Court case lost but policy still changed
Student�s suspension stands; parents prompt policy change
Visiting Judge David Webb of Paulding County ruled in Hancock County Common Pleas Court this week in favor of Findlay school members, who imposed the suspension last April to 14-year-old Alex Browning, then a freshman.
Alex’s parents argued that he had been punished for defending himself and that the zero-tolerance policy against fighting was too stringent. As written the policy applied a minimum of 5 days out of school suspension for any physical conflict. It did not matter if the student was attacking somebody or defending himself. Judge Webb agreed with the school that in this case Alex could have walked away without fighting.
Despite the loss in court the Webbs were successful in getting the policy changed. In a close vote the school board agreed to change the wording of the policy from “will” to “may”, allowing discretion and weighing of merits in future incidents.
Kudos to the Findlay School boardmembers for correcting their abusive policy.
At least they’re not as bad as that Berkeley school that, about two years ago, decided that it was best to punish the kid who threw the SECOND punch (i.e. defended himself), because — they argued — it was the “defender’s” fault for starting the actual “fight”.
bad as that Berkeley