Girl says 'hell' in school, suspended (2nd Grader)

AP | 2/04/04 | DAN NEPHIN

[kattracks]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A second-grader was suspended for a day for telling a classmate he would go to hell for saying, "I swear to God."

Brandy McKenith, 7, was suspended for swearing for saying the word "hell," but her family says she was referring to the biblical location of fire and brimstone.

She served the suspension Tuesday.

The Pittsburgh Public Schools' student code of conduct prohibits profanity, but doesn't provide a definition, spokeswoman Pat Crawford said. The school would not comment further.

Brandy's father, Wayne McKenith, said when he learned about the suspension, he thought perhaps his daughter had said something worse, so he called the teacher for details. He was told another student overheard his daughter say the word.

"I said, `Hell? She got suspended for that?'" McKenith said.

He said he asked the school to evaluate its profanity policy.

"`Hell' is like the least of the words in school today," McKenith said. "You go home and turn on the TV tonight and tell me how many times you hear the word 'hell.' And I mean network TV, not even cable."

Without a clear definition, the district could run into problems enforcing the policy, said Witold Walczak, legal director of the Greater Pittsburgh chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

"The school's policy says 'no profanity' and that's not further defined," Walczak said. "How should this little girl know that `hell' is not allowed?"

"It's questionable whether `hell' is even a profanity, and it certainly isn't in the way that she used it," he added.

McKenith, a suburban Pittsburgh police detective, said family members aren't "religious fanatics," but there's a healthy respect for the Lord, so he accepts her daughter's explanation.

"She's under the assumption that good people go to heaven and ... bad people go to hell," he said Wednesday.

[biblewonk]

The biblical definition of Church is "The Body of Christ". That means all Christians. Therefore when the bible says not to forsake the gathering of yourselves together, it's talking about "going to Church". But if you don't believe the bible than you mislead me with your implication that you are a Christian who is discouraged with the "Churches" you have visited.

[been called a cynic]

inconceivable!

[biblewonk]

It only implies I turned away from organized religion, nothing less and nothing more.

Except that "organized religion" is a very broad statement and can mean any number of things. The context suggested Christianity. I still didn't know much until we discussed more. If you are not a Christian then feel free to stay turned away, if you are then I have much more interest.

[been called a cynic]

I think it means that we shouldn't judge others unless we are willing to submit to the judgement of others ourselves.

So, in that senario, if i'm an upstanding citizen, i shouldn't feel any compunction about letting a jury of my peers judge me.

but then, i'm just a screwed up baptist, so what do i know?

[azhenfud]

"but then, i'm just a screwed up baptist, so what do i know?"

Oh, so you're one of us, too?

[newgeezer]

All sins are equal in the eye of the Lord.

With all due respect, I don't think so. Yes, any one sin carries the penalty of spiritual death. But, as I recall, just as it speaks of different levels of heavenly rewards for believers, the Bible speaks of differing levels of punishment for unbelievers. The OT penalties for breaking different parts of the Law certainly provides for it in the earthly realm. Some were punishable by death; others not.

[eastforker]

You must be speaking of the New Testament. How about the Old Testament.It is all one bible correct? Is a Jewish temple not a church, or a muslim mosqe not a church? How do you figure Christianity has a corner on salvation? The Jews and the Muslims would argue quite righteously with you. Are you saying only Christianity will bring salvation? Are you willing to Damn all Jews?

[biblewonk]

You must be speaking of the New Testament. How about the Old Testament.It is all one bible correct? Is a Jewish temple not a church, or a muslim mosqe not a church? How do you figure Christianity has a corner on salvation? The Jews and the Muslims would argue quite righteously with you. Are you saying only Christianity will bring salvation? Are you willing to Damn all Jews?

You're blathering but this also answers the question of your faith. I'd love to discuss all of these questions with you but I've learned that this venue is useless for such discussion.

[cinFLA]

Extracurricular Activities:

---Intramural sports for boys and girls; Instrumental music; Basketball team; Boy Scouts; Cub Scouts; Girl Scouts; Chorus, All Stars Orchestra; Safety Patrol; Super Star Program (math students); Creative writing program; Field trips for every classroom; United Way supporter; Junior Achievement; Sunnyside Musical Theatre (parents, teachers, students); Enrichment tutoring---

United Way is an approved activity?

[weegee]

Sounds like you like to troll FR to promote your atheism. You are entitled to your belief system but you've made a mess of things here trying to derail this thread about a girl who was suspended from school for using the word "Hell".

Take it somewhere else.

[Rightly Biased]

because they are afraid to believe in God.

I am not sure if its a fear to believe but if one doesn't believe then they can claim ignorance the old "I'm OK and Your OK" stichk.

The righteousness that He requires is the righteousness His righteousness requires Him to require.

If you could earn your own salvation then Jesus wouldn't have had to die to provide it.

[been called a cynic]

yep, that's me

[eastforker]

Most people call it "blathering" when they can not answer a reasonable or simple question. It has been 35 years since I attended parochial school, you can't brow beat me, it doesn't work.

[VRWCmember]

It's a hell of a good thing she didn't see the new chevy convertible truck.

[eastforker]

What makes you so high and mighty weegee, some one elses point of view make you uncomfortable?

[T.Smith]

I have found the opposite. The kindest people that I know are religious. The most socialistic people I know are non-religious. And, I have found that as a group they are not as kind as the people I know at the church. But, it's really useless to talk about such generalities since individual experiences will differ.

[Rightly Biased]

"And your right if you try to argue god's existence it is a hopeless arguement"

All that is hopeless is your eternity unless you realize that there is more than what you believe to be.

I have seen and spoken to many like you how sad your life must be I'll pray for you even if you don't want me to.

Kinda like Gods love for you He loves you even if you don't want Him to.