think it's ok for this kid to be smoking at such a young age.

We have drug testing at here at work, because of the heavy machinery we use and to keep people as safe as possible. If someone comes up positive on a drug test (which they do on their own time in their own home), do we not have a right to terminate that employee?

[freeeee]

The stundent in question is a legal adult engaged in a legal practice off school grounds.

That means that the school's legal basis for regulating students, "en loco parentis", does not apply in the least.

Therefore the school lacks jurisdiction and legal capacity in its "ahead of time" rule, which was invalid from the moment it was passed.

[HELLRAISER II]

Pre-marital sex is ok with the school, hell it's even encouraged as long as you wear the condom that the school has provided for you. Just don't smoke a cigarette while you're doing It!

[Modernman]

if the rules are established "ahead of time", and she does not follow the rules, then the only person to blame is herself. What lessons are we teaching our kids if we back off on any rule, and let the students have their ways.

The first question that needs to be asked is whether the school had the legal power to create this rule. They don't.

[Husker24]

Some rules have no legal basis, and should be broken. What if we had that attitude in the 1700's, we might still be a British Colony.

[NautiNurse]

You have got to be joking. That's like losing a week's vacation for wearing blue jeans at home on Saturday when your workplace dress code doesn't permit them.

[jwalsh07]

Stupidity, either she's a citizen or she isn't.

[Modernman]

but I don't understand the purpose of harassing and punishing the students when they are suppose to be under parental or guardian control..

Legally, she's under no one's control, since she is 18.

[Husker24]

Tabacco is not a mind altering substance.

[HELLRAISER II]

I think it's great to discourage young people from smoking, but punishing someone who is of age is wrong. As for the drug Testing, well unless they hurt something or someone while they're at work, then no it's none of their business. Just my humble opinion of course.