Family fights against Motrin punishment
Attorney says penalty too severe for student who took pill
Ysatis Jones had menstrual cramps. On December 3rd she took a Motrin at a water fountain and was caught by a teacher. She has been sentenced to 15 days in the correctional education system.
The county school system, as well as others in Alabama, classifies possession of unauthorized prescription and over-the-counter medication as major drug offenses. Zero tolerance is given to those who violate the policy.
Possession of over-the-counter medication is a major drug offense? What could possibly qualify as a minor drug offense? It’s also interesting (and frightening) that “zero tolerance” is taking on a metaphysical context of its own. No longer is it just a zero tolerance policy, now zero tolerance is given to violators.
School board attorney Carl Johnson asked Jefferson County Circuit Judge Houston Brown to review the facts and determine that a judgment should be issued in favor of the school board.
In his brief Friday, Johnson argued there is no shocking disparity between the offense and penalty, and “certainly not one that would warrant judicial intervention.”
The school maintains that there is no shocking disparity between the offense (possession of a Motrin) and the penalty (15 days in juvie school). One wonders if the school officials are indulging in major drug offenses themselves (of the non-Motrin variety). I can’t see how they could miss the blatant falsity of that claim otherwise.
Brown on Jan. 21 ruled that Jones, who had been out of school since Dec. 3, could attend classes while she appeals her punishment in court.
Isn’t being denied access to school for the better part of 2 months enough already? What will an additional 15 days in alternative education do? Does this school system have even the slightest bit of interest in the welfare and education of the student?
Rachel Jones, the student’s mother, said she thinks each case needs to be considered individually.
Absolutely correct, but if they did that it wouldn’t be zero tolerance.
(Tip credit to Bumper)
This case needs to be considered in a different kind of court… a US court.
The phrase ” Correctional Education System ” frightens me. The idea of sending a 15 yuear old girl to what amounts to a reform school for taking a Motrin is appalling.
Could there be sexual discrimination in this case? Only girls could have the need to carry pain relief in school when menstruating. Boys can not have menstrual cramps. So girls have to just suck it up and take the pain? Either that, or to make it approved medication, she has to announce to her teachers or administrators that she has her period and ask permission to take pain medication over the next few days? What a violation of her privacy and dignity! Has anyone looked into this?