Student Suspended for Call to Mom in Iraq

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: Deptacon

Originally posted by: Defkhan1
a rule's a rule.

What if every kid talking on a cell phone gives that excuse?

she shoulda called him before or after school.

time lag, plus heavy duty schedules over there, you may get a 30 min window i na a whole day to get to a MWR which has a phone over there.....

rule is a rule, but the teacher should be understanding,. and 10 days is a lot....

hard to say, less punishment most likely,

A lesser punishment is reasonable, but the mother should have known better. They were right to not allow the call.

 

Finally some non-Hippies.

Profanity big deal?

That's why public schools are in the state they are today.

Kids need discipline.

They HAVE to be taught responsiblity.

He cursed out a teacher. He deserves everyday he got.

 

[ciba]

What in the world would he be arrested for? He wasn't disrupting class. I'm scared as to what oddball laws are on the books if someone can get suspended for talking on the phone.

 

[judasmachine]

Family trumps school rules. End of story. I would take a call from my Mom in the middle of an interview, it doesn't matter.

 

[magomago]

Although the circumstance is unusual...I'll still have to side with the school on this instance.

Regardless of who was right or wrong, the child's actions CLEARLY were not appropiate under any circumstance and I have a feeling that he received a suspension NOT for calling him mom, but for his actions with the teacher

 

[Riprorin]

The 10-day suspension was issued because Kevin Francois was "defiant and disorderly"

Fix the title.

 

[shimsham]

just a cut and paste from OT.

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: shimsham
im sure the lack of any real details in this story is intentional. if the kid was being a punk, then everyone would most like agree that he deserved the punishment and there would be no controversy. no controversy, no news.

This version of the story has slightly better details:

The incident happened when [Kevin] Francois received a call from his mother at 12:30 p.m., which he said was his lunch break. Francois said he went outside the school building to get a better reception when his mother called. A teacher who saw Francois on his phone told him to get off the phone. But he didn't....

Francois said he told the teacher, "This is my mom in Iraq. I'm not about to hang up on my mom."

Francois said the teacher tried to take the phone, causing it to hang up.

The student said he then went with the teacher to the school's office where he surrendered his phone. His mother called again at 12:37 p.m. and left a message scolding her son about hanging up and telling him to answer the phone when she calls....

"Kevin got defiant and disorderly with [assistant principal Wendall] Turner and another assistant principal," [Assistant Principal Alfred] Parham said Thursday. "He got defiant with me. He refused to leave Mr. Turner's office....

Parham said the student used profanity when he was taken into the office. He said he tried to work out something with the student. But Francois said he was too frustrated he couldn't answer the phone when his mother called him the second time.

"I even asked Kevin, 'You know we can try to work something out to where if your mother wants to call you she can call you at the school,'" Parham said. "So we've tried to work with Kevin and we're going to continue to try to work with Kevin and his mother and his relatives. In the course of good order and discipline, we have to abide by our policy."

Originally posted by: shimsham
id like to know the teachers version of what happened before they got into the office.

i dont know, the second account makes it seem like the kid and mom arent too bright."this is my mom in irag. im not about to hang up on her". im sure he said that civilly. maybe if he wouldve tried "i know its not allowed, but please cut me some slack considering the circumstances" he may have never been taken to the principals office in the first place. and then mom calls back, "dont hang up on me! i dont care if youre in school and its against the rules!" way to teach the kid respect for the rules.

it sounds like there wasnt any real trouble until the kid started getting belligerent in the office, in which case a suspension was deserved.

Originally posted by: shimsham

Originally posted by: xarmian

Originally posted by: shimsham
id like to know the teachers version of what happened before they got into the office.

i dont know, the second account makes it seem like the kid and mom arent too bright."this is my mom in irag. im not about to hang up on her". im sure he said that civilly. maybe if he wouldve tried "i know its not allowed, but please cut me some slack considering the circumstances" he may have never been taken to the principals office in the first place. and then mom calls back, "dont hang up on me! i dont care if youre in school and its against the rules!" way to teach the kid respect for the rules.

it sounds like there wasnt any real trouble until the kid started getting belligerent in the office, in which case a suspension was deserved.

I still don't see how a suspenson is deserved. If he turned to the teacher and prinicipal and said "if you don't get away from me I'll come to your houses and kill you while you're sleeping" then I can understand the suspension.. but this in no way warrants 10 days of suspension, not even close.

so the kid has to physically threaten them before they should be allowed to take action? they tried to work something out with him and the kid became belligerent and then refused to leave the office. by the kids own admission he was "too frustrated" to be reasoned with or try to work it out. thats what got him the suspension. not his mother calling from iraq.

teachers and administrators have to follow guidelines. sure, there are a few apples that spoil the bunch, but by far the majority of adults working in education are rational and compassionate people that can understand the importance of this kid being able to talk to his mother who is in a war zone. 10 days may be excessive, but that all depends on the particulars of the case, which we still know little of. id be willing to assume he wouldnt have been suspended at all if he wouldve checked his attitude and tried to cooperate with the principals in finding a solution that was acceptable for all those involved. instead he chose to blow the situation up and just screwed himself. hes 17, not 12. if he wants to be treated like an adult, he should act like one.

 

[Vic]

The student was not punished for talking to his mother on his cell phone during school hours, but for using profanity to and threatening a teacher. That is clearly inappropriate regardless of ANY circumstance. I don't care if he was talking to his father in prison or his mother in Iraq, and if you do, it's because your media-brainwashed mind can't think straight.

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by:Vic
The student was not punished for talking to his mother on his cell phone during school hours, but for using profanity to and threatening a teacher. That is clearly inappropriate regardless of ANY circumstance. I don't care if he was talking to his father in prison or his mother in Iraq, and if you do, it's because your media-brainwashed can't think straight.

:thumbsup:🙂

Anyone know what happenend to the paint that was suppose to have metals that would jam cell phones?

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: Vic
The student was not punished for talking to his mother on his cell phone during school hours, but for using profanity to and threatening a teacher. That is clearly inappropriate regardless of ANY circumstance. I don't care if he was talking to his father in prison or his mother in Iraq, and if you do, it's because your media-brainwashed mind can't think straight.

As many people have said, we don't know exactly what happened. ANYONE who forms a firm opinion about this based off of less than all the facts clearly has thinking problems beyond "media-brainwashing".

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Rainsford

Originally posted by: Vic
The student was not punished for talking to his mother on his cell phone during school hours, but for using profanity to and threatening a teacher. That is clearly inappropriate regardless of ANY circumstance. I don't care if he was talking to his father in prison or his mother in Iraq, and if you do, it's because your media-brainwashed mind can't think straight.

As many people have said, we don't know exactly what happened. ANYONE who forms a firm opinion about this based off of less than all the facts clearly has thinking problems beyond "media-brainwashing".

Puh-lease. This wouldn't have even made local news if not for the BS angle about being on the phone with his mother in Iraq. Must be a slow news day. :roll:

The kid was suspended in accordance with the school rules for using profanity to a teacher. Rules are rules. Without them, schools cannot enforce discipline. Without discipline, disruptive children will interfere with the learning of all the children, and our schools will be even more worthless as learning centers than they already are.

 

[SuperTool]

If they let the rules slide, soon every student will be talking to their "mother in Iraq."
This is exactly what's wrong with the education system. Instead of teaching and maintaining discipline, teachers are asked to deal with student family issues. I appreciate that he is going through separation from his mother, but frankly it's not the school's responsibility to adjust to every family issue. Also, there is no excuse for him to use profanity on the teacher who is simply enforcing the rules. At that point the administration had no choice but to suspend him, because to do otherwise would undermine the teacher's authority to enforce the rules. The fact that some "conservatives" here are taking the side of the kid who verbally abused his teacher is shocking.

 

[ciba]

Originally posted by: SuperTool
If they let the rules slide, soon every student will be talking to their "mother in Iraq."
This is exactly what's wrong with the education system. Instead of teaching and maintaining discipline, teachers are asked to deal with student family issues. I appreciate that he is going through separation from his mother, but frankly it's not the school's responsibility to adjust to every family issue. Also, there is no excuse for him to use profanity on the teacher who is simply enforcing the rules. At that point the administration had no choice but to suspend him, because to do otherwise would undermine the teacher's authority to enforce the rules. The fact that some "conservatives" here are taking the side of the kid who verbally abused his teacher is shocking.

My outrage is because the school is too busy disciplining students for talking on a phone at lunch to teach the students in class. It is the school's responsibility to teach. I don't see how this interfered with that.

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: ciba

Originally posted by: SuperTool
If they let the rules slide, soon every student will be talking to their "mother in Iraq."
This is exactly what's wrong with the education system. Instead of teaching and maintaining discipline, teachers are asked to deal with student family issues. I appreciate that he is going through separation from his mother, but frankly it's not the school's responsibility to adjust to every family issue. Also, there is no excuse for him to use profanity on the teacher who is simply enforcing the rules. At that point the administration had no choice but to suspend him, because to do otherwise would undermine the teacher's authority to enforce the rules. The fact that some "conservatives" here are taking the side of the kid who verbally abused his teacher is shocking.

My outrage is because the school is too busy disciplining students for talking on a phone at lunch to teach the students in class. It is the school's responsibility to teach. I don't see how this interfered with that.

You don't have to agree with the rules. But that doesn't give you the right to use profanity on your teachers.

 

[BBond]

I don't agree with Bush's Iraq invasion and I certainly don't agree that the Guard and Reserve are being used to fill in the gaps for our less than sufficient regualr forces and breaking up families to support the energy industry's agenda. And I don't know if this kid's mother was regular army or not. Regardless, if I was a seventeen year old kid with my mother in Iraq, hearing the horrendous news coming out of there every day, I would at the very least take each and every call I got from her over there regardless of where or when.

If the teacher had any heart, instead of being a complete authoritarian dickhead (ironically, identical to George W. Bush who bears ultimate responsibility for this situation to begin with) he would have felt for the kid and kept an eye out for other authoritarian dickheads while the kid finished his call.

Circumstances differ and each situation should be judged on its own merits. Not rubber stamped and sent down the line strictly according to the rules. This teacher lost situational awareness - hehe.

That's automation, not intelligence. That's when people stop treating each other like people and enter their "just doing my job" mode. That's when they enter the realm of the oft mentioned Milgram Experiment.

Like Daveshel said earlier, this type of enforcement is only preparing kids for the police state they'll be living in.

And I don't know why you're suprised at my reaction Cad. We liberals are anti-rules kinda' guys.

😉

 

[KK]

First off, no kid should show the disrespect that this kid showed, and that is why he's in trouble.

As far as what went down with the call and the teachers action, that isn't clear. What ideally should have taken place, was maybe for the teacher after the kid said that it was his mother was to ask to speak to the mother just to verify that the kid wasn't pulling a fast one over on the teacher. I'm sure, well I hope that if the teacher knew for sure he was talking to his mother in Iraq, that the teacher would let the kid continue.

 

[aidanjm]

most teachers aren't worthy of the respect they demand, imo

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: aidanjm
most teachers aren't worthy of the respect they demand, imo

care to elaborate as to why you feel that way?

 

[aswedc]

A 10 day could seriously impact college prospects. Ridiculous. High school administrators need to realize they're running a glorified daycare, not a jail or even a serious place of learning.

Chances are the only reason that cell phone rule was on the books anyway was so kids wouldn't leave them on and ring in class. The faculty should know that and practice selective enforcement.

 

[aidanjm]

Originally posted by: KK

Originally posted by: aidanjm
most teachers aren't worthy of the respect they demand, imo

care to elaborate as to why you feel that way?

nah, can't really be bothered 😛

 

[shimsham]

follow up

Military mom's call leads to son's suspension
Superintendent says student 'became very belligerent'

Friday, May 6, 2005 Posted: 11:34 PM EDT (0334 GMT

(CNN) -- A Columbus, Georgia, high school student has been suspended for 10 days after he became defiant when a teacher interrupted a cell phone conversation with his mother, who is stationed in Iraq, a school district official said Friday.

"He became very belligerent and very threatening to her" when asked to turn over the phone, Phillips said.

The teen, whom Muscogee County School District Superintendent John Phillips Jr., wouldn't name, did not tell the teacher he was talking to his mother in Iraq.

The Associated Press identified him as Kevin Francois.

"I'm sure if she was aware of that, she would have acted much differently in dealing with the matter," Phillips said.

The student received the call from Sgt. 1st Class Monique Bates during a lunch break at Spencer High School.

"He said he was 17 years old and he would do what he wanted to do," Phillips told CNN-affiliate WTVM.

The teacher took him to the principal's office, where "he became very unruly and out of control," said Phillips. "It was escalating to a point where they were getting ready to call security."

The student lives with his guardian, an aunt, while his mother is deployed, the superintendent said. Both are to attend a meeting at the school Wednesday.

"We are endeavoring to have the young man readmitted after a three-day suspension, which was the first option for him. It was only after greater defiance and profanity that the suspension was extended," Phillips said.

The student knew it was against school policy to use a cell phone on school grounds, he added.

"We try to protect instructional time. We try to make sure the environment in the school is appropriate," Phillips said. "The young man knows what the rules and regulations are."

Phillips said the school, which is located near Fort Benning, often arranges for students to receive calls from parents who are deployed. More than 3,700 students in the district belong to military families.

i also just heard on cnn that the suspension was reduced to three days. after reading this story, i dont think they shouldve reduced it. the kid knew the rules, didnt give a shat about them, and then proceeded to act like a spoiled 10 yo. and throw a tantrum. "im 17 and ill do what i want". the article aslo states that the teacher wasnt aware that he was talking to his mother that was deployed. i guess hes special and shouldnt make arrangements or have to explain himself like all the other 3700 students. just the type of bs teachers shouldnt have to put up with.

they already make arrangements for situations like this, and with the attitude the kid gave the teacher he deserved the full 10 days. its funny that so many people want to bitch and moan about how people are too soft on kids these days, and how parents and teachers suck, yet think this kid shouldnt have been disciplined at all when he obviously broke the rules for no good reason since they already try to accomodate for situations such as his. throw his tantrum on top of that, and i dont see what else anyone expects the school to do.

 

[ciba]

Originally posted by: SuperTool
You don't have to agree with the rules. But that doesn't give you the right to use profanity on your teachers.

When a teacher is blaming their crap on "policy" I think it may, at times, be justified. I tell you, if someone told me to hang up on a family member in Iraq, I'd tell them to pound sand as well.

 

[shimsham]

Originally posted by: ciba

Originally posted by: SuperTool
You don't have to agree with the rules. But that doesn't give you the right to use profanity on your teachers.

When a teacher is blaming their crap on "policy" I think it may, at times, be justified. I tell you, if someone told me to hang up on a family member in Iraq, I'd tell them to pound sand as well.

he didnt tell the teacher. he just started giving attitude. the schools accomodates kids in his situation.

 

[kylebisme]

Treat people like an animals and they will wind up acting like animals. It is no wonder that the kid lashed out after being denied such a basic human right as to be able to answer a phone call while having lunch. It doesn't matter that it was his mom calling for a notably hostile environment or if it was his friend in the next quad calling to see if he could pick up some notes before class; we aren't talking about some airplane takeoff were the cell phone might have interfered with mission critical equipment, the boy was on a lunch break and should have been given just as much right to accept a phone call as you, I, or anyone else.

 

[shimsham]

Originally posted by: TheSnowman
Treat people like an animals and they will wind up acting like animals. It is no wonder that the kid lashed out after being denied such a basic human right as to be able to answer a phone call while having lunch. It doesn't matter that it was his mom calling for a notably hostile environment or if it was his friend in the next quad calling to see if he could pick up some notes before class; we aren't talking about some airplane takeoff were the cell phone might have interfered with mission critical equipment, the boy was on a lunch break and should have been given just as much right to accept a phone call as you, I, or anyone else.

answering a phone is basic human right now? how are the kids denied that "right" when the school allows them to talk to parents in this situation?