The System's Idea of Protection

[Acriku]

High school teachers tend to be more humane.

[DukeLeto]

Ex, do you live in the United States? If they try to expell you; fight it.

I don't know; things may have changed since 9/11. But about a year and a half ago, my 7th grade geography teacher was looking through my journal (which was in the back of my history notebook; in retrospect, probably not a good idea. :P) and found a letter I wrote to my friend in which she was not flatteringly described. (She was referred to as an "a**hole", even written with the asterisks and all. ::)) She tried to get both of us suspended and removed from her class (Tough I had no problem with the second part. :P), but the principle declared she had no right to be looking through my personal stuff and it was none of her business anyways. (Not only that, she also broke school policy by calling my mother before telling me.) Needless to say, she "lost the case".

[SurlyPIG]

I thought that in the US people had the right on their own opinion...guess not.

Not until you are 18 years of age. And then not if they use the Patriot Act on you.

Wha?? Are you serious? Like is that actually written in law, that people under 18 have no right to free speech?

[exatreide]

No its just....That children under 18 are looken down on. i supose.

as having no rights....

It seems that way anyway..

Well now they are talking about the posibilty of sueing the school....the only problem is that are family is curently...not doing so well finacly so we cant. :-

[rogue1896]

well i guess they figure that we're all just kids and don't have a need to that right. we're all just little kiddies and can't do anything for ourselves.

[Inoculator9]

That's disgusting. I hate most principals that I've known before, they presume to judge their students quite unfairly. But reading your journal and making an assumption like that is like looking at a black square and saying it's part of a bomb. Why look at only a part of the picture when the option to see the whole thing is possible.

[SurlyPIG]

I hate that stereotype. I certainly hope it's not in law...

Did they seriously think you wrote a hit-list, ex?

[VigilVirus]

That is completely ludicrous. It's just funny how many basic human rights that possible expulsion breaks...

Umm.. let's see:

Invasion of privacy

Freedom of speech and expression

Obtaining evidence in an illegal search (basically)

Due process

Right to defend oneself

..........

Well US laws anyways

[exatreide]

Well here is the newest thing.

The teacher who let it happen said.

"Anything that comes in my room i have the right to look at."

Oh so dose this mean lady that when you come in my house i can look in your purse and see what shade of lipstick you whare?

and i have heard from other kids that she just stood back and let the other kids look through my stuff.

they were all crowded over it....but ohhhh nooooo just cause its my stuff dosnt mean that she should care. maybe she should think that someone might rip a page out? or damage it? but she just sits there and when someone seen a list of names or signitures and said. "oh its a hit list." she rushed over and to wright me up with out even looking at it.

frell she wouldnt even let me take my stuff down to the office. when she told me to go. i reached for my stuff and she said. "NO DONT TAKE UR STUFF JUST GO!"

i am more pissed at her than i am at my priniple.

[ordos45]

I thought that in the US people had the right on their own opinion...guess not.

Not until you are 18 years of age. And then not if they use the Patriot Act on you.

Wha?? Are you serious? Like is that actually written in law, that people under 18 have no right to free speech?

Well I'm sure we do have rights, but its often overlooked in the Public School System. It wouldn't be overlooked in say, Juvenile Court or something, but schools trample on rights often. Just look at the case of the kids expelled for handing out candy with religious messages, people being sent to the office because they don't agree with an opinion, etc.

[emprworm]

i believe that all lockers should be searchable. without question. many, many kids thinking their 'big 'n bad' packin' Da HeAt bring guns to school and lives are lost.

however, when searching a locker, you are looking for weapons and/or drugs. a personal journal/page of text does not fit this and it should be illegal for any schhool to use that against someone. in fact, they shouldn't even be opening journals w/o probable cause.

[VigilVirus]

It is a schoollaw that no bookbag or journal can be looked at without probable cause. Lockers can, because they are school property.

[Inoculator9]

Ex, if this is seriously happening with the magnitude that you say it is, you should organize a lawsuit.

[VigilVirus]

Sue that school for so much money that it will have to close down ;)

[Edric O]

This is ridiculous. What's next, "think crime"? They have no right to look into your personal belongings, especially your diary. This is an invasion of privacy and a violation of the right of free speech. The fact that you are under 18 is irrelevant. I challenge him/her to prove that his/her cognitive abilities are higher than yours.

And I'm quite sure the US Constitution doesn't say: "All people have the right to their own opinion... except if they're under 18, in which case they're worthless subhuman scum."

[exatreide]

Well we have considerd a lawsuit.....but we lack the money curently. :-

thanks guys. making me feel atleast like i didnt do anything wrong.

[DukeLeto]

It is a schoollaw that no bookbag or journal can be looked at without probable cause. Lockers can, because they are school property.

1. But they do anyways...In fact, since Columbine, it may not be law saying you can't search those things any more.

2. Some schools have actually banned backpacks...you have to carry everything around. I'm glad I'm homeschooled. ;)

[nemafakei]

Weel, my only suggestion is that, if you have such a system imposed upon you, you do not take to school anything you consider private, valulable, or suggestive of anything incriminating.

Though I suppose that's now a little obvious...

[Inoculator9]

Well, I want to know more about this, my family knows the senior partners in a Chicago law firm so I have a good source of info ;). I'm going to look into the subject.

[exatreide]

thanks a million.

[Inoculator9]

Well, I hope I can find something beneficial.

[exatreide]

Well at my school you can get detention for hugging someone. and suspended for kissing someone..

MINOR VIOLATIONS MAJOR VIOLATIONS

Minor violations will be handled by the individual teacher or through the team discipline plan. A continuation of violations will result in a referral to the grade-level assistant principal.

Minor Violations

Disregard for classroom rules

Electronic device possession (jam boxes, videocams, Gameboys, Walkmans, etc.)

Chewing gum

Eating food outside the cafeteria (some exceptions)

Drinking pop during school hours

Horseplay

Inappropriate display of affection

Lack of participation in class

Running in the halls

Water toys

Talking in class

Tardies to class

Unpreparedness for class (no book, pencil, etc.)

Writing notes in class/doing other than what is requested

Repetition of minor violations can become major. If students get into trouble with a serious or major violation, they may be banned from school dances/activities, suspended or expelled from school. Criminal acts (examples: theft, vandalism, drugs/alcohol possession or influence, mooning, pulling fire alarm, look-alike weapons) will be referred to the Goshen Police Department for appropriate action.

Isolation means that the student is removed from the classroom for a short period of time.

In-school suspension (ISS) means that the student will be isolated from other students in a study situation. After-school activities will be prohibited when a student is serving ISS. ISS can be up to 10 days.

Out-of-school suspension (OSS) means that a student

will remain at home and not attend school for a specified number of days. During the time students are suspended, they are not permitted on the school grounds or at any school activity. OSS can be up to 10 days.

Expulsion means that the school administration will recommend to the superintendent of schools that the student be expelled from school and not be allowed to (1) attend school, (2) be on the school grounds or in the building, or (3) participate in any school activities for the remainder of

the expulsion time period.

The Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled that a student has no right to have counsel present during an expulsion proceeding

1. SUSPENSION FROM SCHOOL BY PRINCIPAL: A school principal (or assistant) may deny a student the right to attend school or take part in any school functions for a period of up to 10 school days.

2. EXPULSION: In accordance with the due-process procedures defined in this policy, a student may be expelled from school for a period no longer than the remainder of the current semester, plus the following semester, with the exception of a violation of Rule 13 listed under the grounds for Suspension and Expulsion in this policy.

SECTION 2. GROUNDS FOR SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION

Grounds for suspension or expulsion are student misconduct or substantial disobedience. The following include examples of student misconduct or substantial disobedience, but are not limited to:

Using violence, force, noise, coercion, threat, intimidation, fear, passive resistance, or other comparable conduct constituting an interference with school purposes, or urging other students to engage in such conduct. The following enumeration is only illustrative and not limited to the type of conduct prohibited by this subdivision:

Occupying any school building, school grounds, or part of thereof with the intent to deprive others of its use.

Blocking the entrance or exits of any school building or corridor or room therein with intent to deprive others of lawful access to or from, or use of the building, corridor, or room.

Setting fire to or damaging any school building or property.

Prevention of or attempting to prevent by physical act the convening or continued functioning of any school or educational function, or of any meeting or assembly on school property.

Continuously and intentionally making noise or acting in any manner so as to interfere seriously with the ability of any teacher or any of the other school personnel to conduct the educational function under his/her supervision.

Causing or attempting to cause damage to school property, stealing or attempting to steal school property.

Causing or attempting to cause damage to private property, stealing or attempting to steal private

property.

Intentionally causing or attempting to cause physical injury or intentionally behaving in such a way as could reasonably cause physical injury to any person. Self-defense or reasonable action undertaken on the reasonable belief that it was necessary to protect some other person does not, however, constitute a violation of this provision.

Threatening or intimidating any student for the purpose of, or with the intent of, obtaining money or anything of value from the student.

Knowingly possessing, handling, or transmitting a knife or any object that can reasonably be considered a weapon.

Knowingly possessing, using, transmitting, or being under the influence of any narcotic drug, hallucinogenic drug, amphetamine, barbiturate, marijuana, alcoholic beverage, or intoxicant of any kind. Use of a drug authorized by a medical prescription from a physician is not a violation of this subdivision.

Engaging in the unlawful selling of a controlled substance or engaging in a criminal-law violation that constitutes a danger to other students or constitutes an interference with school purposes or an educational function.

Failing in a substantial number of instances to comply with directions of teachers or other school personnel during any period of time when the student is properly under their supervision, where the failure constitutes an interference with school purposes or an educational function.

Engaging in any activity forbidden by the laws of Indiana that constitutes an interference with school

purposes or an educational function.

Violating or repeatedly violating any rules that are reasonably necessary in carrying out school purposes or an educational function and are validly adopted in accordance with Indiana law, including, but not limited to:

Engaging in sexual behavior on school property.

Disobedience of administrative authority.

Willful absence or tardiness of students.

Knowingly possessing, using, or transmitting any substance that is represented to be or looks like a narcotic drug, hallucinogenic drug, amphetamine, barbiturate, marijuana, alcoholic beverage, stimulant, depressant, or intoxicant of any kind.

Possessing, using, transmitting, or being under the influence of caffeine-based substances, substances containing phenylpropanolamine (PPA), or stimulants of any kind, be they available with or without a prescription.

When a principal (or designee) recommends to the superintendent (or designee) that a student be expelled from school, the following procedures will be followed:

The superintendent (or designee) may conduct an expulsion meeting or may appoint one of the following persons to conduct the expulsion meeting:

legal counsel.

a member of the administrative staff who did not expel the student and was not involved in the events giving rise to the expulsion.

An expulsion will not take place until the student and the student's parents are asked to appear at an expulsion meeting conducted by the superintendent or the person designated above. Failure by a student or a student's parents to appear at this meeting will be deemed a waiver of rights administratively to contest the expulsion or to appeal it to the Goshen Board of Education.

The request to appear at the expulsion meeting will be in writing, delivered by certified mail or by personal delivery, and contain the reasons for the expulsion and the date, time, place, and purpose of the meeting.

At the expulsion meeting, the principal (or designee) will present evidence to support the charges against the student. The student and/or parents will have the opportunity to answer the charges against the student and to present evidence to support the student's position.

If an expulsion meeting is conducted, the person conducting the expulsion meeting will make a written summary of the evidence heard at the meeting, take any action found to be appropriate, and give notice of the action taken to the student and the student's parents.

The student or parent has the right to appeal the decision of the person conducting the expulsion meeting to the school board within 10 days of the receipt of notice of the action taken. The student or parent appeal to the school board must be in writing. If an appeal is properly made, the board must consider the appeal, unless the board votes not to hear the appeal. If the board hears the appeal, it will consider the written summary of the expulsion meeting and the arguments of both the school administration and the student and/or the student's parent. The board will then take any action deemed appropriate.

[nampigai]

[quote author=ExAtreides

[Inoculator9]

Some of that stuff is American I think, but your school seems a little weird.

[nemafakei]

Disregard for classroom rules: Good

Electronic device possession (jam boxes, videocams, Gameboys, Walkmans, etc.): Good

Chewing gum: Good

Eating food outside the cafeteria (some exceptions): Good

Drinking pop during school hours: Good

Horseplay: Good

Inappropriate display of affection: Definitely good

Lack of participation in class: Good

Running in the halls: Good

Water toys: Good

Talking in class: That depends on the lesson.

Tardies to class: As in being late? Good, where no reason is given.

Unpreparedness for class (no book, pencil, etc.): Hmmm. I donn't like this one.

Writing notes in class/doing other than what is requested: What sort of a rule is this? Are people supposed to take in wha they are taught first time with no error?