An Associated Press article on the News 4 of Dothan, Alabama website discusses a 13-year-old arrested for threatening a teacher and using the words, “Virginia Tech,” in the threat. From the article:
The student was arrested Tuesday - a day after Houston County Sheriff Andy Hughes enacted a zero tolerance policy against using the words “Virginia Tech” in reference to threats against students and teachers. The student, whose name is being withheld because he’s a juvenile, was charged with making a terrorist[ic] threat.
(As an aside, did I call it or what, providing an explanation of the difference between terroristic threats and terrorism?)
Sheriff Hughes is being ridiculous. A zero-tolerance policy against threats that contain particular words? Does this mean that the threat, “I’ll kill you, just like at Virginia Tech!” is worse than, “I’ll kill you!”? I have the same problem with this as I do with hate-crime legislation. It implies that a crime committed by a person of one group against a person of another group is different depending on the groups involved. Again, I’m no lawyer, but this seems to run smack into the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
The kid either threatened the teacher or did not. What words he used were irrelevant beyond the scope of what constitutes a threat. Giving greater weight to references to the celebrity crime of the month simply attaches greater fame and glory to the criminal that committed it. What we need is fair, equitable, and intelligent enforcement, not knee-jerk reaction.
County officials defend handcuffing
18 months ago Deputy Antonio Bostic handcuffed a 9-year-old fourth-grader at Holt Elementary School (in the Tuscaloosa County School System). This action followed a non-violent verbal argument between the student and her gym teacher and was apparently done to “teach the girl a lesson”. Toniko L. Alexander, the girls mother, sued and the County is busy defending the officer’s actions.
Another teacher overheard the argument from across the gymnasium and ordered the student to come speak with her, according to the complaint.
While the girl was walking to the teacher, Bostic intervened and ordered her to come speak with him, insisting that he handle the situation when the other teacher said she could take care of it.
According to the complaint, Bostic stood the girl in a doorway, placed handcuffs on her and told her: “This is what happens to people when they break the law,” and “This is how it feels to be in jail.”
(more…)
Student’s Questionable Costume Raises Tempers
Last week a Grissom High School student found himself without a costume for dress-up day. He was also apparently without a brain because he solved his problem by making a white cone, writing “KKK” on it and wearing it as a Klan hood. A school security guard made him remove it. The trouble started the next day when some other students confronted him about it. The three got into a fight and were all suspended.
Nothing really wrong there, right? A Klan headdress is certainly offensive and the guard was correct to make him remove it. Students in a fistfight must be disciplined and suspension for fighting is certainly understandable. My problem is with the statement from Huntsville City Schools spokesman Keith Ward:
“Huntsville City Schools’ has a zero tolerance- automatic suspension -for anyone caught fighting. Even if he hadn’t thrown a punch - the kid who initially wore the head cone would have been placed on in-house suspension anyway.”
So if the kid had just stood there and played punching bag he would have been suspended for fighting. Automatic suspension for crimes like getting thrown into a locker, tripped down the stairs or being beaten to a pulp, no matter what you do or don’t do.
What exactly are they teaching the kids there? And what sort of a deterrent from fighting is it when you will be suspended whether or not you defend yourself?
Elmore County bars Confederate flag, Malcolm X emblems
What do the Confederate flag, Malcolm X, Star of David, Palestinian Flag and a purple ribbon all have in common?
The Elmore County Board of Education voted to change its dress code to adhere to its harassment policy, said James Myers, assistant superintendent. The policy defines harassment as anything that distracts and prevents students, teachers or faculty from completing work.
Anything that distracts is considered harrassment. That’s a dangerous policy, and I’m not only talking about those certain young ladies who are distracting no matter what they wear.
A Dixie Outfitters t-shirt is harrassing, a t-shirt with Martin Luther King on it is not. So says the county’s “diversity committee”. This committee must include at least one minority member from each community in Elmore County. No requirement for non-minority members is noted.
I understand the need to keep a viable and productive learning environment but this is quite simply pre-emptive overkill. A simple policy giving general guidelines is more than sufficient. If a student makes an actual disruption with their clothing then that particular student may be repremanded. There is no need in the world to create an Orwellian oligarchy to parse out which particular images are “plusgood” and which are “ungood”.
I also have a huge problem with the body nominally in charge of educating kids actively participating in the destruction of the English language by equivocating “distracting” and “harassing”.
Updated 16 July 2004: Judge throws out punishment (at bottom of post)
Judge told school’s policy on Motrin may discriminate
On December 3, fifteen year-old Ysatis Jones took a Motrin to relieve her menstrual cramps. The Clay-Chalkville High code of conduct says that taking any drug is a major offense and they sentenced her to 15 days in alternative school as her punishment.
Dawna Hill, a Jefferson County school board hearing officer, testified that Jones’ offense was too serious for a sentence of community service.
For offenses involving drugs, Hill said punishment could range from community service to extended time in alternative school.
“Because of the severity of having possession of drugs, I did not consider community service in this case,” Hill said.
(more…)
SCLC backs woman upset over son’s strip search by coach
Clay County High School coach Jerry Weems allegedly strip searched Una Gutierrez’ 15 year-old son and she’s furious. Backed by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference she is demanding the coach’s suspension.
Weems could not be reached for comment. School Superintendent Gene Miller said he would not comment on the allegations because the board has been threatened with a lawsuit.
…
Sheriff’s Lt. Steve Gotney said he investigated the allegations and found no evidence of a crime. “That does not mean there was not a strip search,” Gotney said.
(more…)
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.
(more…)
Hoover schools committee to review discipline policy
Updated 12 March 2004: Panel favors policy changes
Three students were kicked off of the wrestling team and transferred to an alternative school after being accused of drinking alcoholic beverages outside a school event. The two seniors were also prevented from going to graduation ceremonies.
The students sued. The school system settled. They took the lesson to heart and are now looking at revamping their discipline policy.
(more…)
‘Inch long’ toy gun causes big trouble
Updated 27 Feb 2004: Student allowed to return to school
A third-grader at Sun Valley Elementary was suspended this week for bringing a G.I. Joe toy handgun to school.
…
“It’s about an inch long,” said Vicki Stewart, the boy’s grandmother and guardian. “(The principal) had to tape it to a piece of paper to keep from losing it.”
This is a Class III violation and punishments include expulsion and alternative school. Seems this violent third grader violated the rules by possessing a “weapon firearm replica”. A clearcut violation of the student code of conduct. Is GI Joe toy abuse becoming an epidemic? You may recall a similar situation last month where an 8-year old in Washington was suspended for bringing two of these terrifying and dangerous items to school.
(more…)
Expelled students may not be able to go back to school
The St.Clair Day Program’s purpose is to rehabilitate problem students and get them back into the schools. The problem? The school isn’t taking all of the program graduates back.
While several students have been recently expelled from the school system, two have been expelled and have not been able to re-enter, despite having completed requirements at the St. Clair Day Program.
(more…)
