Costa Mesa, CA, student suspensions
:
"Some parents however questioned whether the school overstepped its bounds by disciplining students for actions that occurred on personal computers, at home and after school hours."
It is clear from the AP story that the boy who posted abusive and anti-semitic comments about a female classmate at TeWinkle Middle School has serious issues. The controversy regards 20 other students who were suspended for accepting an invitation to view the offending material posted on the internet.
This is by no means the only school district to take an expansive view of the meaning of "in loco parentis." Not long ago, the Reading, PA, school board disciplined some high school students for smoking after school hours and off school property. The proper way to handle that problem, it seems to me, would be to have the police issue citations. I suppose the schools people figure that they have been so successful with the traditional educational functions that they owe it to the community to extend their benevolent influence into other areas.
posted by J. Keen Holland @ 3:57 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Keen,
"I suppose the schools people figure that they have been so successful with the traditional educational functions that they owe it to the community to extend their benevolent influence into other areas."
I believe your inate cynicism is showing through the cracks on this one, my man.
It is interesting that the schools have not moved to discipline students who listen to certain rap "artists" at home and after school hours. Many of their lyrics are at least as eggregious, if less specific.
How dare the schools presume to act "in loco parentis" when they are not "in loco" and the parents are, such as would be the case in the students homes.
I'm curious why you believe it would have been appropriate for the police have issued citations. I don't see a citable offense.
Ed,
Here in my backward little corner of the world - Pennsylvania - it is a summary offense for a person under 18 to obtain, possess or use tobacco products. Prosecutions for summary offenses are typically begun by the issuance of a citation.
Bless me father, for I have sinned. It has been 37 years since my last cigarette; and, 45 years since I was 18. It did not occur to me that the students weren't old enough to smoke. In that case, you're right, citations would have been appropriate, if the police actually observed the illegal behavior.
It's nice that we live in a country in which serious crime and not so serious crime have been reduced to such low levels that police officers have nothing better to do than issue citations for underage smoking.
Maybe, since the schools have been so successful with their traditional mission, we will oneday all live in "Lake Wobegone", where all the children are above average (and know not to smoke at all, no less in sight of the long arm of the law).
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